Group split backed

Senior councillors have backed plans to split the regional local government group from the controversial North-East Assembly after a bad-tempered debate.

The ruling Labour group on the Association of North-East Councils has voted through plans to make it a separate body to the unelected North-East Assembly, with which it shares staff.

The plans, outlined in a confidential review, will also involve making director Stephen Barber and head of the North East of England Office in Brussels Stephen Howell redundant at a cost of up to £350,662. But Liberal Democrat and Tory members of ANEC at a behind-closed-doors meeting earlier this week demanded more details about where the cash for the reforms would come from, and insisted the plan should be made public.

The review, which was leaked to The Journal, is still officially confidential.