Councillors have decided to join a bigger umbrella body together with the councils of Armidale Regional, Gwydir Shire, Inverell Shire, Moree Plains Shire, Tenterfield Shire and Uralla Shire. 

And also Narrabri Shire Council which has decided to come into the New England grouping rather than staying with the Namoi Joint Organisation.

There had been wariness among Glen Innes councillors who feared the new bigger grouping would become overly bureaucratic and  expensive. There were fears,too, that it would also conflict with exisiting bodies and duplicate work and become a rival source of power.

The decision by Glen Innes Severn Council follows talks with other neighbouring councils.

The idea for these large umbrella groupings comes from the state government, but has been watered down so the new bodies have less power than originally proposed.

Glen Innes Council would like the body to be called the “New England Joint Organisation”.