Council in last minute change to submission
COUNTY leaders averted an embarrassing defeat in a vote on local government reorganisation by drawing up a last minute compromise to support both of the two proposals.
Councillors at Northumberland County Council voted to pass a motion supporting the submission of the county plan to create a single unitary authority, and a plan from the districts for a rural urban split.
Last week the county council was criticised after a leaked e-mail revealed councillors would face sanctions if they did not vote to support the plans for a single ‘super council’.
But when the leadership was faced with a real possibility of losing the vote, council leader Bill Brooks submitted a last minute motion to support both plans during a meeting of the full council on Monday.
It was passed in a 43 to 18 vote.
Coun Leslie Rickerby, leader of the Lib Dem group, said it was no secret that the majority of councillors would have voted against the county’s plans.
And Coun Alex Kerr, leader of the Conservative and Independent group, said he thought the deal to support both was a “sop”.
But Coun Dave Stephens, leader of Blyth Valley Council, said he thought the motion was the best way forward.
“Everyone knows I am a supporter of creating two distinct unitary authorities,” he said.
“But I have no fear in seeing both options go to the government.
“We should support the submissions from all councils ... and take the options to the people of Northumberland
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