Tag: durham

Further Plans For Future Of DLI Museum Proposed

By on 16th December 2015in Local Biz

Councillors have received reassurance that plans for the future of the DLI collection will provide a fitting and lasting tribute to the regiment…

A special meeting of Durham County Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Management Board heard details of how the authority plans to continue to honour the region’s military history at a time when it must find nearly another £140m of savings from its yearly budget.

In a near two hour session, the council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration, arts and culture Cllr Neil Foster, corporate director for neighbourhoods Terry Collins, head of culture and sport Steve Howell, and chair of the DLI Trustees James Ramsbotham, moved to allay many of the fears expressed since the move away from the collection’s current Aykley Heads home was announced in October.

Through both a comprehensive presentation and responses to questions, the meeting – which was open to the public – heard that:

  • The council is continuing to consult with campaigners, veterans and other interested parties about what can be done to honour the regiment going forward.
  • Durham County Council has received backing for its plans from the Army Museums Ogilvy Trust, which said the authority’s plans “demonstrate a clear commitment to the collection.”
  • The DLI collection will be kept together, not broken up, and be more publicly accessible than before.
  • This will include a free exhibition on the History of the DLI – compared to a £5.45 adult entry fee for the current museum – lasting for at least five years.
  • The proposals will also include a new, not currently available, “on demand” service for families who wish to see artefacts at Sevenhills.
  • Moving the collection will allow curators to spend more time focussing on their work, rather than having to deal with an ageing building, meaning they can concentrate on bringing the DLI story to the widest possible audience.
  • With the museum vacated, the building will be assessed and – if appropriate – declared surplus to the requirements of the council’s culture and sport department. At that stage, it would then be considered for other alternative uses – but there are no current plans for the site or the building. There is a strong aspiration to maintain the landscape.
  • The site of the DLI Museum will see memorial benches remain, and the council is open to exploring whether a new permanent memorial could be created at Aykley Heads.
  • Discussions have taken place over ashes which have been scattered near to the present museum, with a range of options for how to sensitively handle those remains being explored.
  • As part of the proposals, the council has made a commitment to the DLI collection to invest £70,000 a year in funding for at least five years, at a time when it must find nearly £140m more in annual savings. That would include education officers being kept on to take the DLI story into classrooms.
  • An extensive programme of events, including plays, musical performances and an interactive theatrical experience, have been commissioned alongside the already announced ‘History of the DLI’ and ‘Somme 1916’ exhibitions in the next 12 months.
  • The art gallery currently housed alongside the collection will see exhibitions taken on a county wide tour in 2016, while a permanent home is found for it.

James Ramsbotham, the chair of the DLI Trustees, said he felt a “very heavy responsibility” to do the best for a collection that “means so much to so many people,” but that the plans offered a “sustainable and exciting future.”

“There is a much wider story to tell,” he said. “And if we want to continue to engage people, we have got to do something more dynamic to bring people back again and again.

“We need to refresh and be forward looking, much like the DLI was.

“We need to move away from a building that is in the wrong place and look to do things better; to do something that will ensure the DLI lives long in the hearts of the county.”

 

Cllr Neil Foster said: “Necessity is the mother of invention, and you’ve only got to look at the challenges we have now and the continued financial pressures in the years to come to see we have to go out and be innovative.”

The DLI collection includes over 4,000 medals, 1,100 uniform related items, 2,600 examples of weapons and ammunition, more than 400 pieces of equipment, and over 400 relics, as well as extensive records and documents.

Steve Howell, the council’s head of culture and sport, said: “We are keeping the DLI collection together. I’ve had a lot of letters about it and heard the rumours that we are looking to split the collection up, but that is absolutely not true.

“We’ll be retaining and maintaining it as a single collection, regardless of where it is on display. That is how many national collections work – items go out, they are used to tell their stories, and then they come back.

