South Staffordshire Council

What South Staffordshire Council does

South Staffordshire Council is a UK local government district authority established in 1974, operating from Codsall Community Hub in Codsall, Staffordshire. The council serves the residents and businesses of the South Staffordshire district, which spans 27 parish councils, providing statutory and discretionary local government services including waste collection and recycling, council tax administration, business rates, planning and development management, housing and homelessness services, benefits administration, licensing and permits, environmental protection, bereavement services, community engagement, and leisure services. The council operates four leisure centres (Cheslyn Hay, Codsall, Penkridge, Wombourne), two cemeteries (Sytch Lane, Strawberry Lane), and Baggeridge Country Park. Its workforce is 101-250 employees.

The council's revenue model is publicly funded rather than commercial, drawing from council tax on residential properties, business rates on commercial properties (partially retained before central government redistribution), central government grants, and a wide range of fees and charges. Chargeable services include garden waste collection subscriptions (£49 per bin for 2026/27), leisure centre memberships (£34/month full membership), planning application fees, licensing fees, and cemetery services. Distribution channels combine digital self-service (Verint Cloud Services portal, ePayCapita payment portal, Housing Jigsaw housing portal, the Engage South Staffs consultation platform launched June 2025), telephone, the Codsall Community Hub for in-person service, and Post Office/PayPoint networks for council tax payments. The council holds a statutory monopoly on most services within its district and has been recognized through iESE UK Council of the Year 2022, RTPI Planning Authority of the Year West Midlands, and multiple Green Flag Awards.

The core technology stack is standard local government digital infrastructure, with no proprietary AI or advanced technology platforms. Notable integrations include Verint Cloud Services for customer portal, ePayCapita for payments, Housing Jigsaw for housing allocations, and Google Analytics for website analytics. The council is undergoing a major structural change: the UK government has confirmed that from April 2028, all 10 existing councils in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent will be replaced by two new unitary councils, with South Staffordshire joining the Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary authority alongside Cannock, Stafford, Lichfield, Tamworth, and East Staffordshire councils.

Name

South Staffordshire Council

Legal name

South Staffordshire District Council

Website

https://www.sstaffs.gov.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

South Staffordshire Council is a UK local government district authority established in 1974 providing statutory services, including waste collection, council tax, planning, housing, benefits, and leisure, to residents and businesses across 27 parish councils, with operations set to transition to a unitary authority in April 2028.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Services

NAICS

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Executive Offices (92111)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Municipal Finance, Treasury, Budget & Procurement (BPAIACAC), Municipal Tax & Revenue Administration (Local) (BPAIACAD)

Keywords

• Local government services
• Waste collection services
• Council tax administration
• Housing services
• Leisure centre services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stafford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Council Tax: Council tax is a local tax charged on residential properties to fund local council services. Residents can pay monthly, annually, or in installments via direct debit, online, telephone, post office, or standing order.
2. Business Rates: Business rates are a tax on commercial properties collected by the council and passed to central government with partial retention. Reliefs available include Small Business Rates Relief.
3. Garden Waste Collection Service: Chargeable subscription service for green garden waste bin collection. Annual subscription fee of £49 per bin (2026/27). Collections every two weeks throughout the year.
4. Business Investment Fund: A £300,000 fund to support South Staffordshire businesses, providing investment for economic development.
5. Community and Business Investment Fund: £1.5 million fund launched to support projects improving local areas, strengthening communities, and helping businesses thrive.
6. Leisure Centre Memberships and Services: Full membership at £34/month, swimming membership at £23.90/month, student memberships, and various sports/fitness services at four leisure centres. Includes swimming lessons, corporate memberships, and health schemes.
7. Online Payment Services: Quick, easy and secure payment portal allowing payment for council services including bulky waste collection, council tax, business rates, fixed penalty notices, housing benefit overpayments, licensing payments, planning payments, parking fines, and rent.
8. Housing Services Administration: Statutory frontline homelessness and housing advice services. The council no longer owns housing stock (transferred to South Staffordshire Housing Association in 1997) but provides nominations to housing associations.
9. Waste Collection Services: Household waste and recycling collection including general waste, recycling, food waste (free weekly service starting 2026), and bulky waste collection (chargeable). Garden waste subscription service.
10. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support: Means-tested benefits administered by the council for housing benefit and council tax support for eligible residents.
11. Bereavement Services: Cemetery management and burial services at Sytch Lane Cemetery in Wombourne and Strawberry Lane Cemetery in Great Wyrley. Includes grave purchases, memorials, and funeral arrangements.
12. Licensing and Permits: Various licenses and permits including alcohol and entertainment, animal licensing, gambling, taxis, cosmetic treatments, pavement licences, and houses in multiple occupation (HMO) licenses.
13. Planning Application Fees: Fees charged for planning applications, appeals, tree works permission, and planning document copies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

South Staffordshire Council is a UK district local authority providing statutory and discretionary public services to residents and businesses within the South Staffordshire district. Core offerings include council tax administration, business rates, waste and recycling collection (including garden and food waste), housing services, planning applications, council tax benefits, leisure centre operations, bereavement services, environmental health, and licensing and permits. The Council is funded through taxation, government grants, and service fees.

