North Tyneside Council
'North Tyneside' came into being in 1974 following a local government re-organisation. With a population of just over 190,000, the borough covers 84 square kilometres and is an area of considerable contrast. The northern fringe is open countryside and the main urban areas, including the towns of Wallsend, North Shields, Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, lie along the river and coastline stretches. There are three other large settlements, Long Benton, Forest Hall and Killingworth, which are all located in the north-west quadrant of the borough. Along the northern edge of the borough are a number of former mining villages.
There are very specific duties required of the council by legislation and it has responsibility for activities as diverse as education, road maintenance, museums and recycling. It is also a major local employer, with 6,300 staff at offices throughout the borough.
One of the fastest improving councils in the country, North Tyneside Council jumped two categories in the government's 2004 Corporate Performance Assessment to be rated 'fair' - a great achievement given that it had previously been rated as 'poor'. With a three star education service and top scores for its benefits service and use of resources, there is a sound base upon which to build.
The longer term vision for local government is developing around some key themes - putting people at the centre of public services, recognising the leadership role of local councils based on their local knowledge, and delivering services which meet the differing needs of areas. This represents a major challenge for the way local authorities lead their communities and plan their services, and gives a high profile to partnership working.
In recent years, the importance of partnerships has increased and North Tyneside Council is committed to playing a full role in these - bringing a range of expertise and knowledge based on the services it operates. It is part of NTSP and also contributes to a number of other key partnerships in the north east.
