A PIONEERING plan to give neighbourhoods more control over local services will be discussed this week during a meeting with residents.

Officials say the proposal to create four non-political councils within the Blurton ward would allow people to make more decisions for their areas.

And there will be a meeting on Thursday night for those who want to find out more about idea.

Harry Brunt, chairman of Staffordshire Parish Councils Association, will be at the Tollgate Hotel, in Ripon Road, from 7pm for a question and answer session.

There are currently about 3,200 members of the electorate for every city councillor.

But planned boundary changes could increase that figure to 4,200 voters for every representative.

So Tony Bloor, who helped organise Thursday's meeting, has proposed the creation of more local councils, which would operate in a similar way to traditional parish councils, in Hollybush, Blurton, Blurton Farm and Newstead.

They would have a say on issues such as anti-social behaviour and amenities.

Mr Bloor, a retired 59-year-old, of Trentham Road, said: "Anybody could be a councillor under this system and anybody could do the job."

At least 250 residents from each of the four areas would have to back the scheme before Stoke-on-Trent City Council could be petitioned for a wider referendum.