Staffordshire Council Reports Progress on Key Priorities
Quarterly update highlights achievements in education, infrastructure, economy, and community services across the county.
By Aisha Mahmood
••3 min read
AI
Generic image of a red-brick industrial building in the Midlands with green fields under an overcast sky.
Staffordshire residents and businesses are experiencing benefits from increased investment and effective council services, with significant progress reported in education, infrastructure, economic growth, and community support.
The latest quarterly report from Staffordshire County Council outlines substantial advancements across the authority’s core objectives, focusing on people, the economy, connectivity, communities, and value for money.
Key achievements during the quarter include continued expansion of specialist and inclusive education. Funding of £28.6 million was approved for new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) facilities, earmarked for a new special school in Rugeley and a primary pupil referral unit in Stafford.
Furthermore, £33.2 million in government funding has been secured for college expansion and refurbishment projects throughout Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. The council collaborated closely with further education partners to advocate for this investment in facilities designed to benefit learners and businesses county-wide.
Road improvements are progressing as planned, with over 4,000 potholes repaired in August. The council also maintained strong performance in addressing the most critical highway defects.
Digital connectivity is enhancing, with gigabit broadband now accessible to 89.1 per cent of premises across Staffordshire. Community engagement with local services remains robust, evidenced by high library visit numbers, exceeding 646,000 year-to-date.
Business compliance is also positive, with over 85% of visited Staffordshire businesses adhering to trading practices and legislation, or brought into compliance during the reporting period. For children and families, 73.9 per cent achieved a good level of development by age five, surpassing the national average.
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"This report demonstrates the strong progress we are making, delivering improvements that matter to residents whilst maintaining focus on our long-term priorities. From investing in specialist education and improving our roads to supporting local businesses and expanding digital connectivity, we are making a real difference across our communities. We recognise that challenges remain, particularly around increasing demand for children's services and the financial pressures facing councils nationally. However, we continue to take action to address these issues while ensuring residents receive the services and support they need."
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"We continue to deliver for residents while managing our finances carefully in what remain challenging times. Services are performing well, with good levels of efficiency and control in place and departments continue to deliver on our core priority areas. Our overall financial health remains stable; however, we continue to face challenges in children’s services, largely driven by increasing demand and costs associated with caring for vulnerable children. We’ll continue to spend what is needed to protect frontline services, grow our economy and invest in our future, whilst making sure every penny counts and we deliver good value for money for taxpayers."
The report is scheduled for consideration by the Cabinet on 21 October 2026.
