In October 2006, the Department for Communities and Local Government announced plans to change the way local authorities work. They published a White Paper "Strong and prosperous communities" that aimed to improve local government and give local people and local communities more influence and power to improve their lives.
Councils in two tier local government areas like County Durham – where the District Councils and the County Council provide all local services – were invited to put forward new proposals for providing such services.
Following consideration of separate proposals from the District Councils in County Durham and Durham County Council, the Government confirmed on 5th December 2007 that there was to be a single unitary council for County Durham established by 2009 based on the Durham County Council proposal.
If you would like to see more information about the plans please select a link below.
All of the County’s seven District Councils and Durham County Council are now working together to create a new single council for County Durham and to ensure, during the move to unitary government, continued delivery of high quality services.
Services will continue to be provided by the existing councils until the unitary handover in April 2009.
In light of the reorganisation, fresh elections were held on 1 May 2008 and councillors were elected to run the County Council and oversee the reorganisation. The newly elected councillors will become unitary councillors in April 2009.
At the elections the 63 existing county councillors stood down, and were replaced by 126 councillors – two councillors for each of the county’s 63 electoral divisions.
The 312 existing district councillors across County Durham will remain in office until the unitary handover in April 2009.
The single unitary council proposal
Government White Paper – "Strong and prosperous communities"
Durham County Council unitary local government submission, January 2007
Unitary submission - General Fund financial information, January 2007
Unitary submission - Housing Revenue Account financial information, January 2007
Unitary submission - financial information assumptions, January 2007
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Name: Mike Lavender
Telephone: 0191 5270 501
email: mike.lavender@easington.gov.uk |
Address: District of Easington, Council Offices, Seaside Lane, Easington, County Durham, SR8 3TN