Welcome to the April edition of Darlington Together As we are heading near to the elections, there is no Leader’s Column this month. There will be no further MP surgeries until after the General Election on 7 May. There will be no edition of Darlington Together in May.
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For more information about the elections – including how to register, how to apply for a postal vote and how to find out more information about your ward – visit pages 23-26.
NEWS IN BRIEF • NEWS IN BRIEF • NEWS IN BRIEF
Lots of love for our competition winners Well done to the following people who won prizes in the ’Love Darlington, love your local shops’ competition in the February edition of Darlington Together:
Festival of Thrift returns to Darlington! We’re pleased to announce that the Festival of Thrift is returning to Lingfield Point for a third year on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September. For more information visit www.festivalofthrift.co.uk
Two course meal and fizz for two at the Keys Darlington: Sophia Langan £50 shopping voucher: Mrs B Reynolds Ingredients for a meal for two from the indoor market: Mrs Savage
Free/subsidised gas boilers Don’t forget that you may qualify for a free or subsidised gas boiler from Warm Up North. To qualify you need to own your own home or have a private landlord, and have a boiler that is inefficient. You must also be in receipt of certain benefits. For more information, and to see if you qualify, visit www.warmupnorth.com/freeboiler or call 0800 316 4320.
Toast to St George There will be a toast to the patron Saint of England, Saint George, on Thursday 23 April at noon, at the Market Cross. For more information about St George’s Day events, visit www.darlington.gov.uk/stgeorge. If you would like to publicise your St George’s Day event on the page, email communications@darlington.gov.uk with the details.
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NEWS IN BRIEF • NEWS IN BRIEF • NEWS IN BRIEF
Get ready for the Big Community Switch! The Big Community Switch is back to help you save money on your energy bills. Sign up for free and with no obligation to switch by midnight on Monday 18 May. People who signed up earlier this year could save an average of £200 a year! You can register as a household, business or community organisation. All you need is a copy of your last energy bill. For more information visit www.darlington.gov.uk/bigcommunityswitch or call 01325 256999 (ext 122)
Are you eligible for free childcare? Parents/carers of two year olds can now check whether they are eligible for a free childcare place online at: www. darlington.gov.uk/ childcarechecker Please have your National Insurance number to hand.
Early Years Pupil Premium From April some three and four year olds in Darlington who had a free childcare place when they were two years old will be eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium. The premium is paid to the registered childcare provider or school and is used to improve the services they provide. Registered providers should identify eligible children, so if you think your child qualifies please speak to your provider. For more information contact People and Families’ Information Support on 0800 917 2121 or email pfis@darlington.gov.uk.
Could you be a Community Representative? We are looking for two non-voting Community Representatives to sit on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee.
If you have experience in these areas or a knowledge or interest in educational conditions in Darlington, we’d like to hear from you.
The Scrutiny Committee considers issues including: adoption, youth offending, anti-social behaviour, family intervention, disabled children, special needs, school improvement, admissions and adult/family learning.
For more information or an application form call Allison Hill on 01325 405997 or email allison.hill@ darlington.gov.uk. Applications must be received by Thursday 30 April.