Product overview

South Staffordshire Council provides a comprehensive range of local government services to residents and businesses across the district. The council operates through multiple service channels including online portals for payments, applications, and reporting, as well as physical services at leisure centres, cemeteries, and country parks. Key service clusters include: Benefits and Financial Services (benefits administration, council tax, business rates, welfare support), Environmental Services (bins and recycling, food waste collection, garden waste permits, environmental maintenance), Housing and Planning Services (housing applications, planning applications, property licensing), Community and Leisure Services (four leisure centres, swimming academy, Baggeridge Country Park, community funding), and Corporate Services (elections, licensing, food safety). Services are delivered through integrated platforms including Verint Cloud Services for customer portals, ePayCapita for payments, and Housing Jigsaw for housing allocations, with digital engagement through the Engage South Staffordshire platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Council Tax Administration Statutory billing and collection of council tax from residents within the South Staffordshire district, including banding, discounts, exemptions, and recovery. Targeted at residential households.
• Business Rates Statutory billing and collection of non-domestic rates (NDR) from businesses with premises in the district. Targeted at commercial ratepayers including shops, offices, and industrial operators.
• Bins and Recycling Collection Kerbside collection of general refuse and mixed recycling from residential properties on scheduled rounds. Targeted at district households.
• Garden Waste Collection Opt-in, paid seasonal kerbside collection of garden waste for residential properties. Targeted at householders with gardens.
• Food Waste Collection Kerbside collection of separated food waste from residential properties for composting and diversion from landfill. Targeted at district households.
• Housing Services Statutory housing functions including homelessness prevention, housing register, allocation of social housing, and tenancy advice. Targeted at residents in housing need.
• Planning Applications Processing of planning applications, including householder, full, outline, and listed building consents, plus planning enforcement. Targeted at property owners, developers, and applicants.
• Council Tax Benefits and Welfare Support Means-tested Council Tax Reduction scheme and welfare advice for residents on low incomes. Targeted at households requiring financial assistance.
• Wombourne Leisure Centre Public leisure centre in Wombourne offering gym, fitness classes, swimming, and sports activities. Targeted at residents and visitors seeking fitness and recreation.
• Codsall Leisure Centre Public leisure centre in Codsall offering fitness, swimming, and recreation services. Targeted at residents and visitors seeking fitness and recreation.
• Penkridge Leisure Centre Public leisure centre in Penkridge providing fitness, swimming, and sport facilities. Targeted at residents and visitors seeking fitness and recreation.
• Swimming Academy Structured learn-to-swim programme for children and adults following the Swim England pathway, delivered at Council leisure centres. Targeted at families, children, and adult learners.
• Bereavement Services Cemetery, burial, and cremation services including registration of deaths. Targeted at bereaved families and funeral arrangers.
• Baggeridge Country Park Public country park with walking trails, visitor centre, and outdoor recreation facilities. Targeted at visitors and residents seeking outdoor leisure.
• Licensing and Permits Issuance of premises licences, personal licences, permits, and other statutory approvals for alcohol, entertainment, and regulated activities. Targeted at businesses and event organisers.
• Food Safety and Environmental Health Inspection, registration, and advice on food safety, hygiene, and environmental health standards for food businesses. Targeted at food premises operators and the public.
• Elections and Voter Registration Maintenance of the electoral register and administration of local, national, and parish elections. Targeted at eligible voters in the district.

