Council officers taking leadership roles in a pioneering partnership with a clinical commissioning group could be forced to back controversial decisions their own authority opposes.

Northumberland Council chief executive Steve Mason has been appointed accountable officer of Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) while the council’s adult and community care services director, Vanessa Bainbridge, has been made the CCG’s chief operating officer as the two organisations prepare to take on a joint strategic commissioning role.