A NORTH-EAST councillor is calling for funding to be withdrawn from an unelected regional body - in the wake of last year's vote against the creation of a regional assembly.

The move by Durham county councillor John Shuttleworth could jeopardise the future of the North-East Assembly, if his motion is passed next week.

Local authorities pay £860,000 a year to the assembly, an organisation that was set up before the vote on a regional assembly.

The North-East Assembly has 72 members, 47 appointed by North-East councils and 25 key "economic and social partners" such as trade unions and business organisations. Its main job is scrutinising the regional development agency One NorthEast and setting its strategy.

It also promotes the area at home and abroad, and is based on Newcastle's Quayside.

But Coun Shuttleworth has written to members of Durham County Council with details of a motion to withdraw the £84,800 a year it contributes to the group.

Mr Shuttleworth, an independent councillor for Weardale, says the vast majority of people living in the county voted against the creation of a regional assembly in the North-East in November.

He said: "Seventy-eight per cent of County Durham didn't want a regional assembly.

"They didn't want an elected regional assembly, so why should they pay towards an unelected one?

"I think the North-East Assembly should be abolished forthwith."

He said he does not believe rural areas, such as Weardale, benefit from the assembly.

If Mr Shuttleworth's motion is passed at a full council meeting on Wednesday, February 2, it could lead the way for other local authorities to withdraw funding.

The move was yesterday welcomed by Neil Herron, North-East No campaigner, who said: "I absolutely support John Shuttleworth 100 per cent because this is ratepayers' money and the ratepayers of the North-East delivered one very large, overwhelming and emphatic no to a regional assembly.

"And once they find out that £84,800 of their money in Durham, and £860,000 of their money in the region is being used to fund a body that they rejected there will be some very angry ratepayers."

Mr Herron said a report admits that the quangos have no legal status and said he believed this jeopardised the jobs of the 32 staff employed by the assembly.

However, the report, which was passed last week, plans to make the assembly and the Association of North-East Councils more distinct from each other in terms of role, remit and function. They should become limited companies, giving them legal status, by June this year.

Bob Gibson, chairman of the assembly said, "The rationale behind this review is to ensure that the assembly will be able to maximise its future contribution and effectiveness on strategic issues, such as planning, transport, housing, the environment and Europe, for which it has a clear role and responsibility."