State of the County Debate 2005
On Monday, 17 October 2005, the County Council marked the beginning of national Local Democracy Week by holding the 2005 ‘State of the County’ debate. Over 150 people took part in the event in a packed Council Chamber in County Hall, Durham.
Councillor Ernie Foster, Chairman of the County Council welcomed people to the event and Mark Lloyd, the Council’s new Chief Executive provided a scene-setting presentation.
Political journalist and former BBC Look North correspondent Tony Baker, then facilitated an hour long debate in which members of the public raised issues, made comments and explained their concerns about life in County Durham, and how the Council provides services and spends their money.
The Leader of the Council, Cabinet Members, other Councillors and senior Council managers were present to listen to, and learn from people's comments.
The Debate in Brief
During a wide-ranging debate, the following issues were raised and discussed by members of the audience:- The timing of school holidays.
- The continuing role of the North East Assembly, in the context of last year’s referendum vote against a regional assembly and moves to include Chester-le-Street in the Tyne and Wear city region.
- The County Council’s interest in the building which was identified as a potential headquarters for a northern assembly.
- Withdrawing Council funding from the North East Assembly.
- Environmental management, in particular the maintenance of grass verges and street lighting affecting natural habitats.
- Butchers being charged to dispose of unsold or unwanted meat.
- Protecting greens in villages from development in order to maintain villages’ identities.
- The state of bus services in outlying villages compared with Durham City.
- Lack of consideration by bus drivers to the needs of disabled people, elderly or infirm passengers.
- How can the Council address the dirty, down-to-earth problems experienced by people who use public transport.
- Lack of consideration and respect for young people using public transport.
- Unitary local government in County Durham.
- The quality of footpaths and cycleways to encourage people to use non-motorised forms of transport.
- Education, unemployment and how we provide opportunities for young people educated in the County to fulfil their aspirations here.
- The state of the County’s footpaths and poor quality repairs.
- Forgotten villages and a sense that West Durham is becoming a dumping ground.
- The location of wind turbines and the impact on local residents.
- Encouraging more people to cycle.
- The decline of local shops and businesses creating ghost towns.
- Encouraging community or social enterprise and what the Council can do to support local community initiatives.
- The impact of supermarkets on small businesses.
- Parking in Bishop Auckland and the impact that parking charges have had on local shopkeepers.
- Council Tax bill increases outstripping inflation and the impact on pensioners on fixed incomes.
- High direct labour costs of Council workers.
- Increases in the size of the Council’s workforce and a sense that the County Council employs people needlessly.
- The future of the farming industry and the impact the possible decline will have on the landscape of Durham.
- The Council’s procurement policy and buying products locally.
- The closure of police stations during the evening and early mornings.
- Fear of crime and older people frightened by youths taking control of the streets.
- The North East Assembly’s ‘Shaping the North East’ strategy and the concentration of prestige employment sites in Sedgefield.
- What happens with waste collected for recycling.
- Getting people actively involved in community affairs instead of just demanding action.
- The Sky Bowl putting Durham on the map.
- The Police and a no camera policy.
- How this debate will be followed up and maintained throughout the year.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.
State of the County Debate 05 summary report.pdf (26 pages, 170kb)
