Minutes:
The Leader welcomed Councillor Napier to the meeting on his return from a period of ill-health.
The Leader informed Council that he had attended an event at the Baltic on Friday 15 February regarding the North East Economic Review chaired by Lord Adonis. The event had emphasised the importance of greater joint working between all seven Local Authorities in the LEP area.
The Leader expressed disappointment that Rural Sparsity Funding, which had been announced for County Durham, had subsequently been withdrawn. The funding was to have been spent on flood alleviation works. However, the Council had identified £250,000 from Corporate Contingencies to spend on a two-year preventative inspection and maintenance programme, which would complement schemes being carried out by the Environment Agency.
The Leader congratulated both Stanley AAP and Town Council on a recent community event which had attracted 1,600 local residents to decide priorities for the community budget.