A Staffordshire council could remain a member of a national association up to its abolition – despite councillors voting to leave immediately.

Reform UK leaders at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council have previously announced their intention to take the authority out of the Local Government Association, which they described as an ineffective 'talking shop' and a waste of taxpayers' money.

At their meeting this week cabinet members voted to authorise officers to engage with the LGA to secure the council's 'immediate withdrawal'.

But they were told that LGA rules – which the borough council signed up to when it joined the LGA in 2018 – state that member authorities have to give a year's notice, to expire at the end of March the following year.

Monitoring officer Olwen Brown told the meeting that this would mean the borough council would not be able to leave the LGA until 31 March 2028 – the day before the authority is due to be abolished and replaced under local government reorganisation.

This would require the council to pay another year's subscription – membership has cost £11,538 this year.

Ms Brown said: "It's clear in the articles of association that member authorities must give a year's notice, to expire on 31 March the following year, which means that any notice that we give would not expire until the 31 March 2028.

"I asked if there was evidence that we had signed up to that, and they have provided evidence, which shows that when this authority joined the LGA in 2018, the then interim chief executive signed the document which committed this authority to observing all the terms that are in the articles of association. So I think, bluntly, we're stuck."

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But council leader Jonathan Gullis insisted that the authority would be leaving the LGA next March, and would not be paying for another year's membership.

He said: "My view is very simple. We have given nearly 12 months' notice, since we announced our intention to withdraw from the LGA.

"It's been reaffirmed at the 8 July full council meeting, which is essentially still nine to 10 months' notice. My firm belief is that, if the LGA wants to get its grubby hands on our taxpayers' money they're going to have to fight us tooth and nail for it, as of 1 April 2027."

The LGA provides various services to member authorities, such as training, peer reviews and networks. But according to the report to cabinet, the borough council would be able to access the same services or alternatives without being a member of the LGA.

All 10 councils in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire, including Newcastle, are due to be abolished and replaced with two new unitary authorities in 2028.