“It’s not just going to be put in a box in Spennymoor, it is going to be maintained with proper curatorial skills so the story can continue to be told and live on.”

The meeting also heard further details of plans for events linked to the DLI and the current World War One centenary.

Steve said: “These are things we would never be able to do in the museum, and are not something we could do while we have to spend so much on the current building.”

Discussions will also continue, with public input, as to what is included in the free, five year History of the DLI exhibition on Palace Green, around future exhibitions, and about what happens after the initial five years.

The plans have been backed by the Army Museums Ogilby Trust (AMOT), an organisation that supports and promotes 139 regimental collections, including that of the DLI, which said it would work with all the interested parties and help where it can to create a secure future for the collection.

In a statement AMOT said: “We believe Durham’s proposals demonstrate a clear commitment to the collection.

“Durham has been generous over many years and we know there is the will to make sure the DLI has a secure future.

“Durham is unusual in the length and depth of support it gives, and this will remain the case with future arrangements.

“Durham’s proposals are quantifiably better than those for other collections at risk.”

Updates on how work is progressing will be presented back to Overview and Scrutiny in both three and six months’ time.

To hear from those campaigning to save the DLI Museum, read their stories here:

Have Your Say: Household Poll On Devolution Agreed

By on 14th December 2015in Have Your Say

Residents eligible to vote in County Durham will be asked for their views on the North East’s devolution agreement via a postal vote in January…

 

A pack, including information on the agreement from Government to the North East Combined Authority, and questions prepared by Durham University, together with details on how to take part, will be sent to all people registered to vote in the county.

The approach was agreed by Durham County Council members at a meeting of Full Council on December 9th, and will be funded from the council’s revenue contingency budget.

The proposed devolution agreement was negotiated with Government by the North East Combined Authority, which is made up of the seven councils covering Gateshead, Newcastle, North and South Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland and County Durham.

It would see decisions about transport, investment, funding, skills training, business support, housing and strategic planning being made in the North East instead of in London.

It would also bring an additional £30m a year over the next 30 years, which would be pumped into the regional economy through investment, job creation, transport improvement and more targeted skills training.

The proposed devolution agreement which has been signed is conditional on further public consultation, the Government’s spending review, legislation passing through Parliament, and agreement by each of the seven councils in the Combined Authority.

The results of the poll in County Durham will not be binding, but they will help to inform the county council’s decision.

Cllr Simon Henig, Leader of Durham County Council, said: “Consultation with residents is really important to us. It’s vital we understand how decisions affect people, and the devolution agreement contains some really big changes for the region.

“It includes decisions about transport, investment, funding, skills training, business support, housing and strategic planning being made here in the region.

“However, the Government has since made it clear that any devolution agreements will also involve the creation of a regional elected mayor to oversee and be accountable for those decisions.

“I would therefore encourage everyone who is eligible to vote in the county to let us know what they think via this poll once they’ve received the information pack from mid-January.

“Responses can be made via post or online, with feedback brought to our Full Council meeting at the end of February.”

The questions devised by experts at Durham University are:

  1. The Devolution Deal would mean that more decisions about spending on public services would be made in the North East, rather than by the Government in London. Do you think that devolving some power and resources to the North East would:
  • Be a step in the right direction?
  • Make little or no difference?
  • Be the wrong thing to do?
  • I don’t know.
  1. If we agree the Devolution Deal we would have to have a North East Elected Mayor. The Mayor would be directly elected by voters across the North East area and would chair the Combined Authority, made up of Council Leaders. It’s not yet clear how powerful the Mayor would be. If the Deal goes ahead, how powerful should the Mayor be? Do you think the Mayor should be someone who:
  • Has quite a lot of power and influence – perhaps coming to be seen as someone who represents the voice of the North East area?
  • Has limited power and influence – someone who chairs the Combined Authority but does not have a major role representing the area?
  • I don’t know.
  1. The Devolution Deal would only cover some issues – some aspects of business support, post-16 education and training, transport, and housing. If the Deal does go ahead, do you think we should then try to get additional powers and resources devolved to the North East?
  • No, I wouldn’t want to see more devolution
  • I’m not sure. It depends, let’s wait and see.
  • Yes, I would like to see more devolution.
  • I don’t know.
  1. The Devolution Deal is intended to improve our economy and create more and better jobs. But do you think it will make much difference? If the Deal does go ahead, do you think it will:
  • Help to bring more prosperity and more jobs to County Durham?
  • Have little or no impact on prosperity and jobs in County Durham?
  • Lead to less prosperity and fewer jobs in County Durham?
  • I don’t know.

