Entries by Durham Council

Today (September 3, 2010), Durham County Council has responded to an invitation from the Government to submit plans for a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for the county.
The council’s proposition is about building on past successes as well as grasping the opportunity to lead economic transformation, through a more innovative approach, and in strong partnership with the business community of County Durham.
Our proposition will:
• Lead the economic transformation of County Durham.
• Work within a broader framework that recognises wider economic relations.
• Support national economic priorities to address the private/public sector balance.
• Establish a partnership to facilitate an efficient and effective transition that will maintain regeneration momentum and maximise opportunities.
• Utilise the expertise, drive and commitment of partners across a variety of sectors, including private, voluntary, public and educational.
• Generate cost effective returns on investment by operating a business model that maximises economic opportunities to meet local needs.
The key areas of activity will include:
• Agreeing priorities for developing critical infrastructure including business sites, transport, broadband and housing.
• Business support and growth and developing the Durham brand.
• Developing skills and knowledge, including tackling worklessness.
• Inspiring and facilitating an entrepreneurial culture through education from an early age.
Durham County Council Leader, Cllr Simon Henig, said: “The establishment of a County Durham Enterprise Partnership will allow the public and private sectors to develop the county’s economy and maximise Durham’s economic potential”
“I believe that through building on our current assets we can create the right economic conditions to attract the investment we need to deliver the very best for residents.”
“A Local Enterprise Partnership will provide the strong leadership and direction for the creation of high quality, sustainable, employment opportunities which allows our residents to prosper and encourages our young people to raise their aspirations and realise their future ambitions”
Ken Jarrold, CBE, Chair of the County Durham Economic Partnership said:” A Local Enterprise Partnership is an ideal way to build our economy for the future. Partners in County Durham have a proven track record of working together. Establishing a Local Enterprise Partnership will inject greater private sector expertise and help us to build momentum.”
The County Durham proposal is one of five LEPs covering the North East, tackling local economic priorities around housing, planning and growth in business and tourism. 
Alongside these the North East is submitting a proposal which identifies six key areas which will complement these, which are:
• Promotion of productivity, enterprise and business growth through developing innovation and exploiting research and development capabilities.
• The development of sectors that are strategic to the UK and are clustered in the North East such as low carbon vehicles, offshore wind, chemicals and process industries and a range of other new industries.
• Supporting enquiries for new investment from both existing businesses and inward investors.
• Bidding for and programme managing the European Regional Development (and successor) funds, and RDPE.
• The development and delivery of new approach to financing and supporting business growth.
• Providing strategic input into other key areas linked to economic growth such as integrated transport and energy investment.
County Durham is fully committed to the proposed North East Economic Partnership by the Association of North East Councils and the Northern Business Forum.
 

Motorists in County Durham are being asked to take extra care when following a diversion which will operate from the A690 at Langley Moor, whilst essential road improvements are carried out.
The A690 will be closed between The Boyne Public House and Agricultural House in Langley Moor, to allow urgent resurfacing works to take place on Sunday 5 September, 2010 from 6:00am to 9:00 pm. This is a one day programme of works.
Diversion signs will be in place on site and drivers are thanked for their patience while they follow the alternative route, via the A167 and B6300 (Browney Lane).
Letters have been posted to residents, and advanced warning boards have been in place a week prior to the start of the works.

Musical Mondays are set to be the highlight of families’ weeks when a new session begins in Peterlee.
Music and Rhyme sessions are starting every Monday from next week (September 6) at the Sure Start Centre at Hill Rigg House on Lowhills Road between 1.00pm and 2.00pm.
Sam Neil is a Family worker at the Durham County Council run centre. He said: “Music and Rhyme is a fun and interactive session for children and adults.
“The class offers a chance to explore musical instruments using puppets and other games. Children learn songs and take part in action rhymes whilst meeting other children and having fun with music.
“Music and Rhyme sessions offer children and babies the opportunity to sing favourite rhymes, songs, poems and jingles and move and dance to music.
 “This improves language development and also helps develop social skills and self confidence.”
Sessions are aimed at the under fives, no booking is required.

