Background to Unitary

Currently, the main council services in County Durham are split between the county council and seven district councils.

The Government has decided that the councils will be reorganised so that one unitary or 'all purpose' council provides all of the main council services people receive.

The key features of the change are:

By 1 April 2009, the county and district councils will be brought together to create one new unitary council for the county.
Once established, the unitary council will provide all of the main local services people currently get from the county and district councils and will have local offices around the county.
The number of councillors will be reduced from 375 to 126 and the council will have a cabinet of 10 councillors.
Reorganisation will be achieved by bringing the county and district councils together, with the county council acting as a transitional authority for a year before the new unitary council is formed.
Services will continue to be provided by the existing councils until the unitary handover in April 2009.
In light of the reorganisation, a special election is planned for 1 May 2008 when the 63 existing county councillors will stand down to enable people to vote afresh for the councillors they want to set up and run the new council. The councillors people elect will decide how the new council should be developed and set its first budget. They will also run the existing county council until the handover to the unitary council in April 2009.
Current district councillors will remain in office until the unitary handover in April 2009.

The reorganisation is based on a unitary proposal submitted to Government by Durham County Council. In establishing the new council, the existing local authorities and the newly elected councillors have to have regard to the unitary proposal and directions and regulations made by the Government.

Reorganisation will be achieved by implementing the County Durham Structural Change Order 2008.