The paper agreed by county council members can be viewed here.

Police And Fire Services Agree Landmark Deal To Work Together

By on 12th December 2015in Local Biz

A landmark deal has been signed by Durham Constabulary and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service…

The “Statement of Intent” sets out the two organisations’ intentions to work more closely together and to enhance co-operation and collaboration.

They hope this will further improve the already excellent service they provide to the public, as well as saving them money.

Police and Fire already work well together operationally, and share estates and facilities such as a joint station at Newton Aycliffe and training centre at Bowburn.

But this deal marks a step change in how they will work together.

Police and Crime Commissioner, Ron Hogg, said: “The people of County Durham and Darlington already benefit from having outstanding Police and Fire and Rescue Services.

“I believe there is great potential for closer collaboration to improve services even further, and to help us manage through the tough financial times that are ahead. I am committed to making swift progress with the Fire and Rescue Authority so that we can achieve improvements and savings quickly, for all our benefit.”

Chair of the County Durham and Darlington Combined Fire Authority, Councillor Michele Hodgson, said: “We already have a very constructive relationship between the fire and rescue service and police in this area. Providing an efficient and effective emergency response for the communities of County Durham and Darlington is our number one priority; any proposals that aim to help us do this must be carefully considered.”

 

Stuart Errington, Chief Fire Officer for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We welcome this opportunity to explore all of the options for collaboration. There is a strong base to build on as we already have strong relationships, and work very closely with the police operationally, in training, on special projects and by sharing facilities and expertise. We will consider any proposals which will safeguard frontline services and, when and where appropriate, support further collaboration.”

Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary, Mike Barton, said: “Stuart Errington and I have worked closely together for several years. This puts our working together on a more formal footing, and will allow us to improve the service we provide to the public.”

Councillor Joy Allen, Chair of the Police and Crime Panel, said: “Partnership working between emergency services is second to none in the region. This statement of intent formally cements these productive and professional relationships, which will deliver tangible benefits to both services, and more importantly help protect valuable front line services.”

Areas on which the services will look to collaborate include estates and assets, control room, safety initiatives, training, back office functions, and community engagement.

Click here to view the Statement of Intent.

Durham Councillors Complete Course To Prevent Extremism

By on 11th December 2015in Local Biz

Councillors in County Durham and Darlington have been taking part in a course designed to raise awareness about extremism…

 

Members of the Durham Police and Crime Panel have completed an e-learning course called Prevent.

The course forms part of the Government’s wider counter-terrorism strategy, which places a new requirement on local councils and police forces to support efforts to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and violent extremism.

It aims to raise awareness and understanding of how some people might be vulnerable to radicalisation, how to recognise when this is happening and what should be done to prevent the situation escalating.

Cllr Joy Allen, chair of the Durham Police and Crime Panel, said: “We’re very lucky that County Durham and Darlington are generally very safe places to live. However, councils have an important role to play in combating extremism.

“In light of the current heightened awareness around the world, it is everyone’s responsibility to be vigilant.”

Cllr Jane Brown, Cabinet member with responsibility for councillor development at Durham County Council, said: “We’re encouraging our councillors to take advantage of the Prevent e-learning course.

“We work in the heart of our communities, and this course can undoubtedly assist in identifying potentially vulnerable residents who may be at risk of being drawn into terrorism and violent extremism.”