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NEWS IN BRIEF • NEWS IN BRIEF • NEWS IN BRIEF
Refuse and recycling collections over the May Bank Holidays – no changes! There will be no changes to refuse and recycling collection over the May Bank Holidays – your day will stay the same. For a reminder of your refuse/recycling day as well as what you can and can’t recycle – visit www. darlington.gov.uk/rwc
Village SOS to inspire rural social enterprise Village SOS, a UK-wide rural campaign, is up and running following a community event at the WM Morrison Trust at the end of February. The campaign, which is all about helping communities to survive and thrive, is a Big Lottery Funded initiative that aims to help rural residents become more enterprising. Projects, from car share schemes to community cafes, will receive a package of advice and support from local organisations. The aim is to help community volunteers to create action plans that suit their needs, at their pace to help them become more sustainable. The focus of the campaign will be a ‘community-to-community’ learning network, which will see volunteers from social enterprises across the UK become mentors to share the secrets of their success. The campaign is run by a consortium led by ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England). To find out more, visit www.villagesos.org.uk
CONTACT US - NEW CONTACT NUMBERS Our phone numbers are changing! www.darlington.gov.uk customerservices@darlington.gov.uk Did you know we’re also on social media? Follow us on Twitter (@darlingtonbc) and give us a ‘like’ on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ darlingtonboroughcouncil)
STREET SCENE www.darlington.gov.uk/streetscene Tel (01325) 388777 – New number 01325 405111 COUNCIL TAX www.darlington.gov.uk/counciltax Tel (01325) 388373 – New number 01325 405555 HOUSING BENEFIT AND COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT www.darlington.gov.uk/benefits Tel (01325) 388514 – New number 01325 405444 HOUSING AND REPAIRS www.darlington.gov.uk/housing Tel (01325) 388542 – New number 01325 405333 HIGHWAYS, TRANSPORT, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH www.darlington.gov.uk Tel (01325) 388799 – New number 01325 405222
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A day in the life of... A Dog Warden We caught up with Andy Wood, a member of Darlington’s Dog Warden Team, to find out what’s involved in life as a Dog Warden: Hi Andy, can you talk us through a typical day as Darlington’s Dog Warden? It’s difficult because every day is different. You never know what’s going to happen day to day. I’ll give it a go. Great, so how does your day start? I come into the office and check if we’ve had any reports of stray dogs. If there’s been a dog found straying I’ll go out and collect it as soon as I can. We also check our Darlington Dog Warden Facebook page to see if we have had any new updates about our strays. What do you do with the dogs you’ve collected? First thing is to check if they’re microchipped, and if so to get in touch with the owner. If they’re not it’s a bit more complicated, we take them to Deerness Kennels where they will be looked after by the staff. We would then add a picture of the stray onto our Facebook page; this can be a great way for the public to help us to reunite the lost dog with its owner. Aw we hope the little pooch gets a happy ending! Do you deal with Dog Fouling? Yes, as this is a nationwide problem we issue what we call a fixed penalty notice to people we catch letting their dogs foul and not cleaning it up, which is currently set at £75. As you can imagine, this is a very busy role for us
and we welcome any information from the public. I hate stepping in dog poo! What can I do if I see someone letting their dog foul? If you have witnessed any incidents like this you should contact our Customer Services on 01325 405222. If a member of the public reports to us that they’ve seen someone allowing their dog to foul, and not cleaning it up, we will make a visit which may result in a fixed penalty notice being issued to the offender. So we’ve rescued a couple of stray dogs, visited a nasty dog fouler, what’s next on your list? Well we now have collection boxes for donations of dog food in major supermarkets, I’ll ring round to see if the boxes are getting full, pick them up and deliver them to Darlington FoodStore and Deerness Kennels. We will also be replacing many lamp post stickers with our new dog fouling warning stickers and also when the weather improves we will also be renewing our floor templates which are usually situated within most parks. Phew, you must be tired after all that. My work with dogs doesn’t end at work, when I get home I have my own dog Alfie waiting for me and needing a long walk!
For more information about Darlington Dog Warden – why not visit their Facebook page? www.facebook.com/darlingtondogwarden To report dog fouling visit www.darlington.gov.uk/reportit or call 01325 405222.
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Tax credits and pensions Be aware of changes! Tax credit changes From April, tax credits payments will be stopped where a change of circumstances would reduce your annual award and further payments would cause an overpayment. Also from April, self-employed people claiming tax credits will have to show that the work they undertake is ‘genuine and effective’ and that they have registered as self-employed for tax purposes. For further advice about tax credits or self-employment, visit the TaxAid website www.taxaid.org.uk or contact your local advice provider.
