Northumberland Council - What has happened so far?

The decision to reorganise local government in Northumberland dates back to the publication of a government White Paper in October 2006 which invited two-tier authorities to put forward proposals for change.

Two bids for Northumberland were submitted to the Government in January 2007: One from the district councils backing the creation of two separate rural and urban authorities and one from the county council favouring a single authority.

In March 2007 the Government announced that both bids from the county council and district councils were two of 16 short-listed nationally.

Between March 2007 and July 2007, the government had a period of consultation with stakeholders. Councils were able to submit more evidence in support of their original proposals.

On July 25 2007 Local Government Minister John Healey announced that proposals for one unitary council in Northumberland would go ahead, with the intention that a single council in Northumberland is fully up and running by 2009.

Royal Assent was given to the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 on October 30 2007. This established the legal framework for the new council. The Act is available to view at the following website www.opsi.gov.uk.

On December 5 2007 Local Government Minister John Healey announced final decisions on re-structuring. Orders for Northumberland and four other unitary areas across the county were laid in Parliament before Christmas.

On February 25 2008 Parliamentary Orders were issued for the creation of new authorities in five areas, including Northumberland. The Statutory Orders govern the transition to one council and the transfer of staff and services to the new authority.

They specified the transition arrangements, date of elections, number of councillors and the extension of terms of office for parish councillors, as well as other details.

These provide the implementation executive with powers to manage the transition process until May 2008. This body had overall responsibility for the transition arrangements until the new council was elected. It consisted of the executive, secretary to the executive and the two opposition leaders from Northumberland County Council and the six District Council leaders. When the new council was elected, the implementation executive was dissolved.

On May 1 2008 elections for the new council were held. These presented an opportunity for people in Northumberland to vote for a councillor to represent their area in the new single Northumberland council. The major change will see 67 councillors in Northumberland from 1 April 2009 instead of over 300 councillors that currently represent the county at district and county council level. 

From May these 67 councillors took over the remaining business for the county council until the new council begins in April 2009. Those councillors representing the district councils will continue in post until April 2009.
The results of the elections were announced on Friday May 2.

Transfer of responsibility moved from the implementation executive to the new elected council, whose leaders, executive leaders and leaders of the opposition were chosen at the “annual meeting” of the full council in late May.

The new administration has been formed by the Liberal Democrats, with Cllr Jeff Reid as the new Leader of the Council and Cllr Roger Styring as Deputy Leader.

The other portfolios holders are:

• Simon Reed - Executive Member for Children’s services
• Jim Smith - Executive Member for Environment and Regeneration
• Alan Thompson - Executive Member for Highways and operations
• Andrew Tebbutt - Executive Member for Corporate Services
• Isabel Hunter - Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing
• Lesley Rickerby - Executive Member for Community Services

Cllr Ian Tompkins became the new Chair of the county council with Cllr David Woodard as Vice Chair.

From May 2008 the new council will consider issues such as natural community boundaries and where the new council offices will be based.

June 2008 onwards - Senior staff such as the new chief executive and directors will be recruited by the new council.

March 2009 – the County Council finalises all committees and structures for the new authority at the final “annual meeting” of the county council.

March 31 2009 – Last day of business for the six district councils of Northumberland.

April 1 2009 – First day of operation for the new authority.

Documents

• You can read the Parliamentary Orders here
• You can read the complete One Concil One Future submission document here