Members of the panel who have completed the online learning course were presented with certificates by Durham Constabulary’s Deputy Chief Constable Steve Watson.

Deputy Chief Constable Watson said: “In our efforts to combat extremism in all its forms, law enforcement agencies rely to a huge extent on the intelligence provided by local communities.

“We welcome the involvement of the Police and Crime Panel, spreading awareness and learning about these issues can only be a good thing.”

Call For County Durham To Donate Unwanted Furniture

By on 11th December 2015in In & Around

A call for people to donate unwanted furniture has been issued in County Durham…

 

The County Durham Reuse Forum, a partnership between five local charities and Durham County Council, is urging people to pass on unwanted items which could be used by other people.

The forum is hoping that people getting new furniture and household items delivered in time for Christmas will consider giving their old items to charity.

As well as providing low cost furniture to local people, the forum also provides training and volunteering opportunities and helps to reduce waste – with more than 140 tonnes of furniture reused so far this year.

Anyone with furniture they are looking to donate can contact one of the five charities which make up the forum.

Contact details are:

  • Consett YMCA. Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm. Tel: 01207 588 302.
  • County Durham Furniture Help Scheme, Chilton. Monday to Friday, 9am – 4pm; Saturday, 9am – 1pm. Tel: 01388 721 509.
  • East Durham Partnership, Horden. Monday to Friday, 9am – 4.30pm (Wednesday late opening until 6pm); Saturday 9am until midday. Tel: 0191 586 8493.
  • Haswell Mencap Furniture Enterprise. Monday to Friday, 9am – 3pm. Tel: 0191 516 0957.
  • Woodhouse Close Church Furniture Project. Tuesday and Thursday, 9am – 2pm. Tel: 01388 602 935. (collection within an eight-mile radius of Bishop Auckland)

All of the charities collect unwanted household items, such as beds, furniture and electrical items, free of charge if they are reusable and in good condition.

Upholstered items, such as sofas, chairs and beds, should be clean, without tears, and must have the current UK fire safety standard labels attached.

All electrical items should be working, be free from rust, reasonably clean and have intact seals.

Items will need to be checked before collection is agreed and if there is any reason why an item cannot be accepted, this will be explained.

For further information on which household items can be donated and purchased via one of the charities, please visit www.durham.gov.uk/reuse.

Durham Council Pledges To Continue Meetings Over DLI Museum

By on 10th December 2015in Local Biz

Durham County Council has pledged to keep meeting with veterans and campaigners as it develops how best to continue to honour the Durham Light Infantry…

 

Speaking at a meeting of full council on Wednesday morning, the council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration and culture, Cllr Neil Foster, said meetings have already taken place with many who share strong views on the future of the DLI collection.

He said the council will continue to listen to people who want to help bring the story of the men and women who served to the audience it deserves.

Cllr Foster said: “In adopting this report, the Cabinet members recognised the heritage of the DLI regiment must not only be maintained and preserved for future generations, but honoured as widely as possible.

“We also recognise, as a city containing a World Heritage Site, that it is also important to provide an excellent cultural offer, both for the benefit of our own residents and the many thousands of tourists who come to visit us each year.

“However, we must also recognise that what we have done before may no longer be appropriate or sustainable, and we must therefore look for opportunities for how we can make the most of what we have.

“In consultation with the DLI Trustees, whose role is to do what is best for the collection, and in partnership with Durham University, we have sought to find a new way of telling the DLI story – a way that will take it to the heart of the World Heritage Site, with its more than 600,000 visitors a year, and give it the far greater audience it rightly deserves.

“In addition, we have been working with Army Museums Ogilby Trust, the recognised authority in this area.

“We have already met with many of those who have strong views on the future of this museum, and welcome the opportunity to meet others in order that this can help shape the future of the collection and how we exhibit the many important artefacts it contains.