Be pension smart Saving into a pension scheme could be one of the best financial decisions you make and you don’t need to be near retirement age to start saving – the earlier you start saving, the better! The Money Advice Service has a calculator which estimates how much you’ll need
to save each month to generate the income you would like to retire on. Go to www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/ readyreckoner. If you think that you might have paid into a workplace pension in the past but don’t know how to find it, contact the Pension Tracing Service on 0845 600 2537 or find out more at www.gov.uk/find-lostpension. From 6 April people over the age of 55 will have greater access to their pension pot, but beware of the tax consequences if you cash it in immediately. Don’t fall foul of any fraudulent investment schemes either… if the return on your money sounds too good to be true, it probably is! You can book a free appointment with a trained guidance specialist to find out more about the different ways you can take money from your pension pot – these sessions take place face-to-face and over the phone. Visit www.pensionwise.gov.uk to register your interest. For more information about your money, visit www.darlingtoncab.co.uk or call 01325 256999
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It’s festival fever
Darlington Arts Festival Monday 20 April – End of May Darlington Jazz Festival from Thursday 23 – Sunday 26 April Distinctly Delicious – Darlington Food Festival Saturday 9 – Sunday 10 May
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Darlington Arts Festival, the third to be held, will be staged at a wide range of venues across the borough and is being co-ordinated by Darlington for Culture (DfC) This year, almost 70 events, taking in everything from art and literature to music and dance, for all ages will be staged at more than 25 venues. Highlights include: • A railway themed film series at The Forum • A month-long literary festival • Art exhibitions • Music events, including Darlington Jazz Festival, from Thursday 23 April to Sunday 26 April – including a free afternoon of jazz in the town centre on Saturday 25 April • Saturday 25 April – 7pm at Central Hall (Dolphin Centre), an evening of swinging big band music from the 50s and 60s • Sunday 10 May will see the Arts Showcase Event take place between 10am and 4pm on Borough Road • Saturday 16 May, Darlington Folk Club will present a Folk Music and Dance Day in the town centre
For more information about Darlington Arts Festival visit: www.darlingtonforculture.org For more information about Darlington Jazz Festival visit: www.darlingtonjazzfestival.co.uk
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Fun and food is firmly on the menu at Darlington’s Food Festival. The sights, tastes and smells of food from around the world and closer to home will fill the town centre. Look out for: Producers Market – selling handmade sausages, chocolates, artisan breads and cakes and much more. Chef Demonstrations – get top tips from top chefs. Street Food – sample food from around the world. Tasting workshops – enjoy tasty treats for free. Don’t miss free street entertainment throughout the weekend and the Locomotion Cake Parade on Sunday 10 May at 3pm.
Visit: www.darlofoodfest.org Or get the Distinct Darlington App from the App Store
Elections 2015… Darlington Decides! National, local and parish elections take place on Thursday 7 May 2015 If you don’t vote… you won’t be able to have your say about the future of Darlington
Register to vote Please make sure you are registered to vote in the elections. If you are not registered you have until Monday 20 April to register. You can apply to register online – it only takes five minutes and all you need to have to hand is your National Insurance number. Visit www.gov.uk.uk/register-to-vote If you do not have access to the internet, call 01325 405995 and we will send a form out to you.
Dates for your diary Here are the important dates for the 2015 elections.
DID YOU KNOW?
Since July 2014, over 6 million people across the UK have registered online to vote? Source: Cabinet Office
Deadline for standing for election: 4pm, Thursday 9 April.
Look out for your poll card!
Candidates announced: 5pm Thursday 9 April (Parliamentary), by 4pm Friday 10 April (Local) - visit www.darlington.gov.uk/election for a list of who is standing.
If you are already registered to vote, you will receive your poll card for the election over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. This card will tell you which ward you are in, which polling station you can vote at and if you have a postal vote.
Deadline to register to vote: Monday 20 April. Deadline for postal vote applications: 5pm, Tuesday 21 April. Deadline for proxy vote applications (this is where you can nominate someone to vote on your behalf): 5pm, Tuesday 28 April. Polling stations across Darlington open: 7am-10pm, Thursday 7 May. The Election Count will start at 10pm on Thursday 7 May.
Check your poll card as your ward and polling station may have changed. If you don’t receive your poll card by Friday 10 April, contact us on 01325 405995 or email elections@darlington.gov.uk. It may be that you aren’t registered to vote yet and need to register. You don’t need your poll card in order to vote, but you do need to be registered! Turn to pages 24, 25 and 26 to find out more about changes to wards, information about polling stations and how to apply and complete your postal vote!
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Your ward in Following the Boundary Commission review, the number of wards have gone down from 24 to 20. This means that your ward and polling station may have changed.
Š Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 0100023728.
Darlington Ward Boundaries 2015 (Rural)
You are not permitted to copy, sub-license, distribute or sell any of this data to third parties in any form.
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â—† Polling Stations 2015
in Darlington You can find out which ward you are now in and your polling station by checking your poll card, visiting www.darlington.gov.uk/election or calling 01325 405995.
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 Ordnance Survey 0100023728.
Darlington Ward Boundaries 2015 (Urban)
You are not permitted to copy, sub-license, distribute or sell any of this data to third parties in any form.
◆ Polling Stations 2015 Darlington Borough Council | 25
A guide to postal voting Did you know that 531 postal votes were rejected in Darlington at the 2014 European Parliamentary Election as they were not filled in correctly? This page will help your complete your postal vote. If you apply for a postal vote, a pack will be sent to you about two weeks before the election.