Quantifiable outcome

• Waste and recycling ranks in top third of Councils in England for recycling performance
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• South Staffordshire Housing AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 1997Housing association that took ownership of the council's housing stock in March 1997. The council maintains nomination agreements with the housing association, referring eligible residents for affordable housing. Joint work on homelessness strategy and housing delivery.
• Biffa Municipal LtdcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBiffa Municipal Ltd is the council's contractor for garden waste collection services. The council shares customer address data and subscription numbers with Biffa to facilitate the service. The partnership enables the chargeable garden waste collection subscription service operating across South Staffordshire.
• Forest of Mercia CICminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity interest company partnering with the council to deliver family-friendly events at council cemeteries including bug hunts and rock painting activities at Strawberry Lane Cemetery (Great Wyrley) and Sytch Lane Cemetery (Wombourne).
• Central Building ControlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Staffordshire Council has joined up with five other local authorities to form Central Building Control partnership for delivering building control services across the region.
• Citizens AdviceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCitizens Advice drop-in sessions available at Codsall Community Hub, offering free debt advice and budgeting support to residents every Thursday 9am-3pm. Contact: 0808 278 7874.
• Staffordshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Staffordshire's borough and district councils and Staffordshire County Council for various initiatives including Staffordshire Warmer Homes scheme, recycling centres provision, and local government reorganisation preparation. The county council provides roads, schools, social services, and other upper-tier services.
• Beat the Cold CharityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity supported by districts, boroughs, and Staffordshire County Council offering fuel advice to residents to combat fuel poverty.
• Housing Associations (Multiple)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with multiple housing associations operating within South Staffordshire through nomination agreements. Housing associations are independent not-for-profit landlords providing affordable housing. Approximately half their funding comes from public purse with the rest raised privately.
• Staffordshire County Council (Recycling Centres)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStaffordshire County Council provides local recycling centres (tips) for residents to dispose of household waste and recycling. South Staffordshire District Council directs residents to these facilities for items not collected curbside.
• Southern and Mid Staffordshire CouncilscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint partnership with Cannock, Stafford, Lichfield, Tamworth, and East Staffordshire councils for proposed Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary authority. All six councils submitted joint expression of interest to Government in March 2025 for Foundation Strategic Authority and local government reorganisation.
• Various Churches and Community VenuesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with community venues across the district for food waste liner collection points for residents in flats and apartments. Includes churches, community centres, libraries, and leisure centres at multiple locations (Bilbrook, Penkridge, Kinver, Featherstone, Essington, Codsall, Great Wyrley, Cheslyn Hay, Brewood, Dunston, Perton, Swindon, Wombourne).
• Local Businesses (Corporate Members)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCorporate membership scheme where local businesses in South Staffordshire with minimum 5 employees can sign up for discounted leisure memberships for their staff. Businesses must complete registration form and promote scheme internally.
• West Midlands Interchange PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational infrastructure project - the largest rail-served logistics development in the UK. Will deliver up to 8 million sq ft of new logistics space connected to West Coast Mainline and up to 8,500 new jobs over 10 years. Council involved in planning process.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cannock Chase District Council: Neighbouring Staffordshire district council that will merge with South Staffordshire into the Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary authority in 2028. Provides comparable services including waste collection, leisure, planning, and benefits to a similar geographic population.
• Stafford Borough Council: Neighbouring Staffordshire district council and fellow merger partner for the 2028 unitary authority. Provides similar district-level services (waste, housing, planning, leisure) to residents in the Stafford area.
• Tamworth Borough Council: Neighbouring Staffordshire borough council within the Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary formation. Provides similar local government services including waste collection, leisure centres, and planning.
• Lichfield District Council: Neighbouring Staffordshire district council also merging into the Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary. Operates comparable services at similar scale to South Staffordshire Council.
• East Staffordshire Borough Council: Neighbouring Staffordshire district council forming part of the same 2028 Southern and Mid Staffordshire Unitary authority. Delivers comparable waste, planning, housing, and leisure services.

Regional players

• Staffordshire Moorlands District Council: Fellow Staffordshire district council but merging into the separate Northern Staffordshire Unitary authority. Provides comparable services in the same county, sharing regional procurement and reorganisation context.
• Bromsgrove District Council: Neighbouring West Midlands district council of similar size and service profile. Provides comparable district-level services in the adjacent region without direct service overlap.
• Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council: Neighbouring Staffordshire borough council with similar population size and service mandate. Provides comparative benchmark for waste collection, leisure, and community services delivery.

Broad incumbents

• Shropshire Council: Single-tier unitary authority in the West Midlands region covering a similar mix of rural and suburban communities. Provides relevant benchmark for unitary transition outcomes.
• Staffordshire County Council: Upper-tier authority that currently provides roads, schools, social services, and recycling centres to South Staffordshire residents. Will be abolished in 2028 to be replaced by two new unitary authorities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/south_staffs
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCO5Dh4aMZqTn3FiiIqchz8Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/southstaffs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-staffordshire-council

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Staffordshire Council