“We understand there has been significant public concern about the proposed changes, particularly with the idea that we are seeking to lock much of the collection away from public view, but that is simply not true.

“Durham County Council – as one of the few local authorities still funding a regimental museum – is committed to multiple exhibitions over the next five years to showcase much of what is currently on display, as well as many items, photos and stories which aren’t.

“At the same time, we want to provide a new, more suitable home for those items not included in exhibitions, with a publicly accessible research facility at Spennymoor at which curators, conservators and volunteers will be able to study and work on items.

“Both of those are longer term commitments to the DLI. Work is well underway on an exciting programme of events for 2016 that further explore and commemorate the role of Durham men and women at war.

“Rest assured that we are very aware of the importance of the DLI both to the history and people of the county and beyond.

“And we believe our plans which we are developing with the input of many will offer both a fitting tribute to those who served with the regiment, and ensure the continuation of the collection for many years to come.”

The DLI collection is set to move from its current home at Aykley Heads in April, by which time the first of the exhibitions on Palace Green, looking at the involvement of Durham people in the Battle of the Somme, will be open to the public.

A five year exhibition on the History of the DLI will follow later in the year, with further temporary exhibitions on different topics related to the regiment, and a linked programme of events marking the World War One centenary also planned.

To discover more about the county’s involvement in the 1914 to 1918 conflict, visit the council’s archive, museum and archaeology services’ Durham at War website, www.durhamatwar.org.uk.

To hear from those campaigning to save the DLI Museum, read their stories here:

#ThrowbackThursday: North East Police Vehicles From Yesteryear

By on 10th December 2015in Lifestyle

They just don’t make them like they used to…

North East Flickr user ‘Caesarion 1’ has over 200 photographs on his page, and many of them are a window into the region’s past.

Most of the photographs highlight the transport services of the time, giving us a glimpse of yesteryear’s buses and trains, making the rounds in Teesside and Northumbria. For locals who spent their formative years here, it’s one hell of a nostalgia trip.

Particularly notable, and featured in the slideshow gallery below, is an album containing 26 photographs of the North East’s old police vehicles, a lot of which would now be considered classics.

The album features police vehicles from the Northumbria, Cleveland and Durham forces, dating from the latter half of the 20th century.

View the gallery here:

 

Gems include a Durham Constabulary Rover SD1 from the 1980s, a Vauxhall Chevette serving at Teesside Airport, and a Cleveland Police Ford Transit.

See more of Caesarion 1’s classic photographs here.

Do you remember any of these classic police vehicles? Do you have photographs of your own to share? Leave a comment below, or email online@inandaroundmag.co.uk!

Gala Theatre Reveals Extensive Spring Events Lineup

By on 10th December 2015in Entertainment, Events

A pop icon, top comedians, and new work by The Gruffalo’s creators will take to the stage as part of the Gala Theatre’s jam-packed spring season…

Lulu, Chris Ramsey, Rob Delaney, and Mark Steel will all tread the boards alongside the likes of Stig of the Dump, Echo & the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch, and the Northern Ballet in a star-studded line up from January to April.

Robin Byers, Durham County Council’s service manager for place and experience, said: “We always aspire to bring the people of Durham the finest in theatre, comedy, music and film. Our spring programme is no exception, with highlights including performances from the internationally-renowned Lulu and Northern Stage’s adaptation of Get Carter.

“As well as live performance, we’re also continuing to showcase the best in British theatre courtesy of the National Theatre, and are delighted to bring world-class art exhibitions to our screens for the first time with the new Exhibition on Screen series.

“There’s plenty to keep our loyal customers entertained, whilst welcoming new audiences to Gala too.”

The season kicks off on Saturday 9th January with The Rat Pack Spectacular, before the Northern Ballet look to follow up its sell-out Three Little Pigs and Elves & The Shoemaker shows with the Tortoise & The Hare on Wednesday 3rd February.

