High praise for parish councillors

NORTHUMBERLAND’S parish and town councillors have been showered with praise for saving taxpayers’ hundreds of thousands of pounds.

- JAMES ROBINSON Local democracy reporter james.robinson@reachplccom

It comes after a review found nine parishes in the county are currently without a functioning council because not enough people are willing to serve.

Northumberland County Council has launched a wide-ranging community governance review that will allow changes to be made to these parishes. Councils require a minimum level of members to be quorum, or able to make decisions.

Speaking at Monday's meeting of the Castle Morpeth Local Area Committee, county councillor David Bawn praised those working in the first tier of local government.