MAY I comment on Guy Opperman's anti-council regeneration comments and support for two
unitary councils, one rural one urban, for Northumberland (September 26).
The late Bruce Stevenson, who was then the county council's chief executive, said the four
unitary councils proposal would lead to weaker local government at a higher than necessary cost.
Figures for Durham and Northumberland were lost with the switch to the
unitary councils.
Two new
unitary councils that perform all local authority functions for this area will exist as "shadow councils" for the period leading up to the abolition of the current system after which they will take over the running of services.
Police authority member Brian Finn said: ``The additional costs being incurred for policing events transferred to Cardiff is impacting across the seven
unitary councils.
Whitehall figures put the rises at 6.4 per cent in London, 5.3 per cent in metropolitan authorities, 5.9 per cent in
unitary councils and 7.9 per cent in shire counties.
Whitehall sources said the average rise would be 6.4 per cent in London, 5.3 per cent in the Metropolitan Authorities, 5.9 per cent in
unitary councils and 7.9 per cent in shire counties.
New
unitary councils all over Scotland are predicting rises of up to 30 per cent in council tax because of cuts in Government cash support.
Six of the area's local authorities - the four Teesside
unitary councils and Darlington and Durham County councils - now have an 11% share in the airport.
But Blyth Valley Labour MP Ronnie Campbell - who campaigned for two separate
unitary councils and has been a leading critic of the new regime - claimed its introduction has been 'a disaster for a lot of people'.