Nashville-based singer song-writer Gretchen Peters brings her 20th anniversary tour to Gala on Thursday 4th February, then playwright John Godber’s new comedy Shafted! will trace what happened to a couple from Yorkshire thirty years after the miner’s strike on Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th February.

After the phenomenal success of last year’s The Phantom Of The Opera, the Gala Theatre Stage School return with an evening of song and dance in GTSS Goes To The Movies on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th February.

 

And Echo & the Bunnymen front man Ian McCulloch completes a stellar week with his performance of stripped down versions of the Merseyside band’s classic tracks, as well as his own solo songs, on Saturday 20th February.

March brings laughter in the shape of US comedian Rob Delaney, the star and co-creator of hit Channel 4 show Catastrophe, on Thursday 10th March.

And there’ll be plenty to shout about as Lulu stops by the Gala as part of her latest tour on Tuesday 15th March.

 

The comedy returns on Friday March 25th as North East stand up and former Hebburn star Chris Ramsey takes to the stage, closely followed by Have I Got News For You regular Mark Steel on Thursday 31st March.

In between the funny men, Gala has Easter weekend covered with a stage adaptation of the classic children’s novel Stig Of The Dump on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th March.

The family fun continues on Thursday 31st March, with the latest show from The Gruffalo creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales.

Meanwhile, a gritty crime drama, bringing to life the hard and uncompromising world of 1960s Newcastle, a city rife with crime, sex, gambling and violence, will see Northern Stage following in the footsteps of Michael Caine for an adaptation of Get Carter.

Rounding out the season, the Gala welcomes another heart-warming play packed with humour and great sixties songs in Tom Kelly’s Baby Love from Friday 22nd to Monday 25th April, and an evening of folk music courtesy of local lads The Young’uns on Saturday 30th April.

As well as the performers on stage, the theatre will also have a number of special events on its cinema screen.

 

NT Live returns with broadcasts of the National Theatre’s productions of Les Liaisons Dangereuses on Thursday 28th January and Shakespeare’s As You Like It on Monday 29th February.

Then, coming to the venue for the first time, Exhibition On Screen will bring films of art from The National Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts and beyond to the heart of Durham.

Exhibitions on show will include the works of Goya, on Monday 22nd February; Renoir, on Monday 14th March; and Monet and Matisse, on Monday 18th April.

Tickets for all of these events and more can be bought by calling the Gala Box Office on 03000 266 600, visiting the venue in person, or online at www.galadurham.co.uk.

Austerity To Deepen In County Durham

By on 9th December 2015in In & Around

Austerity in Durham is far from over, and here’s why…

 

An update on budget planning for the North East’s largest council – including the impact of the Chancellor’s Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) – will reveal a total savings target of close to £290m by 2020. Members will also hear that whilst austerity will continue, much remains uncertain at this stage as Durham County Council will not receive its financial settlement from Whitehall until mid-December.

However, an action plan, the potential use of an additional £25m from reserves and a continuation of the sound financial management approach adopted by the council means that despite the toughest of times, every effort will be made to minimise the impact of the cuts on the county’s residents.

The budget planning paper before the authority’s Cabinet next week (December 16th) sets out a four year plan which will see continued consultation with the public on spending priorities, and also on the impact of proposed changes. Final decisions will be made on 74 proposals for savings outlined in the report by Cabinet and Full Council in February.

Alongside these measures, continuing efforts will be made to highlight and support the ‘Durham Ask’, a programme which sees the council support communities and the voluntary sector to take over some council buildings and services.

The council Leader is Cllr Simon Henig: “We have done our best to protect frontline services and to respond to the priorities set by the public, and we are committed to maintaining this approach.

“Continuing spending cuts on this scale inevitably means making tremendously difficult decisions including changes to services, altering how we deliver those services and reducing our own costs at the same time.

“As we manage this we will use a potential further £25m in reserves to mitigate the impact on frontline services as best we can.

