Frequently asked questions...
What does ‘One Northumberland, Many Communities’ want?
Ultimately, the best outcome for the people of Northumberland, which we believe would be a single, fit-for-purpose local authority that delivers greater value for money, meets the needs of the county’s many communities, and acts as a strong and coherent voice for Northumberland in the region and beyond.
How was the Steering Board established?
The Steering Board is made up of a number of key individuals with a range of shared concerns about the future of Northumberland, and how local government in our county might deliver services better, improve engagement with local people, fight our corner regionally and nationally and bring in greater investment. Following a range of conversations around the current reform process, involving at time two or three of us, Sir Ian Wrigglesworth prompted us to meet more formally.
What do you plan to do, how and by when?
Over the next two months we will be seeking to make clear the benefits of a unitary outcome for Northumberland through engagement with key stakeholders and opinion formers both regionally and nationally.
How do you intend to build up support?
We are not a member organisation. We feel that we are able to provide symbolic, functional and geographical representation for the region and for the case for a single unitary authority. We believe that our campaign enables us to look beyond the County Council and the districts model, and argue for a new, fit-for-purpose unitary arrangement.
We will obviously be seeking to positively push the case for a single unitary but we exist to provide detail to the wider Northumberland public of the issues which underpin the case for a single unitary authority for the county area and to emphasise the breadth of support which exists in the area beyond the politicians and their political institutions.
What is your case for a single unitary and how does that meet with the government's localism agenda?
We are supportive of the County Council’s proposals but we are keen to explore improved ideas for local governance in Northumberland by engaging with some of the aspects of the proposals submitted by the Districts with a view to their incorporation into a single unitary proposal.
Moreover, we are keen to see the full development of the ‘belonging communities’ idea that underpins the county proposal, inclusive of the creation of community forums across the Northumberland area. We see these forums as essential to allow local people, local businesses and partners of the authority help give shape to the future of their towns and villages.
How do you intend to address issues raised by those who favour a two authority solution?
While we strongly believe that a single unitary is the best solution for the future of the Northumberland and its citizens, we want to consider and explore other ideas for improving local governance structures in the region that have not to date been incorporated into the county’s statements.
We are keen to engage with some of the aspects of the proposals submitted by the Districts with a view to their incorporation into a single unitary proposal, while at the same time challenging the views and the proposals submitted by the County.