A PUBLIC vote on North-East devolution is expected to cost a county’s taxpayers nearly £250,000, it has emerged.

Figures published today (Wednesday, December 9) by Durham County Council suggest a countywide postal ballot on whether to accept the Government’s devolution offer could cost between £200,000 and £230,000 or more, depending on turnout and how many people respond via the Internet.

By comparison, the first Police and Crime Commissioner election cost £650,000.

Durham is the only council in the region to offer the public a vote on the devolution proposals, which would hand powers over employment and skills, transport and planning, plus a £30 million-a-year investment fund, to a new mayor covering County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland elected in May 2017.

A similar package, with a £15 million-a-year fund, is on offer to the Tees Valley.

Council leader Simon Henig said consultation with residents on the proposals was “really important”.

However, the authority was criticised for choosing to ask a series of questions and refusing to be bound by the result.

Independent councillor John Shuttleworth said: “It should be a simple vote, yes or no, not a lot of questions and waffle.”

Cllr Henig said legally only the full council or cabinet could back devolution and Durham University experts had been brought in to help draft the right questions for the vote.

Postal votes and information packs will be sent out in mid-January, with County Durham voters asked their views on the principle of devolution, its likely impact, the role of an elected mayor and possible future devolution. Voters will be able to respond online.

A full council meeting will debate the results of the ballot in February.

Cllr Henig said: “Consultation with residents is really important to us. It’s vital we understand how decisions affect people and the devolution agreement contains some really big changes for the region.

“However, the Government has since made it clear that any devolution agreements will also involve the creation of a regional elected mayor to oversee and be accountable for those decisions.

“I would therefore encourage everyone who is eligible to vote in the county to let us know what they think via this poll once they’ve received the information pack from mid-January.”

Ministers have warned if County Durham rejects devolution, the rest of the North-East could go ahead without it.