The Staffordshire County Council meeting on Thursday 21 May 2026 saw the re-election of Councillor Paul Williams as Chairman and Councillor Gordon Munro as Vice-Chairman. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a heated debate and vote on a motion condemning racism and calling for group leaders to remove members proven to have behaved in a racist manner, which was ultimately defeated.

Election of Chairman and Vice-Chairman

Councillor Paul Williams was re-elected as Chairman of Staffordshire County Council, and Councillor Gordon Munro was elected as Vice-Chairman. Both expressed their honour and commitment to serving the council and the people of Staffordshire.

Motion on Racism

A motion proposed by Councillor Philip White, The Council condemns racism and affirms that all Members are committed to treating all people equally irrespective of their race. The Council calls on Group Leaders to remove from all roles within the Council any Member who is proven to have behaved in a manner that the Group Leader believes to be racist, was debated extensively.

Councillor White argued for consistency in addressing racist comments and for group leaders to take responsibility for their members' behaviour. Councillor Peter Mason, speaking on behalf of the Reform UK administration, raised concerns that the motion bypassed existing complaint processes and laws, suggesting it was politically motivated and could lead to undemocratic judgments. Councillor Martin Murray, the Acting Leader of the Council, stated his belief in due process and the existing legal framework for handling complaints, expressing concern about a motion that could allow individual judgment to override established procedures.

Despite passionate arguments from various councillors, including Councillor Andrew Clissett who presented a petition against a housing development in Burntwood, and Councillor Alex Farrell who raised concerns about the definition of racism and its application, the motion was ultimately defeated.

Highways and Transport

Significant discussion took place regarding the state of Staffordshire's roads. Councillor Simon Tagg and Councillor Lee Holland highlighted numerous potholes and the poor quality of some repairs, questioning the effectiveness of the current approach. Councillor Peter Mason, Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways, defended the council's actions, explaining the challenges of inherited underfunding and the new whole roads strategy aimed at a more proactive and efficient approach to maintenance. He acknowledged the significant backlog of defects and the £15 million investment to address them. Councillors also discussed the use of temporary repairs and the need for permanent solutions.

Economic Development and Innovation

The meeting touched upon economic development initiatives, including the Staffordshire Means Business programme, the upcoming Staffordshire Day celebrations, and the UKREiiF event. Councillor Robin Hall, Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills, spoke about the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption for SMEs and outlined plans for workshops and upskilling. Concerns were raised by Councillor Holland and others about Lichfield District Council's decision to not participate in countywide economic initiatives like UKREiiF, with Councillor Murray urging Lichfield to collaborate more closely with Staffordshire.

County Farms Policy

Councillor Martin Murray, Acting Leader of the Council, announced a new policy statement confirming that Staffordshire's county farms are no longer for sale and will be protected for farming. This was met with support from Councillor Baird Moore, who welcomed the clarity and commitment to the rural economy, but Councillor Philip White raised concerns about the incidental and surplus land exception, questioning its potential as a get-out-of-jail-free card for selling farms.

Other Matters

• High Needs Provision: Councillor Janet Higgins, Cabinet Member for Education and SEND, discussed the allocation of £10.7 million in High Needs Provision Capital Allocations for 2025-26, aimed at increasing local SEND capacity and improving provision within mainstream schools.
• Pay Policy Statement: The Council approved the Pay Policy Statement for 2026/27, noting the ratio between the lowest and highest paid employees and an update to the approach to market supplements.
• Committee Membership and Appointments: Various appointments were made to committees, panels, and outside bodies.
• Independent Remuneration Panel: The Council considered recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel regarding members' allowances, including the reinstatement of Special Responsibility Allowances for up to three shadow cabinet members. This was debated, with some councillors questioning the justification for the allowances and the precedent it set.
• Petitions: Councillor Andrew Clissett presented a petition from over 1700 residents objecting to a proposed housing development on green belt land in Burntwood.

The meeting concluded with the Chairman declaring the meeting closed.