Rock climbing, abseiling and off road buggies were just some of the activities keeping youngsters entertained at Moor House Activity Centre.
The activity day was part of Durham County Council’s Short Break Programme, organised by Children’s Network for children with disabilities and their families.
Craft sessions and circus skills sessions also kept them busy.
Organiser, Elaine Wilson, said: “Everyone had a fantastic day. The sun was shining which added to the children’s good spirits.
“All of the young people enjoyed the activities available and whilst they were having fun, their families took a well deserved break.”
Some of the youngsters enjoying the activities are pictured.

Eco-friendly youngsters from Stanley are hoping to pick up prizes by designing anti-littering posters.
Stanley Youth Club is taking part in the competition with the winning design being made into a mouse mat which will be distributed around local schools, colleges and libraries.
Youth club members will meet tomorrow (September 3) at the club on Tyne Road, Stanley between 2.00pm and 4.00pm where they will put pen to paper to create their designs and take part in an environment themed quiz.
The competition has been organised by Durham County Council’s Civic Pride Team.
This event is one of a number of community based activities taking place over the summer as part of Durham County Council’s 14 for 14 project. The aim of the project is to carry out community pride and environmental awareness sessions in each of the county’s 14 area action partnerships to make the county ‘altogether greener’. Visit www.durham.gov.uk/aap to find out about other opportunities to get involved in the project and help make a difference where you live.

With work scheduled to begin on the next stage of the regeneration of Bishop Auckland town centre next month, members of the public are being asked to give their views on the plans.
Council experts will be on hand for a number of face-to-face opportunities, while the proposals for the next environmental improvements will go on display.
Durham County Council project manager, Chris Myers, says it’s an important opportunity for residents, shoppers and businesses:” We know how passionately many people feel about this historic town centre and that’s why we want them to take this chance to tell us what they would like to see.
“We are inviting everyone to come and see the proposals, at the Town Hall library and advertising certain times when we will also be on hand to listen and discuss options. What we hear and the feedback we receive will then help us shape the final plans.”
To this end, a public exhibition is to be held within the library at the Town Hall for one week, starting on September 13. Durham County Council officers will be in attendance at various times during the week, including all day on Wednesday 15 September.
Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, Councillor Neil Foster, says this is an important piece of the jigsaw for the town’s new look:” With the next exciting stage of the environmental improvements soon to get underway, this is your chance to get involved.
“This latest phase will complete a high quality public open space linking Fore Bondgate and Newgate Street with the Market Place and fully compliments the recent improvement works and historic setting.
“The Market Place is key to the urban renaissance of Bishop Auckland; attracting more visitors and shoppers to the town is critical to its success.
“In the past, poor quality paving materials and untidy parking have detracted from the visual appeal and quality of the area. I believe the improvements will make a big difference.”
The Bishop Auckland Masterplan identified the need to improve pedestrian links within the Market Place and to surrounding areas by improving traffic management and regulating car parking. Other objectives identified include:
• Providing more space in front of the Town Hall for civic and community activities
• Providing high quality paving
• Proving high quality, uncluttered street furniture
• Utilising the Market Place for events
• Improving building use
Durham County Council has funded this phase of the regeneration programme which has, most recently seen substantial improvements to the public areas around the Town Hall and created new improved parking and pedestrian access into the Market Place from the east. Other funding bodies involved in the overall project have been ONE and the Urban Rural Renaissance Initiative (URRI).
The public exhibition will be held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Library from Monday 13 September until Sunday 19 September – during Library opening hours
Subject to the outcome of the pubic exhibition, proposed works are programmed to start on site Monday 25 October for a four week period, with a break between November and January for the Christmas season. This phase of the works is then likely to continue in to the spring.
 

Sundays are fast becoming fun days for dads in the Peterlee area.
A new series of Family Man sessions are starting on Sunday September 19 with lots of fun activities for dads and male carers to get involved in with their little ones.
Debbie Unsworth is a senior family worker with Durham County Council’s Sure Start.
She said: “The new group is aimed at attracting male adults who care for children up to five. This new group involves outdoor and indoor activities, arts and crafts and cookery. 
“We welcome dads, step-dads, uncles, granddads or any male carer to come along with their children and they can even tell us their own fun ideas on how to run future groups.”
 
The sessions take place between 10.00am and 11.30am at the Hill Rigg House Centre in Peterlee.

