This Order gives effect to recommendations by the Local Government Commission for England in respect of the structure of local government in the city of Stoke-on-Trent (“Stoke”).

Article 3 provides for Stoke to cease to form part of the county of Staffordshire on 1st April 1997 and for a new county of Stoke-on-Trent to be constituted on that date (but without a county council).

Article 4 makes a small change in the boundary between Stoke and the borough of Stafford on 1st April 1997. The map forming part of this Note shows, as a general guide only, the areas which are transferred to Stoke. Prints of the detailed order map (described in article 2) may be inspected at all reasonable times at the offices of the county council, the city council and the borough council concerned and, additionally, at the offices of the Secretary of State for the Environment located at 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 3EB.

Article 5 effects the structural change by providing for the transfer, on 1st April, 1997, of the functions of Staffordshire County Council in relation to Stoke to the council of that city.

Articles 6 and 7 make provision in respect of the Staffordshire Police Authority.

Article 8 makes provision for the purposes of subordinate legislation which may be made under the Fire Services Act 1947 in respect of fire services.

Article 9 makes provision in relation to the structure plan applying to Staffordshire. It also makes provision to enable the local plan prepared by the council of Stoke under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to contain minerals and waste policies.

Article 10 makes provision for a whole council election in Stoke in 1996 and for reversion to election by thirds in subsequent years.

Article 11 provides for the retirement, on 6th May 1996, of existing city councillors of Stoke and, on 1st April 1997, of existing county councillors elected for divisions in Stoke. It also makes provision in respect of casual vacancies in the office of a councillor who, by virtue of the Order, would retire before the day he would regularly have retired.