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'Travesty of democracy'
A FURIOUS row has erupted between a county councillor and the ruling Labour executive over plans for joint working during the forthcoming local government restructure.
Coun Sue Bolam, member for Rothbury, spoke out at the meeting of Northumberland County Council in Morpeth last week.
She put forward a motion committing the county council to working in equal partnership with the districts, all political parties in the council, and in full consultation with the people of Northumberland.
Conservative member Coun Bolam told councillors the Goverment decision to create a single unitary authority for the county has been a "travesty of democracy".
And she warned county council leader Coun Peter Hillman: "You may sit in your concrete tower and think you can dictate to the people of Northumberland and not listen to their views.
"We all know that the people of Northumberland did not support this submission. You have ignored democracy and you may well yet get a bloody nose."
Her comments came after the Labour leader announced a cross-party committee will be formed to help oversee the transition to a unitary authority in Northumberland.
Coun Hillman said the committee will comprise all eight members of the county council's Labour executive, plus the leaders of all six district councils.
Coun Bolam branded this unfair, saying ten of the committee will be Labour members and represent urban areas.
"You ignore democracy at your peril," she added.
But Coun Hillman claimed opposition councillors were being paranoid.
He went on: "We have a golden opportunity here to improve the services the people of Northumberland get. We must not miss this opportunity, we must not live in the past.
"Let's get on with it, let's move it forward and deliver these services the people of Northumberland deserve."
He said he made no apology for the make-up of the joint committee, as he felt the county had the responsibility to lead the transition.
Coun Bolam's motion was defeated by 31 votes to 28, with support from north Northumberland county councillors Gordon Castle, John Taylor, Hugh Philipson, and Jeff Watson.
County council chairman and Labour member for Amble Coun Robert Arckless voted with his party against the proposal.
Speaking after the meeting, Coun Bolam said she felt the county had "ridden roughshod over the electorate of Northumberland".
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Weather for Northumberland
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 15 C
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Wind direction: East
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