Facts and Figures

In the first 12 months of the transition to a unitary authority, Northumberland County Council has already made a number of key improvements for local people:

• A seamless transition of seven councils into a single unitary authority  without disruption to residents.
• Less duplication, better use of resources and around £40m of savings.
• A single point of contact with one number and website for all customer services.
• Many pupils enjoyed new facilities as part of an ambitious £122m building programme for schools.
• A new £12 million state-of-the art recycling facility and waste transfer station at West Sleekburn.
• More than 15 special area clean ups around the county.
• Secured £26.4m from the government for housing.
• Safer Northumberland - a new partnership established to tackle crime, disorder, drugs and alcohol abuse.
• Reduced the amount of waste sent to landfill by a fifth (April-Sep).
• Increased recycling rates across Northumberland.
• Won the highest number of government Local Government Innovation Awards of any council in the country and winning £1.2m to reinvest in local services.
• Created a regeneration capital programme worth £49 million reaching across Northumberland - including town centre redevelopment schemes, heritage based regeneration projects and business development.
• Achieved a share of Future Jobs Fund funding to secure more than 200 jobs for young unemployed people.
• Saved nearly 200 jobs and supported the long-term security of a key employer in Amble.
• The launch of a dedicated Community Flooding Partnership to tackle flood risk across Northumberland.
• The creation of Northumberland's first water rescue team with 24 trained personnel and specialised equipment.
• The start of work on two new, state-of-the-art fire stations in Northumberland.
• Secured Playbuilder funding of £1.1million to develop 33 play areas.
• More than 20 community forums have been set up around the county as part of a process to engage local people.
• Coordinated all neighbourhood services across Northumberland.
• Organised welcome home parades for more than 200 soldiers returning from Afghanistan.
• A new fast track service reduced the processing of benefits payments from an average 68 days to 35.
• Reduced management costs by 18%.
• Almost 100 venues across Northumberland took part in Heritage Open Days.