Northumberland County Council is welcoming challenge from an independent board following recommendations made in the SOLACE Independent Governance Review. 
 

Since June 2022 when the recommendations were brought to Full Council, the local authority has created an Action Plan and brought in the independent Challenge Board which will provide independent advice, challenge, expertise and support.   
 

Council leader Councillor Glen Sanderson said: “I am pleased to invite the Challenge Board to our Council and welcome their agreement to come in as our ‘critical friend’.  
 

“No one organisation or individual should ever shy away from challenge and I know their huge experience will be very useful indeed. 
 

“I am very proud of our staff and all they do in delivering first class services across the County and I want us to do things even better.” 
 

Set up in conjunction with the Local Government Association, the Challenge Board is independent of the Council and has membership with significant and appropriate experience at both top officer and elected councillor level.   
 

It will be chaired by Northumberland resident and former CEO at Newcastle City Council, Pat Ritchie CBE. Pat will be joined by a further six board members from across the country who offer cross-party representation and officer insight.  
 

The Board will engage with members across all political groups, officers and with partners delivering services in the county.  
 

Cllr Sanderson added: “This is certainly another step in the right direction. We do have so much to be proud of in our county and we want to do our very best for our residents, businesses and visitors. 
 

“By bringing in the Board it brings in another level of transparency, challenge and oversight which we’re looking forward to.” 
 

The Board will regularly and formally report to the Council's cross party Member Oversight Group (MOG). Reports will be made public through this group reporting to the Full Council.  
 

The Challenge Board is comprised of: 

Chair: Pat Ritchie CBE 

Pat was Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council for over eight years and, more generally, is an experienced senior leader in economic development, housing, and property. She is Chair of the Government Property Agency (GPA). Pat is a member of the Advisory Board of the National Leadership Centre and a member of Newcastle University Council. Pat is a former Chief Executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England) and former Deputy Chief Executive of the One North East Regional Development Agency. 

Labour Leader: Councillor Sir Steve Houghton CBE 

Steve was first elected to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council in 1988 and has been Leader since 1996. He became Chair of the Special Interest Group of Metropolitan Authorities (SIGOMA) in 1999. Cllr Houghton was a member of the Government imposed “Doncaster Council Improvement Board” and also the “Wirral Council Improvement Board.” Steve led the Central Government Review into the Role of Local Partnerships in Tackling Long-Term Unemployment in 2008 (Houghton Review) and holds a Masters Degree in Local Governance. 

Conservative Leader: Councillor Abi Brown 

First elected to Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 2010, Abi has extensive experience of both opposition and administration, and has been Leader since 2019. Abi is also a member of the Arts Council England Midlands Council and a member of the Midlands Engine Board. She has also overseen improvements in the Council’s Children’s services and is an effective adviser, mentor and peer challenger to other Councils. 

Senior Officer peer: Wallace Sampson OBE 

Wallace is Harrogate Borough Council's chief executive. He joined the council in 2008 and has worked in local government for over 35 years across a range of political administrations. He started with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and has also worked in Derbyshire, Kirklees and in Bradford where he was Assistant Chief Executive for Regeneration and the Environment. He chairs the Harrogate District Public Services Leadership Board and is a member of the North Yorkshire Children’s Safeguarding Board. He is lead local authority Chief Executive in Yorkshire and Humber for energy and low carbon, and sits on the regional climate commission. 

Monitoring Officer Peer: Gill Marshall 

Gill is Monitoring Officer at Wakefield Council and an experienced local government lawyer. Her main area of work includes corporate governance and decision making. She always strives to ensure that the legal and governance framework adopted by the Council is solution focused and enables the Council to act swiftly and appropriately. Gill has a proven track record of delivering transformation and change projects. 

Section 151 experienced peer: Neil Thornton 

Neil is Director of Transformation at Rochdale Borough Council. He is CIPFA and IRRV qualified. Significant experience in the private sector and also as a Best Value Inspector at the Audit Commission, Neil has since moved back to local government, initially as a Section 151 officer but subsequently broader roles. He has taken the strategic lead on major projects, including commercialisation, transformation and reform and has a good track record of ensuring good oversight, accountability and management of his council’s use of arms length external organisations. 

Local Government Association: Mark Edgell 

Mark leads for the LGA across the North East, Yorkshire & Humber and East Midlands. He is the LGA's focal point for discussions with 70+ councils in those regions, providing advice about current challenges and ensuring their improvement and support needs are met. Mark has previously chaired Council Improvement Boards himself, has significant experience as a Non Executive Director and as a national charity’s deputy chair. He has also previously been a council leader.