Lib Dem proposals back single Council for Northampton

10.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 16th Sep 2007

"We need clearer accountability for local services by bringing them within the control of one Council for Northampton".

Andrew Simpson, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North has welcomed proposals passed at the Lib Dems' Conference in Brighton that would allow for the creation of a new Council for Northampton.

"The present situation of having both a County Council and a Borough Council trying to run services in one of the largest towns in the country is unsustainable" said Andrew "We need clearer accountability for local services by bringing them within the control of one Council for Northampton".

The Lib Dems passed new plans for local Government under a policy document titled 'The Power to be Different - Local and Regional Governance'. Under the proposals more power would be given to local councils including:

• The devolution of powers to local councils away from Whitehall

• The creation of a single principal tier of local government across the country - subject to community approval

• Establishment of local governing boards to run local services working with Councils

*Introduction of a fair voting system for local elections using the single-transferable vote

• Putting local quangos under the control of local councils to decide whether to scrap them or change their remit

• Switching taxation gradually to local rather than national

• Directly elected regional government in regions that want them

"These proposals would allow for the scrapping of the unelected Government quango of the WNDC and the strengthening local government for the benefit of the people of Northampton" said Andrew