Families in Haswell and South Hetton are being given the chance to take part in a weekly programme which aims to embrace traditional values.
Durham County Council’s Haswell Sure Start Children’s Centre, on Church Street, is hosting a ten week ‘Family Nurturing Programme,’ which benefits both adults and children by discussing how to get the most out of family life and exploring the varied emotions experienced.
Yvonne Glass, Family Support Worker, said: “This programme benefits both adults and children and covers subjects such as how to use family rules, behaviour to ignore and problem solving. Parents and carers must try and attend all ten weeks for maximum benefit.” 
The course runs on Fridays between 9.30am and 11.30am, beginning Friday September 24.
Spaces are limited so families in Haswell or South Hetton who have children under five are advised to book a place by contacting the Sure Start Children’s Centre.
Tel: 0191 5261581.
Free crèche places are available and free transport will be provided for those living in the immediate area.

Residents in Great Aycliffe and Middridge can find out how local issues are being tackled when the local area action partnership meets later this month.
The GAMP board will meet on Tuesday 21 September 2010, between 6.00pm and 8.00pm, at Middridge Village Hall. Residents are invited to go along to observe proceedings.
Members of the public can also raise any local issues that they would like the board to address. These need to be put in writing and sent in by Monday September 13.
Please write to:  Brian Riley, GAMP Coordinator, Pioneering Care Centre, Cobblers Hall, Carers Way, Newton Aycliffe.
Anyone who would like to attend the meeting should register in advance.
Tel: 01325 327441.

The stunning statue of Lord Londonderry will return to the centre of Durham City next week, following extensive and specialist renovation. The Statue, made in copper using a process called Electroforming, is the largest sculpture in the United Kingdom made by this unusual process.
It has been painstakingly restored to its former glory and will be unveiled at a short ceremony in the city’s Market Place at 2pm on Thursday September 9.
 “I am absolutely delighted by the results of our months of labour on this piece,” said Rupert Harris, the convservator behind the refurbishment.” The copper is extremely fragile and as a result of corrosion was extremely thin in places. Inside, the skeleton iron armature was severely corroded in places and we have had to replace this with a new stainless steel structure before being able to undertake the restoration of the copper sculpture itself.
 
“It has been a real challenge, but it is truly worth it to see how magnificent it now looks. The new stainless steel armature is both lighter and stronger than the original iron framework and we have further strengthened the brittle copper internally with fibreglass to prevent the sculpture fracturing. The restored sculpture has also been re-patinated to its original brown colour and treated with protective wax, with regular maintenance, there’s no reason the statue shouldn’t stand tall for generations to come.” 
Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, Cllr Neil Foster, said: “The expert conservation work on this statue is absolutely fascinating and the results are breath-taking.”
“The frailty of the bronze and its structure is now replaced with a piece of public art which is both stunning and powerful.
“I have no doubt the statue will be an attraction in its own right. I am really looking forward to seeing how people react when they see how fabulous it now looks.”
Lord Londonderry will return to the Market Place, to take up a new position on the restored plinth, which provides not only a suitable mount, but enhanced seating for members of the public. 

Tips on how to be a ‘smart shopper’ will be on offer at a series of roadshows which kicks off in County Durham this week. (September 3)
The shows, which run between Friday, September 3 and Saturday, September 11, aim to raise awareness of waste and how to reduce, re-use and recycle it.
Organised by Durham County Council’s strategic waste management team, the roadshows will give top tips for minimising the amount of waste that goes into bins, and specific information about recycling electrical and electronic equipment.
Paula George, projects and campaigns team leader, said:  “We can all do our bit to reduce the amount of rubbish that goes to landfill.
“We hope people will come along to find out how they can continue to reduce waste through smarter shopping, minimising food waste and recycling more household items.”
Running mostly between 10.00am and 3.00pm, the roadshows start at Consett Market on Friday and move on to Wolsingham Show, on Saturday, September 4 from 10.00am to 4.00pm, Peterlee Show, Sunday, September 5 from 10.00am to 4.00pm, Crook Market, Tuesday, September 7, Barnard Castle Market, Wednesday, September 8, Bishop Auckland Market, Thursday, September 9, Chester-le-Street Market, Friday, September 10, and Durham City Market, Saturday, September 11.
Staff will be on hand to answer questions and give more details about the household waste recycling centres in the county.
To find out about opportunities to get involved in the project and make a difference where you live, visit www.durham.gov.uk/aap

