Local Government Review
in County Durham
Shaping a better future for county and community

Implications for Residents and Citizens

For citizens and local communities, the one unitary council proposal suggests the following outcomes:
  • Joined up and integrated council services, oriented around the needs of people, places and neighbourhoods. Examples include integrated health, housing and social services teams across the County and local 'area care' to keep streets and neighbourhoods clean and tidy.
  • Consistent service levels across County Durham, driven up through common standards, more effective management and greater local influence over service provision. For example, by 2010 all social housing in the County will meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard.
  • Easier customer access to services across the County including one telephone number for all council services, up and running by vesting day (the day when the new council would take-over from the current councils) in 2009.
  • Greater choice and voice over services through direct payments and more locally-focused and action-oriented 'area action partnerships', as successors to existing district-based local strategic partnerships.
  • Fairer council tax charges for principal council services, eliminating disparities between areas by reducing council tax levels for the majority of households to those paid in the current lowest district area.