Will Bill Brooks Resign if he fails to win approval for a unitary authority for Northumberland

An open letter to Councillor Brooks Dear Bill Brooks, Re: The Local Government White Paper.YOU are correct to say "Northumberland County Council leaders" welcomed the publication of this paper on local governance; however, I certainly wish it had been published in conjunction with the long awaited Lyons Report on local government and finance.Following the disastrous referendum of two years ago, we have continually heard from you that real efforts were being made to forge partnership working between the county and its districts.Indeed it was only a few months ago that you were lauding the signing of Local Area Agreements by all seven councils.Now, you claim "the current structure of local government in Northumberland doesn't work well".Do you really think a "directly elected cabinet" is (a) innovative or (b) what the public of Northumberland would want?I concur that Northumberland deserves "efficient, effective and fit for purpose" local government.The county has for too long been run by a Labour administration in which you have played leading roles – chairman/portfolio holder for highways and transport; deputy leader and leader – and you now recognise the need for improvement. That in itself is welcome.As well as the severely damaged relationships with our partners in the districts, did you not promise them to have a joint response to this paper?Your early declaration for "a single council for Northumberland" without any debate within the county council has and will continue to give concern about the role of democracy in the county.When will a debate take place? And if you lose that debate or fail to win government approval for a unitary authority in Northumberland, will you resign? COUN ALEX C KERR