Durham County Council’s members are being asked to consider new ways of managing early retirement and voluntary redundancy (ERVR). Changes recommended in a report to full council next week (September would reduce the cost implications for tax payers in the county and put the authority more in line with other similar public sector bodies.
Interim director of resources, Barry Scarr, explains: “We are asking members to consider new options which would make this area both sustainable and affordable during what is already a challenging economic time for the public sector as a whole.
“This report is effectively the start of a process which will also seek approval to ask the council’s employees for their views on the matter, as part of a formal consultation.”
 The council’s Cabinet member for resources is, Cllr Alan Napier, “The council is already facing in-year reductions of some £18m and it is expected that the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), due in October, will outline the need for further significant savings.
“For these reasons it is important and timely to look at these matters now.”
Full council will consider the recommended changes in ERVR terms at a meeting at County Hall next week.

A group of seven young people aged between 13 and 23 from across Easington are planning a three day cycle challenge from North Shields to Berwick.
Taking part are; Kyle Hindle, Laura McCulloch, David Worthington, Diane Cameron, Sharnie Wiffen, Liam Wiffen and Lauren Waitell.
The group are all working towards accredited learning from Youth Achievement Awards and Asdan short courses as well as improving their health and fitness at the same time.
The gruelling challenge will see the youngsters cycle up to 30 miles per day.
The group have been meeting weekly to train for the epic event, which is being organised by Durham County Council’s Positive Activities for Young People programme.
The group leave the Royal Quays in North Shields bright and early tomorrow morning and finish their journey on Friday.
The event is being supported by Durham County Council staff, East Durham Area Youth and Community Committee, Northumbria Water who are supplying bottled water and Seaham Van Hire.
Members of the press and photographers are invited to Royal Quays in North Shields for the start of the challenge at 10.00am. (September 1)

Three vans packed with aid for children in Romanian orphanages leave County Durham this week. (September 5)
Durham County Council has joined forces with the GMB union to get goods, including school equipment, baby and children’s clothing, toiletries and computers to the city of Bacau, about 300 km north of Bucharest at the foothills of the Carpathian mountains.
The 1300 mile trek marks the 20th anniversary of the link between the county and Romania.
The mini convoy of vans donated by the county council, Stockton Borough Council and Burnt Tree Vehicle Hire will head off on Sunday, September 5, arriving in Bacau about four days later.
The vans will be given a final check by the Vice Chairman of Durham County Council, Cllr Dennis Morgan on Friday, September 3.
“It’s fabulous to see that we are still able to provide so many essentials for people who are far worse off than ourselves and that we have been doing this for 20 years,” said Cllr Morgan.
“The generosity of local people is amazing and I know it is greatly appreciated by the children in Bacau,” he said.
Terry Scarr, senior organiser with the GMB will accompany the convoy with two GMB members - William Cross and Brian Sample.
“The GMB would like to thank the county council for providing a van to transport the goods, many of which have been donated by local business and the community.  They always make a real difference to those who receive them.
“We have been organising these convoys for a good many years now and we always get a fantastic welcome when we get there,” he said.

Three vans packed with aid for children in Romanian orphanages leave County Durham this week. (September 5)
Durham County Council has joined forces with the GMB union to get goods, including school equipment, baby and children’s clothing, toiletries and computers to the city of Bacau, about 300 km north of Bucharest at the foothills of the Carpathian mountains.
The 1300 mile trek marks the 20th anniversary of the link between the county and Romania.
The mini convoy of vans donated by the county council, Stockton Borough Council and Burnt Tree Vehicle Hire will head off on Sunday, September 5, arriving in Bacau about four days later.
The vans will be given a final check by the Vice Chairman of Durham County Council, Councillor Dennis Morgan on Friday, September 3.
“It’s fabulous to see that we are still able to provide so many essentials for people who are far worse off than ourselves and that we have been doing this for 20 years,” said Councillor Morgan.
“The generosity of local people is amazing and I know it is greatly appreciated by the children in Bacau,” he said.
Terry Scarr, senior organiser with the GMB will accompany the convoy with two GMB members - William Cross and Brian Sample.
“The GMB would like to thank the county council for providing a van to transport the goods, many of which have been donated by local business and the community.  They always make a real difference to those who receive them.
“We have been organising these convoys for a good many years now and we always get a fantastic welcome when we get there,” he said.