2021 Durham Big Meeting has been cancelled

A letter received this morning from Alan Mardghum, Secretary of the Durham Miners’ Association, confirms what we’d all feared - this year’s Durham Big Meeting has been cancelled. Please see full text below:

Durham Miners’ Gala Cancellation

After lengthy consultations with our partners we have, reluctantly, decided that this year’s Durham Miners’ Gala cannot go ahead.

The executive committee of the DMA felt we could not ask all of our partners in local government, the police, health services and banner groups to forge on towards our great day while the possibility of it being allowed to go ahead – with or without social distancing measures – seems less and less likely. Furthermore, we would be asking thousands of people to commit time, money and resources which they can ill afford.

The Prime Minister’s roadmap to Covid recovery made difficult reading for this year’s 150th Gala year. The key part of the timetable is June 21 which is the very earliest that the government says large public events could again be possible. That would leave a mere three weeks for us to mobilise or cancel the Gala which, as always, was scheduled for the second Saturday in July.

It was felt that the risk factors are too great to commit bands, banners and hard-pressed public services to the complex organisation of the Gala while the possibility of having to cancel the event is still very high. We are also conscious that many of our Gala stalwarts may have been isolating for a year or so. Even with broadscale vaccinations, many may feel unsure about returning to large crowds.

2021 is the 150th anniversary year of the Gala and we are determined to keep the flame alive.

We will continue to organise and support local events to mark the 150th year and keep the flame alive. The Marras – the Friends of Durham Miners’ Gala – have already agreed to sponsor local events should we have to cancel The Big Meeting. Marras have also agreed that all banner groups will be paid double band allowance next year to help with the financial stress caused by Covid.

We are aware that this is not the best of news but the DMA’s top priority is to keep our members and supporters safe and secure during these troubled times. We will keep you informed of the plans to celebrate our 150th, albeit without our wonderful main event.

We will be back in 2022 with biggest and best Gala ever and we look forward to seeing you all there.

Yours, in solidarity,

Durham Miners Association

Reporting bikes and off-road vehicles on the coast or in the countryside

Along with other agencies I continue to receive complaints about motorbikes, quads and off-road vehicles using the open spaces and walkways in and around our communities as race tracks. This is causing several problems including damage to grassed areas and recreational facilities as well as posing a risk of injury or worse to others. 

Residents have concerns that this problem seems to be particularly persistent at a number of locations, especially those on public footpaths along the coast, including those between Blackhall Colliery and Blackhall Rocks, and also on the Haswell to Hart walkway - especially as it passes through Hesleden.

I reported last month that a group had been set up to deal with anti-social behaviour issues like this along the coast (please see post dated Monday 18 January 2021 for details: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2021/01/anti-social-behaviour-and-environmental.html) and I’ve also reported on measures put in place to prevent access at play areas like Chickens’ Green (please see post dated Thursday 28 January 2021 for details: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2021/01/first-phase-of-safety-measures-at.html). 

I passed residents’ latest concerns about problems at Hesleden to the countryside rangers and the local PCSO earlier this week and I’ve received a response which advises residents to contact the police on 101 on every occasion they have something to report about bikes and other vehicles trespassing and/or causing problems either on the coast, in our villages or in the countryside:

Rob,

 

We have held meetings with the various agencies involved around the impact of off-road vehicles and the coastal routes, including the Sustrans lines and walkways. I know that as a Police force we are carrying out various measures to stop and seize these illegal bikes, we have held  a number of operations over the past few months and are currently looking at another, more targeted operation in the near future.

As always, intelligence is our best weapon in our attempts to prevent this type of activity, so if you could please continue to advise any members of the public of the importance of reporting these issues to 101, preferably at the time, but if this is not possible, then as soon as possible afterwards. This helps build an intel picture of locations, days and times which we can then use to our advantage.

 

As you are aware, dealing with such a mobile nuisance is difficult at the best of times, but I am aware that DCC are also doing their utmost to prevent access through various means, whilst following the Rights of Way legislation which can prove to be difficult and costly. 

 

Please feel free to pass out my email to any member of the public who you feel may benefit from direct contact. 

PCSO Ian Goodwin can be contacted at: Ian.Goodwin@durham.pnn.police.uk 

Local Elections: Play it safe, vote by post

Local elections are due to take place on Thursday 6 May 2021 and this time around there could be changes to how people normally cast their vote - so it may well be better to play it safe and apply for a postal vote.

Voting by post is an easy, safe and convenient way of voting, especially if you are unable to go to your polling station on Election Day, and you’ll also have the added advantage of getting your vote in early. Please see below for details:

Complete this   Postal vote application form (PDF, 93.2kb)  to apply to vote by post. Please return it to the address on the form.

You can apply to vote by post for any particular election, for a set period of time or for all future elections and referendums, and if you want to go to the polling station on Election Day you can take your postal vote there instead.

