What's New
In February 2008...
The Whole Council Blueprint Design
The design team within the Joint Implementation Team has produced a detailed blueprint and summary document to help plan the major reorganisation for local government in Northumberland. The blueprint creates a framework, defines the vision and details a set of principles to ensure that when we move into the detailed design we deliver on the principles of the original bid while remaining consistent, clear and intergrated in our approach.'
Independent Commission of Northumberland (ICON) - update
The first meeting of the ICON group will take place on Wednesday 27 February, 3-6pm. Six Northumberland residents have now been appointed on to the group. They join a selection of stakeholder representatives from around the county on the final group. The final list of ICON members can be found here.
Click here to find out more information about the Independent Commission of Northumberland.
In December 2007...
Local Government Minister John Healey announced final decisions on re-structuring in five areas in a written statement in Parliament - including one brand new single authority to be created to cover the whole of Northumberland.
He also announced a timetable to move towards the new council, with elections in May 2008 and the new authority to be up and running on 1 April 2009.
In November 2007...
Independent Commission of Northumberland (ICON)
- Applications now closed for positions on the ICON group
- Over 80 applications received from residents for up to 6 places
- Public sector members of the group will be asked to identify and go through a selection procedure to choose up to 6 public representatives
- We aim to have these people in place before the end of the year
Information for applicants to be residents’ representatives
What is it?
As part of the plans to set up one single unitary authority for Northumberland, an independent group – the ICON - is being established to help oversee the transition process and ensure the proposals are implemented in the best way and deliver the commitments to improve services, save money, make better use of resources and be closer to communities.
It is not a council committee. It is an independent, objective group to help oversee the process of transition and setting up of a brand new council for Northumberland.
Who is on it?
Members will represent other public sector, private sector and voluntary and community organisations which work in Northumberland. We would also like up to six members of the public who live in different parts of Northumberland
There will not be any councillors or representation from any of the existing councils (county or districts) on the commission.
Click here to find out more information about the Independent Commission of Northumberland.
In July 2007...
On the 25th July 2007 Local Government Minister John Healey announced that proposals for unitary status in Northumberland would go ahead, with the intention that a single Council in Northumberland is fully up and running by 2009.
The Leader of Northumberland County
Council has welcomed the announcement that there
will be one brand new single council for the whole of Northumberland.
He said "We know that the proposals will save £17m every year which
can be invested back into frontline services. It will stop money being wasted
on bureaucracy and duplication, and give local people more say."
In June 2007...
Final plans for one new Northumberland council
Northumberland County Council’s final proposals to save money, improve services and give local people more say in the future have been submitted to the Government.
These documents are shown in the "additional information" are to the right.
In March 2007...
Northumberland County Council has welcomed a Government announcement that its bid for one brand new council for the county has been carried through to the next phase.
The proposals submitted by the county council would see the current two tier arrangements abolished and a brand new, single unitary council set up in its place. This would save around £17m a year on the current arrangements, give residents more say through 26 community forums, bring council tax levels down and give a strong voice for the whole of the county. A separate bid by district councils to split the county into two will also be consulted on.
The Government will now be carrying out consultation on both proposals for Northumberland and a decision is expected in the summer.
If you want to let the government know what you think, click here to do so on their website.
You can read what the government has said about our proposals here.
You can read what the government has said about the District Council proposals here.
Click here to read our press release about the recent Government Announcement.
What? Why? How?
All these questions, but how do you find the answers? We've highlighted our proposals in an easy to read summary HERE. So you can now get the answers to the burning questions you may have on the exciting changes proposed for the future of local government in Northumberland.
For those of you with a bit more time you can read the complete submission document that has been presented to the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, Ruth Kelly. This provides further information about why we have proposed these changes, how they would be implemented and more detailed financial information. We also have detailed information on how we consulted with and listened to members of the public before making our final submission.
Follow the links below to read the Northumberland One Future - One Council submission document and further supporting documents in full.
- Once Future One Council - Complete Document
- One Future One Council (Part One) - Overview
- One Future One Council (Part Two) - Business Case
- One Future One Council (Appendix One) - MORI
- One Future One Council (Appendix Two) - Finances
- Further evidence to the Department of Communities and Local
Government to support the submission for a single unitary council - Northumberland County Council Stakeholder views on local government reorganisation
- Northumberland County Council: engaging the public about local government re-organisation in Northumberland
Press Pack
We launched our proposals on 5th January 2005. At this launch we identified some key features and facts which you can read below by following the links.
Voices of the people
Submitting major proposals that may have an impact on many people's lives was not done without listening to what the general public had to say on the issue. You can read the findings of our research below, as well as hearing from some of our important stakeholders.
You can read what other residents and stakeholders have said in the links above. We would also to like to hear from you if you have any views. Our submission is just the start of an important process and we want everyone to take the opportunity to be a part of the biggest changes to local government in recent history.
Have your say by emailing yourviews@northumberland.gov.uk
Correspondence
Details of correspondence with the Department for Communities and Local Government are set out below:
- Letter dated 12th February responding to requests for further information on the Councils submission.
- Councils response to request for further information.
- Note of meeting held on 14th February with DCLG officials to discuss request for information.
- Request for further information dated 9th March.
- Chief Executive's response to request dated 13 March.
One Northumberland, many communities
One Northumberland many communities is an independent campaign aimed at making the case for a single unitary solution for Northumberland is and is the brainchild of a number of prominent individuals from across the North East, whose concerns about the future shape of local government in the county area have prompted them into action. Find out more about the campaign at www.onenorthumberland.org.uk