History of local government districts in Durham facts for kids

County Durham is a large area in the northeast of England. For a long time, it had different local councils that looked after smaller parts of the county. These smaller areas were called "electoral divisions." Think of them like different neighborhoods or towns, each with its own local representatives.

Before 2009, County Durham was split into 63 of these electoral divisions. Each division was made up of smaller areas like wards or parishes. People living in these divisions would vote for their local council members. These members would then help make decisions about things like schools, roads, and parks in their area.

But things changed in 2009. All the smaller councils in County Durham joined together. This included places like Chester-le-Street, Derwentside, Easington, Teesdale, Wear Valley, Sedgefield, and the City of Durham. They all became one big council called a "unitary authority." This new, single council now manages all local services for the entire County Durham area. This change was made to make local government simpler and more efficient.

Understanding Electoral Divisions

Before 2009, each electoral division was a specific area where people voted for their local council representatives. These divisions helped make sure that different parts of the county had a say in how things were run. Each division was carefully planned out, often combining a few smaller neighborhoods or villages.

For example, in the old district of Chester-le-Street, there were divisions like:

• Chester-le-Street North and East
• Lumley
• Sacriston

In the district of Derwentside, you might find divisions such as:

• Annfield Plain
• Burnopfield and Dipton
• Lanchester

The City of Durham also had its own divisions, including:

• Belmont
• Brandon
• Neville's Cross

These divisions were important because they were how local people chose who would represent them on the council.

The Big Change in 2009

The year 2009 brought a major change to how local government worked in County Durham. Instead of having several separate councils for different districts, they all merged into one large council. This new type of council is called a unitary authority.

A unitary authority means that there is only one main council responsible for almost all local services in a large area. This includes things like:

• Education and schools
• Social care for children and adults
• Waste collection and recycling
• Road maintenance
• Libraries and leisure centers

This change was part of a bigger plan across England to make local government more straightforward. It meant that decisions for County Durham could be made by one body, rather than needing many different councils to agree.