“We are also committed to ongoing consultation with residents so that we understand how proposed changes may affect people, and we will pay special attention to those who are most vulnerable as well as people living in more remote areas.”

The continuing austerity also means there will be a further impact on jobs at the council. In 2010, then facing budget reductions of £123m, Durham announced workforce reductions of 1,950 posts. That figure remained, despite austerity continuing and a revised savings target of £260m earlier this year. However, facing additional savings the council may have to reduce the number of posts by a further 400. The freezing of vacant posts and redeployment – as well as skills training and the introduction of more efficient ways of working – will be used to reduce the impact.

Cllr Henig again: “We recognise our staff are our biggest asset, which is why we have strived so hard to protect as many jobs as possible, while making greater cuts to management and support costs. Sadly, like many public sector organisations, we may have to reduce our workforce further to prioritise spending on services wherever we can. Again, we will delete vacant posts and use redeployment to minimise the impact.”

The council’s financial planning is based on a 2% increase in council tax over the next four years. However, the CSR offered local authorities the chance to help replace lost central Government funds by adding a further 2% social care precept to council tax bills – with income from this ring-fenced for spending on adult social care. This option will be part of the upcoming budget consultation exercise.

Earlier in the autumn of 2015, the council’s 14 Area Action Partnerships took part in the latest round of consultation on how the council should manage its reducing budget. Feedback from this, and an online consultation option, revealed the public’s spending priorities had not changed. However, residents will continue to have their say via a second phase of consultation, starting December 16th and running until January 12th 2016. As well as an online option at www.durham.gov.uk/haveyoursay, there will be three special events:

December 16, 2015 – St Johns RC, Bishop Auckland     6pm – 7.30pm

December 17, 2015 – Shotton Hall, Peterlee                    1pm – 2.30pm

December 17, 2015 – County Hall, Durham                     6pm – 7.30pm

The full Cabinet report can be viewed here.

Members will note the report’s recommendations when they meet at Durham Town Hall on December 16th.

Durham County Council To Consider Syrian Refugee Support

By on 9th December 2015in In & Around

Details of how County Durham could support the national response to the Syrian refugee crisis will be put before councillors next week…

 

Members of Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to consider proposals setting out the level of support that could be offered to people fleeing war-torn Syria.

The proposals have been developed by the Durham Humanitarian Support Partnership, which was set up in September to consider County Durham’s ability to provide assistance and to ensure the organisations involved can work together effectively.

It followed the Government’s announcement that the UK would take an additional 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020, with priority being given to the most vulnerable, including children.

The partnership, which is chaired by the county council, is working with churches, the voluntary sector and other partners to look at the needs refugees may have, including housing, food, health, education, translation services and community support.

Under the proposals being put to councillors, County Durham would agree to take refugees, with a focus on family groups, over the next five years.

An evaluation would be carried out within 12 months of the first group of refugees arriving in the county to see how effective this had been in order to help determine whether additional people could be accommodated.

Cllr Eddie Tomlinson, Cabinet member for assets, strategic housing and rural issues at Durham County Council, said: “We have already pledged our support to this national effort to help refugees escaping from war and persecution in Syria.

“We have had a number of approaches from local people offering to provide accommodation, host a family or to provide clothes, toiletries and bedding.

“At a time when many families here are experiencing hardship themselves, these offers of support to some of the world’s most vulnerable and desperate people is heartening.

“The proposals being put before Cabinet set out the level of support which the partnership feels can be offered in County Durham.

“They recognise that we do not have significant experience of relocating vulnerable refugees in the area and take into account our current ability to support and accommodate people.”

Cabinet will be asked to agree the proposed response to the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme when they meet next Wednesday (16th December).

The Government will work with councils to put in place the necessary arrangements to support and accommodate refugees, and will meet full cost in the first year with funding tapering over the next four years.

What do you think should be done? Leave your comments below.

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