Agenda item

The Leader of the Council provided the Council with an update of business discussed by the Cabinet on 12 December 2018 (for copy see file of Minutes).

Councillor L Maddison asked the following question on Item 2 of the Cabinet report:

‘The extra amount allocated for town and village regeneration of £2.5m each year for the next 3 years whilst welcomed is not sufficient to meet the needs of all towns and villages across County Durham where infrastructure has deteriorated due to lack of investment in previous years.

In particular, we have recognised in Spennymoor that opportunist developers have bought up land and buildings, taking little account of any social responsibility, and allowed their buildings or land to remain vacant for many years without adequate maintenance and consequential environmental problems for residents.

In determining how this funding will be allocated, what criteria will be adopted to ensure that areas that have had no investment over the years but a significant increase in housing developments generating significant extra income to the Council will be fairly allocated money from this pot to ensure their Masterplans are realised and that additional budget is also set aside to ensure enforcement measures are applied to bring vacant buildings and land within these areas up to a required standard.’

Councillor C Marshall, Portfolio Holder for Economic Regeneration thanked Councillor Maddison for her question and provided the following response:

‘The Town and Village programme provides new funding in addition to the existing town centre capital programme and the standalone projects which provide important investments into our towns and communities.  While this additional money is important in itself, the report approved by Cabinet also highlighted our aspirations to improve the co-ordination and delivery of our current services and investments in towns and villages. Ensuring residents, businesses and visitors see maximum change and benefit from all our work.

In terms of priorities, Councillor Shaw and I have met with all Members, including yourself, as we intend this to be an inclusive process where local Members and the AAPs determine those things important in their areas.  We appreciate that the funding we have identified, and therefore we will be looking to target those key issues that are identified locally, and also those where Council money can be a catalyst for bringing in other funding from partners and private sector.  I think by working together we can make a positive contribution across the County and I look forward to working with all Members of the Council on projects in their areas.’

Resolved:

That the report be noted.