The Independent Commission Of Northumberland (ICON)

ICON is an independent panel set up to help oversee the move towards a new council next April.

It is not a council committee. It is an independent, objective group. Acting as a critical friend, ICON will ensure that commitments are delivered to work closely with communities, improve services, save money and make good use of resources.

Members of the public were invited to join ICON along with representatives from private, public, voluntary and community organisations in Northumberland. Over 80 applications received from residents for the six places.

The main aim was to appoint people who are passionate about the county. There are no councillors or representation from any of the existing councils (county or districts)

ICON will check that proposals for the new council are carried out in the best way. The first full meeting of ICON took place in February 2008. 

 

What people say about ICON

Local Government Minister John Healey:  "One of the main benefits of the flagship new unitary council for Northumberland is much greater involvement of local people giving them a greater say. 

“Their role in this as an independent commission will help ensure the new authority meets their needs and aspirations.”

ICON chair, Prof Kel Fidler, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Northumbria University: “The transfer to a unitary authority for Northumberland holds a lot of promise for all the people in the county, and I am determined the ICON group will use its influence to ensure that the means for the delivery of that promise is realised. 
“All the members of ICON are not only united in that aim, but also in the passion they hold for Northumberland, its people and its places.”

Kevin Rowan, Regional Secretary of the Northern Trade Union Congress: “My aspirations for ICON are to help to ensure that the new single, county-wide authority in Northumberland is established in a way which will allow it to be the best local authority in the country.

“It is my view that local government is often invisible and nearly always under-appreciated, yet it is absolutely vital to delivering services and support that make people's quality of life work well.  As both a resident of Northumberland and as regional secretary of the TUC I want to help shape an authority of the future, for the future - to help make Northumberland an even better place to live and work.”

Dr Jon Hargreaves, former Managing Director of Northumbrian Water and one of the public members of ICON.

 “I believe that ICON demonstrates a new and interesting way of bringing a range of skills to the challenges of merging the service providers in Northumberland which should help ensure the customers get the best value for money.

“Having recently been involved in a very large merger in Scotland I hope I can bring some real practical help to the process. ICON provides an opportunity for me to make a contribution to the success of Northumberland.”

 

ICON member list:

• Prof. Kel Fidler - Vice Chancellor of Northumbria University (Chair)
• Susan Sim - Assistant Chief Constable of Northumbria Police
• Ian Dalton - Chief Executive of the North East Strategic Health Authority
• Robert Langley - Chair of Community Action Northumberland
• Lynda Keith - Deputy Director - Government Office for the North East
• Isobel Robertson - Deputy Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce
• Kevin Rowan - Regional Secretary, Trade Union Congress
• North Northumberland resident – Vivien McDougall (Berwick-upon-Tweed)
• North Northumberland resident – Kate Hobson (Swarland, Alnwick)
• West Northumberland resident – Dr Jon Hargreaves (Morpeth)
• West Northumberland resident – Marie McDonald (Mohope, nr Hexham, Tynedale)
• South East Northumberland resident – Pamela Hall (Seaton Delaval)
• South East Northumberland resident – Patricia Donaldson (Ashington)

 

Why have it?

The proposals for one new council and the details of how this will be implemented have been set out and agreed by the Government.
A transition team will be set up to take this forward, but the ICON will help give an independent overview and assurance that these plans are being delivered in the best way by the transition teams.  It will give an additional assurance that the commitments set out in the plans are being delivered in way proposed, or that any deviations from the original proposals are due to the best interest of communities and the county of Northumberland, and that the plans continue to fulfil the criteria for change as set out by the government.

 

What will it do?

It will meet regularly to hear from senior officers about the progress of plans to set up the new council. It will be able to question and challenge officers and experts about how the changes are being delivered, what this means for services, customers, partners and communities.  It will scrutinise what is being done and hold the transition teams and decision makers to account.

It will not have decision making powers, but will be influential in the transition period.