More information on postal votes can be found in the link here: http://www.durham.gov.uk/postalvote

The Crimdon Coastal Hub - Latest Developments

I was contacted earlier this week by officers from the Durham Heritage Coast Partnership giving me a brief update on progress with the new Coastal Hub at Crimdon (please see posts dated Wednesday 14 October: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/10/crimdon-coastal-hub-start-date-confirmed.html and Saturday 21 November 2020: https://robcrute-blackhall.blogspot.com/2020/11/crimdon-and-durham-coast.html for background information on this project).

We’ve just received some images from the site at Crimdon which show that the timber framework is being installed this week so this will make quite a dramatic appearance to the site – the attached photos show the coastal view which will be framed by the windows.  

The next few weeks will see completion of the power cable supply and following this work on the air source heating will commence.  Brickwork has also commenced on site this week.

I’ll continue to update on progress as and when I receive additional information from the Durham Heritage Coast Partnership.

Business Recovery Grants

Business Recovery Grants are available to help businesses in County Durham recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Full details, including eligibility criteria, can be found below:

Apply for a Durham Business Recovery Grant

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The Durham Business Recovery Grant is a £5million fund to help County Durham businesses to recover from the effects of Covid-19. 

Who can apply for a Durham Business Recovery Grant

Eligible businesses are those businesses able to demonstrate that they:

• have a significant operational base, but less than 250 employees in County Durham
• were established before 11 March 2020
• are set up for profit and registered to pay tax on profit (in any format, eg sole trader, limited company)
• use a business bank account (separating personal and business finance)
• can demonstrate a significant adverse impact from Covid-19
• can demonstrate solvency
• can outline a credible and costed recovery plan
• can fund their share of the recovery plan

Social enterprises (for example, community interest companies) are eligible provided they meet the above and can demonstrate that they generate 51% or more of their sales from commercial activity (excluding income from donations, grants and contracts not won through a competitive process).

Who cannot apply for a Durham Business Recovery Grant

The following are not eligible to apply for a Durham Business Recovery Grant:

• registered charities
• organisations set up to provide:
  • local social welfare and community facilities, for example hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, fire stations, child-minding facilities, sports clubs and societies, parks, public libraries
  • housing rental as part of an investment portfolio
  • public services or activities to supplement public services, for example social housing or school age education. 
• businesses whose activities may bring the council's name or reputation into disrepute

If you're not eligible, North East Growth Hub's list of finance and funding provides a list of grants available, or see Business Durham Covid-19 business support brochure.

How to apply

Before you apply for a Durham Business Recovery Grant, please read the essential information - Durham Business Recovery Grant - essential information to help you prepare your application. The quality of your application will reflect the decision turnaround time of the application process.

If you need help with your application or you need a paper copy of the application form, please email dbopenquiries@durham.gov.uk.

Closing date

There is currently no closing date. You can only have one successful application and you should only apply when you are ready to implement your recovery plan.

How to contact us

If you would like to discuss your recovery plan prior to applying, or need support in completing an application, please email dbopenquiries@durham.gov.uk.

Apply for a Durham Business Recovery Grant online

A balanced budget but uncertainty ahead for local government finances

Uncertainty about the government's future funding model for local councils was one of the key messages written through a Cabinet report considered last week by the council's Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (COSMB).

The council's Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) sets out significant investment over the coming years, including the Towns & Villages Initiative aimed at reviving some of the county's most disadvantaged communities (please see post dated Wednesday 10 February 2021 for details).

However the prospect of continuing government austerity looms on the horizon. Accompanied by repeated delays to the government's Comprehensive Spending Review, its Fair Funding Review and the Business Rates Retention scheme - which is intended to abandon councils to the vagaries of the business rate system to fund services as central government grant is removed - this potentially leaves local authority services and communities facing an extended period of uncertainty characterised by further funding cuts. For example, the government's Fair Funding Review alone could potentially remove £19m from the council's public health grant allocation - a counter intuitive measure for a local authority within a Northeast region suffering the highest levels of health inequality in the country.

It is also noted that County Durham's core spending power per dwelling is significantly below the England average. If the government was to bring County Durham up to the England average the council's grant settlement would increase by around £45m each year - clearly something that would be of huge benefit to the people and communities of County Durham, and the type of measure the government must deliver in the interests of fairness - and if it is to be taken seriously on its promise to 'level-up' northern communities.

Despite the uncertainty, and the threat of another round of crippling government-imposed austerity, the tone and content of the report remain largely positive with a balanced budget and a strong capital programme, including a series of regeneration initiatives all enabled by consistent prudent financial management.

The complete MTFP report can be found in the link below:

https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1156&MId=12093

Vote Early: Vote by Post

Local elections are due to take place on Thursday 6 May 2021 - although they may be rescheduled to a later date if the government feels that voting cannot go ahead safely because of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Either way there could be significant changes to how people normally cast their vote so it may well be better to play it safe and apply for a postal vote.

