Jan 12 2007
By Dave Black, The Journal
The Labour leadership of Northumberland County Council is in danger of losing a vote to endorse its plan to create a single unitary authority to run the county.
The ruling Labour group is proposing the creation of one `super council' after the Government called for a shake-up of the way the county is run.
Labour members have been threatened with suspension if they fail to support the bid in a vote at next week's crunch county council meeting.
But as the Tories and Lib Dems join forces to oppose the single council plan, Labour is looking at the real possibility of its proposals not being ratified by the council, on which it has a majority of two.
This would leave the bid in tatters, in the face of a rival plan from the six district councils who are backing the creation of two unitary councils split on rural and urban grounds.
In the Government's guidelines, councils were also told bids must carry "a broad cross section of support" to be successful.
Members of the ruling Labour group have been warned they face having the party whip withdrawn if they fail to toe the line at Monday's extraordinary meeting of the county council.
They have also been warned that any such disciplinary action could potentially bar them from standing as Labour candidates at the district council elections in May.
And the party's county councillors are being told they must support the single unitary option, even if they have voted in favour of two unitaries in their dual role as district councillors. The tough warning has been sounded in a letter to the 34 Labour councillors from group chief whip, Coun Paul Kelly, in a bid to head off any potential revolt which could scupper his party's bid for a single council for Northumberland.
It comes as opposition councillors have united in an attempt to inflict an embarrassing defeat on Labour at the meeting in County Hall, Morpeth.
A motion to be debated at the meeting - signed by Tory and Independent group leader Coun Alex Kerr and Lib Dem leader Coun Lesley Rickerby - urges the county council not to support a bid for a single unitary authority in Northumberland.
Coun Kelly's letter, which says the consequences of defeat in Monday's vote would be dire, makes it clear Labour councillors could face sanctions if they fail to support the single unitary option.
Yesterday one Labour district councillor, who asked not to be named, said: "Everyone I have spoken to is disgusted by the threats that are being made in this letter.
"The term blackmail has been used and no one can believe that councillors are being told they can vote one way at district level and a completely different way at the county."
Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell, who along with Northumberland's three other MPs supports two unitaries, said: "This sounds like heavy-handed stuff, but it is up to Labour county councillors to decide which way they vote."
Labour county councillor and Blyth Valley Borough Council leader Dave Stephens, who has publicly backed the two unitary option, said: "I don't want to make any comment on internal Labour Party matters, but I am sure all county councillors will be voting on Monday in the way they see fit."
Coun Kerr said: "I have submitted my motion to ensure that there is a vote on the issue on Monday.
"We are not in favour of a single unitary and Labour clearly realises the opposition groups are taking a strong line on this. From our point of view, there hasn't appeared to be any need to put a whip on."
Coun Rickerby said: "Most of our group are of a mind to oppose a single unitary."
Last night Labour county council leader, Coun Bill Brooks, said: "The Conservative group has a motion to council in direct opposition to the current council policy, so it is required that Labour councillors are subject to the party whip.
"The national office advocates that this is in line with Labour Party rules and members have been made aware of the application of that rule, in particular in respect of dual role councillors. Where district councillors are also county councillors, they are expected to act appropriately at county council meetings."
By Dave Black, The Journal
The Labour leadership of Northumberland County Council is in danger of losing a vote to endorse its plan to create a single unitary authority to run the county.
The ruling Labour group is proposing the creation of one `super council' after the Government called for a shake-up of the way the county is run.
Labour members have been threatened with suspension if they fail to support the bid in a vote at next week's crunch county council meeting.
But as the Tories and Lib Dems join forces to oppose the single council plan, Labour is looking at the real possibility of its proposals not being ratified by the council, on which it has a majority of two.
This would leave the bid in tatters, in the face of a rival plan from the six district councils who are backing the creation of two unitary councils split on rural and urban grounds.
In the Government's guidelines, councils were also told bids must carry "a broad cross section of support" to be successful.
Members of the ruling Labour group have been warned they face having the party whip withdrawn if they fail to toe the line at Monday's extraordinary meeting of the county council.
They have also been warned that any such disciplinary action could potentially bar them from standing as Labour candidates at the district council elections in May.
And the party's county councillors are being told they must support the single unitary option, even if they have voted in favour of two unitaries in their dual role as district councillors. The tough warning has been sounded in a letter to the 34 Labour councillors from group chief whip, Coun Paul Kelly, in a bid to head off any potential revolt which could scupper his party's bid for a single council for Northumberland.
It comes as opposition councillors have united in an attempt to inflict an embarrassing defeat on Labour at the meeting in County Hall, Morpeth.
A motion to be debated at the meeting - signed by Tory and Independent group leader Coun Alex Kerr and Lib Dem leader Coun Lesley Rickerby - urges the county council not to support a bid for a single unitary authority in Northumberland.
Coun Kelly's letter, which says the consequences of defeat in Monday's vote would be dire, makes it clear Labour councillors could face sanctions if they fail to support the single unitary option.
Yesterday one Labour district councillor, who asked not to be named, said: "Everyone I have spoken to is disgusted by the threats that are being made in this letter.
"The term blackmail has been used and no one can believe that councillors are being told they can vote one way at district level and a completely different way at the county."
Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell, who along with Northumberland's three other MPs supports two unitaries, said: "This sounds like heavy-handed stuff, but it is up to Labour county councillors to decide which way they vote."
Labour county councillor and Blyth Valley Borough Council leader Dave Stephens, who has publicly backed the two unitary option, said: "I don't want to make any comment on internal Labour Party matters, but I am sure all county councillors will be voting on Monday in the way they see fit."
Coun Kerr said: "I have submitted my motion to ensure that there is a vote on the issue on Monday.
"We are not in favour of a single unitary and Labour clearly realises the opposition groups are taking a strong line on this. From our point of view, there hasn't appeared to be any need to put a whip on."
Coun Rickerby said: "Most of our group are of a mind to oppose a single unitary."
Last night Labour county council leader, Coun Bill Brooks, said: "The Conservative group has a motion to council in direct opposition to the current council policy, so it is required that Labour councillors are subject to the party whip.
"The national office advocates that this is in line with Labour Party rules and members have been made aware of the application of that rule, in particular in respect of dual role councillors. Where district councillors are also county councillors, they are expected to act appropriately at county council meetings."
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