New Unitary Council prepares for business

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Apr 2009

April 2009 sees a change in Local Government. Tynedale Council will end with its functions passing to the new Unitary Council. Hexham will be a major town for delivering key services such as planning, waste collection and road maintenance. Hadrian House, Market Street, Hexham remains the main council building. A new single telephone number 0845 600 6400 is available for use from anywhere in the County and you can visit the website www.northumberland.gov.uk

The new council name is - Northumberland County Council - it was felt that keeping the name would reduce the cost of re-badging council buildings and vehicles to a minimum. Central Government instructed the new Council to save £25 million in its first year as part of efficiency savings and therefore Council tax will rise for Tynedale residents by 4.1% as we try to balance the books. £18 million will be spent this year on highways improvement and maintenance.