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| Wellingborough backs Northamptonshire unitary council plan | Wellingborough backs Northamptonshire unitary council plan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A plan to replace eight councils with two unitary ones will be sent to the government this week after a second authority backed the plan. | A plan to replace eight councils with two unitary ones will be sent to the government this week after a second authority backed the plan. |
| Northamptonshire County Council voted to scrap itself on Tuesday before Wellingborough Borough Council followed suit to trigger the request to merge. | Northamptonshire County Council voted to scrap itself on Tuesday before Wellingborough Borough Council followed suit to trigger the request to merge. |
| A government inspector recommended the move in light of Northamptonshire's financial crisis. | A government inspector recommended the move in light of Northamptonshire's financial crisis. |
| The remaining six councils will vote on the plan by Thursday evening. | The remaining six councils will vote on the plan by Thursday evening. |
| Martin Griffiths, the leader of the Conservative Wellingborough council, told the meeting he was "slightly ashamed of what has happened to Northamptonshire, and I'm sure I'm not the only one". | Martin Griffiths, the leader of the Conservative Wellingborough council, told the meeting he was "slightly ashamed of what has happened to Northamptonshire, and I'm sure I'm not the only one". |
| He said: "The work starts Monday next week in reshaping the future and repairing the damage done." | He said: "The work starts Monday next week in reshaping the future and repairing the damage done." |
| Highlighting issues with the current model of local government in the county, he added: "I've been blamed for loaning money to the Cobblers [Northampton Town Football Club, who were given, and subsequently lost, a £10.25m loan from Northampton Borough Council to redevelop their stadium]. | |
| "People don't understand who provides what services." | "People don't understand who provides what services." |
| Leader of the opposition Labour group Andrew Scarborough said: "This is a sad day. It [the council] has been run well by both parties. | Leader of the opposition Labour group Andrew Scarborough said: "This is a sad day. It [the council] has been run well by both parties. |
| "There have also been arguments, but it has always balanced it books. I will be deeply sad to see it go. But I'm afraid, go it must." | "There have also been arguments, but it has always balanced it books. I will be deeply sad to see it go. But I'm afraid, go it must." |
| Max Caller, who led a government investigation into failings at Northamptonshire County Council, said one unitary authority would cover Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire. | Max Caller, who led a government investigation into failings at Northamptonshire County Council, said one unitary authority would cover Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire. |
| The other would oversee Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough. | The other would oversee Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough. |
| Six other councils in the county will still have similar meetings to vote on the proposals, but only two needed to back the plans in order for them to go before James Brokenshire, the minister responsible for local government. | Six other councils in the county will still have similar meetings to vote on the proposals, but only two needed to back the plans in order for them to go before James Brokenshire, the minister responsible for local government. |
| The plans follow two notices banning all new spending at the county council amid a £70m shortfall. | The plans follow two notices banning all new spending at the county council amid a £70m shortfall. |