Minutes:
Councillor A Hopgood, Leader of the Council reported that after the summer recess and the pause in some work following the death of Her Majesty The Queen last month, the Council was now facing a particularly busy time.
Discussions were taking place with the LA6 authorities and the government regarding a potential devolution deal. The Secretary of State had asked the Council to advise him by Friday 14 October of whether it wished to join the LA6 devolution arrangements. The Leader confirmed that the Council had agreed ‘in principle’ that it would like to work with the LA6 authorities to create a regional deal.
This was an ‘in-principle’ decision and subject to further ongoing discussion with regional colleagues and the government. Any deal would also be subject to consideration by Cabinet prior to consultation. The primary aim was to ensure the best possible deal for the people of County Durham and that is what the Council would be working to achieve during these conversations.
The Council had submitted a bid to the government to create two Investment Zones within the County.
The bid put forward Aykley Heads and NETPark as potential sites. Both had a clear focus on innovation and the creation of high values jobs. Becoming an Investment Zone would help secure additional private sector investment and create supply chain opportunities for other businesses in the county.
Finally, many residents across the county were feeling the impact of rising fuel prices and the cost-of-living crisis. This month, the Council launched its Warm Spaces scheme, which would provide a network of safe and trusted places where people could go to keep warm during the colder weather. As well as providing Warm Spaces within some of the Council’s own buildings, work was also taking place with County Durham Community Foundation to provide financial and practical support to voluntary and community groups to provide venues.
This was just one example of a wide range of support the Council provided, including help to pay heating and energy bills, the Welfare Assistance Scheme and debt advice.
The Council was also proposing to extend the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for a further year. The scheme provided a 100 per cent discount on council tax payments to all financially vulnerable households.
Details of all these initiatives were available on the County Council’s website and the Leader asked Members to share the link with anyone who may need support.
Councillor C Marshall asked the Leader of the Council to explain why she had changed her mind on her approach to devolution and was proposing to take a rural county into a city focused regional deal, rejecting the Governments offer from a year ago to put County Durham’s interest first in agreeing a single County deal. Councillor Marshall also asked whether the Leader would commit to calling an extraordinary Council meeting in November to enable all Members to debate and vote on a preferred position.
Councillor Hopgood replied that there was currently no secret deal but clarified that there was a need for confidentiality in such matters. There had been no change of mind and what was the best option for County Durham was of paramount importance. Councillor Marshall had been invited to a meeting last week where these details could have been provided.
With reference to Councillor Marshall’s request in terms of calling an extraordinary meeting with Members the Council was following the protocol and the process that was set down by Government on all devolution deals and was following the same process as any other local authority.
Councillor Marshall did not consider he had received a full answer to his question because he had requested an extraordinary meeting of Council in November so all Members of the Council could debate this properly, openly and transparently.
Councillor Hopgood reiterated that the Council was following the process that was set out. The process was that a report would be brought to Cabinet and which Councillor Marshall was welcome to attend.
Councillor R Crute sought guidance from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services on how an extraordinary meeting of the Council could be called to discuss, in principle, the options open to the Council in proceeding with a devolution deal. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services replied that she could call an extraordinary meeting, the Chair could call an extraordinary meeting, a resolution of Council could call an extraordinary meeting and there was provision for any five Members to call an extraordinary meeting. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services reiterated that in order to enter into a devolution process and to establish a combined authority there was a statutory process to be followed with decision making points at various stages of that statutory process.
Councillor F Tinsley referred to the Leaders report and asked whether the consultation with regional partners included the 520,000 people who lived in County Durham. Councillor Tinsley also asked whether the Leader had taken into consideration that in 2004 the people of the northeast were asked if they would like to enter into a regional assembly and at that point 77% of them said no.
Councillor Hopgood replied that consultation was currently with regional colleagues and government. Consultation would take place and this was a different scenario to the proposed regional assembly in 2004.
Councillor O Gunn asked whether the Leader thought it was in the interests of the Councils democracy to inform adjacent local authority Leaders of the preference of a deal for Durham and not inform the Leader of the Labour Group with 55 Members.
Councillor Hopgood replied that the Leader of the Labour Group had been invited to meetings previously about this.
Councillor M McKeon expressed concern that any transport money would be spent on the Tyne and Wear Metro for which County Durham had no involvement with and sought an assurance that County Durham would not lose out on funding as a result of this.
Councillor Hopgood confirmed that as things stood with the Joint Transport Committee, both County Durham and Northumberland had no contributions whatsoever to the Metro. An LA7 deal would also include Northumberland which was predominantly rural and Gateshead which, although a metropolitan city, had a lot of rural area.
Councillor Kay asked whether the current amount of £147m for transport in County Durham would be lost if Durham entered into a regional deal with the LA6. Councillor Hopgood replied that this was not the case.