Reform complains about revamp plan

REFORM UK has lodged a complaint with Northumberland County Council over plans to revamp the local authority's constitution.

- JAMES ROBINSON

The review of the document was announced at the first meeting of the new-look council in May following the local elections.

Since then, none of the usual public scrutiny meetings have been held.

The new constitution is due to be put to a vote of members on July 2, but Reform say it has made a “formal complaint” to the council's standards committee regarding “breaches of procedure and potential violations of the Nolan Principles”.

The subject and detail of the complaint has not been made public but the council insists that all rules have been followed.

Reform officials claim members have made formal requests to delay the constitution process, arguing its newly-elected councillors have not had the necessary training. The party has also claimed agendas for review meetings ~ held behind closed doors - were delivered with less than 24 hours’ notice, leaving councillors with “out of date” documents.