An ongoing problem of members of the Gypsy, Traveller, and Roma community staying overnight on the field opposite the BP garage occurred again during the lockdown. Many members of the community enjoy walking their dogs and using the field for exercise but this is spoiled by the rubbish and broken glass left behind. Despite previous […]

Durham County Council has worked to maintain its statutory functions during this pandemic, but there is an added financial cost to all of this. There have been approximately £25 million increase in expenses, for example in having to buy excess personal protection equipment, additional costs in maintaining refuse collections while being socially distant (needing more […]

Labour have cut a key welfare benefit from £1,000 to £500, on the basis that too much of the funding is being used. We’ve called for this decision to be reversed and the additional funding to be found. Especially considering the current crisis we’re currently in concerning Covid. It is shameful that a benefit the […]

Due to the difficulties during the lockdown, the Council have suspended garden waste collections. Staff sickness and their need to self-isolate has meant that general waste and recycling collections are being prioritised. The missed collections are to be added on at the end of the year. Following requests from residents, I’ve requested that the additional […]

Since the beginning of austerity this is the first budget where we’ve had an increase in Government funding. A series of one off spending commitments meant the Council had around an additional £17 million to use. Particularly aimed at dealing with the funding issues around care of the elderly, higher needs funding, and looked after […]

A revision of the bus timetables has resulted in the 21 service running between Durham and Newcastle to be reduced in half during the day on weekdays. While the X21 is to be increased in return, a service that does not operate from any bus stop within the North Lodge area. I cannot support such […]

During the last meeting of County Council we voted on a new vision for Durham County Council for the next 15 years. It has 3 key aims: More and Better Jobs, People Live Long and Independent Lives, and Connected Communities. I’ve been campaigning to ensure that this vision is lot fairer than our previous one. […]

Durham County Council has been celebrating its continued success in providing training experiences within the organisation. There are now 327 apprentices working for the Council, increase from last years figure of 121. I questioned what the Council is doing to ensure that they have a job to go to following their training. As too often […]

Following the Council’s 2018-2019 financial year, it reported an underspend of £11 million. This resulted in an increase in earmarked reserves of £5.6 million, with the rest being held within the individual departments. This money is being held for the Aykley Heads development, PFI costs, Acadmisation of schools, and Capital projects. I questioned the Council […]

July’s Cabinet tabled a report requesting just over £1 million from Durham County Council to refurbish Redhills. This miner’s hall that hosted the Pitman’s Parliament is in major need of substantial repairs. The funding is part a bid totaling almost £7 million, with money expected to come from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We discovered […]