Implications for Councillors

Currently there are 375 district and county councillors in County Durham.

The County has more councillors than other comparable areas and the proposal involves reducing the number down to a level which is more consistent with comparable unitary areas in terms of population and size.

Ultimately, the new unitary council would comprise 'single Member wards' where each ward elects and is represented by one councillor. The Electoral Commission would conduct a review to determine the geography and number of electoral wards, but as an interim measure before the review is conducted, the new unitary council would work on the basis of two councillors representing each of the 63 existing electoral divisions in the County. This would give an authority of 126 frontline ward councillors.

The new unitary would be led by one of the three new leadership options proposed by the Government in the White Paper, to ensure that it provides strong, clear and visible strategic leadership for the council and the County.

Frontline ward councillors would have a more attractive and influential role, with devolved budgets averaging £50,000 per ward and sufficient officer support, to shape what happens in their local area and resolve issues quickly and easily.

Given the increased significance of their role, the proposal suggests that unitary councillors should receive higher allowances than current county and district councillors. With a more influential role and better remuneration, becoming a councillor will become a more attractive and feasible prospect for a broader range of people.

First elections

On 1 May 2008, it is planned to hold elections for the councillors who will eventually become unitary councillors on the new authority. 126 councillors will be elected to the county council, initially to oversee reorganisation and then to become the unitary councillors from April 2009 onwards.

In order to provide people interested in standing for election with information about the role, we have published the following prospectus for potential candidates.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.

Election candidates prospectus December 2007.pdf (8 pages, 139kb)