The long-running legal battle against reorganisation has finally come to an end after Congleton BC announced it was throwing in the towel. The district council said it had accepted the Court of Appeal's decision earlier this month to reject its case against reorganisation, and would not take the fight any further. The decision marks the end of a legal battle which started last summer, when Congleton BC and Shrewsbury and Atcham BC launched a judicial review against reorganisation. The councils lost the judicial review in October 2007, but were granted leave to appeal. ‘It is now time to accept the decision and make sure we do everything we can to build effective local government in Cheshire,' the council said in a statement. ‘We have always co-operated with the potential new solution, and we continue to have a very proactive role in driving forward improvements in local government.' Local government minister, John Healey, has praised the independent panel overseeing the development of the new unitary authority in Northumberland. The first meeting of the Independent Commission of Northumberland (ICON) met last week and was chaired by Professor Kel Fidler, vice chancellor of Northumbria University. ‘One of the main benefits of the flagship new unitary council for Northumberland is much greater involvement of local people giving them a greater say,' said Mr Healey. ‘Its role in this as an independent commission will help ensure the new authority meets their needs and aspirations.' The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld a complaint by Bedfordshire CC against an advert by Bedford BC which claimed leisure facilities were at risk if the county council was granted unitary status.