Voting by post is an easy, safe and convenient way of voting, especially if you are unable to go to your polling station on Election Day, and you’ll also have the added advantage of getting your vote in early. Please see below for details:

Complete this   Postal vote application form (PDF, 93.2kb)  to apply to vote by post. Please return it to the address on the form.

You can apply to vote by post for any particular election, for a set period of time or for all future elections and referendums.

More information on postal votes can be found in the link here: http://www.durham.gov.uk/postalvote

Winter Roads Service

I've been contacted over the past few days by quite a few residents asking about how and when the council treats the road network during the winter months - not surprising given the amount of snow and ice we've had to endure this week. To make it easier to see where the roads are gritted I've published a link to the council's winter roads service page which shows which roads are identified as gritting routes: http://www.durham.gov.uk/gritting

The page also provides a link to a map showing which routes are gritted under normal winter conditions (Priority 1) and those which are gritted in more extreme weather conditions (Priority 2) and also gives details about how and where the roads will be treated on that particular day.

There is also a separate link to the council's winter service information page which offers details about emergency road closures, weather warnings, salt bins and much more: http://www.durham.gov.uk/winterinfo

Salt Bin Requests

As usual at this time of year, and perhaps more so after the persistent heavy snow we've had this past week, I've received dozens of requests for salt bins and salt bin refills over the past few days. I've already dealt with all requests received to date (until noon today) but I don't always have sufficient spare time to monitor my social media accounts and I wouldn't want to miss out on any additional requests.

If you need a salt bin where you live, or if you want an existing salt bin refilled, please submit a request on the council's website at: http://www.durham.gov.uk/saltbins It's quick and easy, and the service will respond to you direct.

Please note that the qualifying criteria for salt bins are quite strict so not all requests will be successful. If your request is refused for some reason please let me know and I'll see if there's an alternative way of providing salt bins in areas of high need before the next winter season starts. You can get in touch with me at: rob.crute@durham.gov.uk

Tackling Poverty in County Durham

The council’s Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (COSMB) receives regular update reports on a range of issues affecting the people and communities of County Durham. One of the most pressing issues at the moment is that of poverty, and particularly the impact it continues to have on the most vulnerable people in our communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Poverty has a wide reach and affects us all in one way or another. During the current coronavirus crisis Durham County Council has continued to work with partners at local, regional and national levels to mitigate wherever possible the impact of poverty and help to support families and individuals through the pandemic and the hardships it brings. Last month COSMB received a report on how the council is working to alleviate that hardship.

The complete report in the link at the bottom of this page highlights the most recent welfare, economic and poverty indicators for the county and updates on the efforts of the council and its partners to alleviate poverty - including a summary of the actions taken to address the negative financial impacts experienced by residents as a result of the pandemic, along with details of the council’s poverty action strategy and plan.

Please note that while the report was correct at the time of writing (9 November 2020) the situation with Covid-19 is changing constantly with regular government announcements and policy changes meaning some of the information in the report may have been superseded by subsequent developments.

https://democracy.durham.gov.uk/documents/s131457/Item%206%20Poverty%20Issues.pdf

Towns and Villages Programme

Durham County Council's cabinet considered a report this morning on the Towns & Villages Investment Plan which will see significant investment focused on some of our most disadvantaged settlements.

Please follow the link below for the complete cabinet report, including links to the investment plan document which outlines how the Towns & Villages initiative will develop and also details some of the initial projects scheduled to be carried out, including for our area:

• Neighbourhood Retail Improvements in Blackhall Colliery and Station Town
• Targeted Delivery Plans, Housing Opportunities Fund (aimed at maintaining and improving the existing housing stock and the wider environment) in Blackhall Colliery
• Empty Properties Project
• Selective Licensing Scheme (to regulate properties in the private-rented sector)
• The Seascapes Project at Crimdon and Blackhall and along the Durham Coast
• Built Environment Schemes to explore regeneration opportunities across all communities

Towns and Villages Investment Plan - Report of Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth [Key Decision: REG/01/2021] PDF 254 KB

• View the background to item 4.of 

Additional documents:

• Appendix 2_ Investment Plan FINAL UPDATED , item 4. PDF 4 MB
• Appendix 3 EQUIA Towns and Villages Investment Plan , item 4. PDF 257 KB 
  

Consultation on Health & Wellbeing in County Durham

The Health and Wellbeing Board for County Durham has begun a consultation on how they will improve health and wellbeing across County Durham. 

Working together with their partners the board has developed a Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021-25 which sets out what they are going to focus on to ensure County Durham is a healthy place, where people live well for longer. The board is now consulting the public on proposed changes to their objectives in the hope of identifying any gaps.

If you would like to have your say on how health and wellbeing services across County Durham could be improved please follow the link below for details:

http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/24877/Consultation-on-health-and-wellbeing-in-County-Durham

The consultation ends on Sunday 21 February 2021