The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972 covering four former districts, which were all abolished at the same time:[1]
The new district was named East Staffordshire, reflecting its position within the wider county.[2] The district received borough status in 1992, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor.[3]
The first elections were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[8]
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in East Staffordshire. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 2009 have been:[9]
Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 37 councillors representing 16 wards, with each ward electing one, two or three councillors. Elections are held every four years.[13]
Premises
The council is based at Burton upon Trent Town Hall. The building was originally built in 1878 as the St Paul's Institute and Liberal Club, before being given to the old Burton upon Trent Borough Council in 1891 and subsequently converted to become a town hall. Significant extensions were added in 1894 and 1939.[14][15]
The whole borough is covered by civil parishes. The parish council for Uttoxeter has declared that parish to be a town, allowing it to take the style "town council".[16] Between 1974 and 2003 the former county borough of Burton upon Trent was an unparished area. There were charter trustees for Burton which operated between 1974 and 1992, allowing Burton to continue to appoint a mayor. They ceased to operate when East Staffordshire was made a borough in 1992, allowing a district-wide mayor to be appointed instead.[14] The Burton area was divided into seven civil parishes in 2003.[17]
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