The facts and figures behind proposed Northamptonshire unitary model

Northamptonshire councils will submit a bid to central government for two unitary authorities, replacing the current two-tier system.

A report by PWC revealing the outline approach the reform would take has been published this afternoon.

Click here to read about the unitary bid

Click here to read about how popular the proposed model was in consultation responses

It says:

- The authorities would be split into West (Daventry, Northampton and South Northants - total population of 401,996) and North (Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough and East Northants - total population of 343,614)

- The new model would save £12.1m a year in terms of greater value for money, fully realised from 2021/22

- The West would save £6m a year and the North would save £6.1m a year

- However, the one-off costs of the transition would be £29.9m

- £14.9m of transition costs would be incurred in the West with £15m in the North

- The total redundancy costs in creating the new model could total £5m

- £2.2m of this would be in the West with £2.8m in the North

- Relocation costs to cover additional travel have been assumed at £1.7m across the two authorities

- £0.45m has also been allocated for further public consultation

- Rebranding during the transition could also cost £0.3m

- The Secretary of State will make a decision on the way forward in November 2018

- If the submission is approved, shadow authorities could be active by April 2019

- Budgets for the new councils would be set in February 2020

- The new councils would formally be in operation by April 2020, with council elections in May 2020

- The number of councillors in the county would drop from 321 to 170

- The West would have 90 councillors and the North would have 80