Northumberland council debt nears £900m — residents could 'pick up the pieces'

Northumberland County Council owed £898.4m at the start of the financial year, up from £830.8m in April 2025. Independent councillor Patrick Lambert told the audit committee that taxpayers may "have to pick up the pieces" and be "left liable." Debt is rising by £4.5m a month; the borrowing ceiling is £1.6bn. The Conservative administration said spending was affordable.