1 Mark your vote(s) on
2 Put your ballot paper(s) into
your ballot paper(s).
4 Put your completed postal vote
statement AND envelope A (with your ballot paper(s) inside) into Envelope B, and seal it. Make sure you send back your postal vote statement and ballot paper(s) or your vote may not count!
envelope A, and seal it.
This pack will contain: • Your ballot paper(s) • Your postal vote statement • Envelope A • Envelope B
3 Compete the postal vote
statement with your date of birth (not today’s date!) and signature.
5 Send your postal vote back to us straight away.
You don’t need to put a stamp on the envelope. If you miss the post, you can drop your postal vote off at the Town Hall, or at any polling station on the day of the election.
If you don’t have a postal vote and would like one, call 01325 405995 or email elections@darlington.gov.uk and we’ll send out a form. You must apply by Tuesday 21 April. Remember… don’t let anyone else vote for you, and don’t give your ballot paper(s) to anyone else to fill in. Don’t give your postal vote to a candidate or Party worker, or leave it where someone can pick it up. If anyone tries to help you against your will or forces you to give them your postal vote, contact the Police. This is your vote – so keep it safe!
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For more information about the elections, visit www.darlington.gov.uk/election or scan the QR code. You can also call 01325 405995 or email elections@darlington.gov.uk
Foster a Family
We try and keep life as stable as possible for children who are unable to live with their own families. One way to do this is to ensure that children who come into care with their siblings are fostered together.
who suggested taking brothers and sisters, as it’s a way of keeping a family together.
We spoke to one of Darlington’s Secret Superheroes, Dawn Humble, who fosters brothers and sisters. She said “I was considering fostering and had only really thought of taking one child at a time, it was my daughter
“I’ve been fostering for about six months and have found it very rewarding. To people considering fostering I’d say that if you’ve got that love to give, and a space in your home, then you should give it a go.”
“So far I’ve had two pairs of siblings, I do think it’s good for them as they’re less lonely. I would hate to think of the children I’ve fostered being split up.
For more information please visit www.darlington.gov.uk/fostering or contact the Family Placement Service on 01325 406120 fostering@darlington.gov.uk
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Darlington Business Expo is bigger and better
Local businesses across the DL postcode area are to hold an event on Thursday, 30 April 2015 to showcase their products and services to potential customers in a bid to get them to buy locally.
Graeme Rowatt, chairman of the Darlington Business Club said: “It’s going to be the largest showcase of businesses based in the Darlington and district area. We have increased the number of stands available from last year and we hope to get some big DL based firms to attend. We are proud to be working in partnership with Darlington Mowden Park RFC, owners of the Northern Echo Arena, to provide a fantastic local venue for the occasion.”
The campaign to buy locally, which aims to boost the region’s economy, was instigated by Darlington Business Club some years back and has gone from strength to strength with hundreds of companies supporting it.
Businesses with a DL or TS21 1 postcode are invited to book their stand online. Visitors from across the wider region can also register to attend the free exhibition and to meet the buyers by visiting www.darlingtonbusinessclub.co.uk
Businesses both large and small will be attending the fourth annual DL Business Expo to be held at The Northern Echo Arena in Darlington.
As well as being able to see the range of products and services on offer across the region, visitors can enjoy a series of seminars from high profile regional business speakers such as Jackie Wade, author of Successful Selling for Small Business and Nevil Tynemouth, LinkedIn expert.
Such is the popularity of the event that over half of the exhibition stands sold within a few hours of the event going online.
Businesses invited to have their say on Airport services Durham Tees Valley Airport is seeking the views of local businesses on how the airport can help meet business needs. The online survey is available at: www.durhamteesvalleyairport.com until 10 April. The survey takes around five minutes to complete and all responses will be treated in the strictest confidence.
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Business Support secures base in Darlington Business Central, just off Yarm Road in Darlington, opens this spring and brings with it a wealth of support for those wishing to become self-employed. An ideal location for new and established businesses, the innovative office facility which will be operated by the North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) team, has been developed by Darlington Borough Council and supported with funding from the European Regional Development Fund and the Homes and Communities Agency. Vanessa Wood, Business Central centre manager.
Vanessa Wood, centre manager will be heading up the office development. She said: “In addition to offering space for over 60 businesses, we will also be working in tandem with TEDCO business support to ensure people starting out on their enterprise journey have access to support. “In the coming months we will be hosting a series of sessions and I am delighted a representative from the TEDCO team will also arrange appointments for those looking to become self-employed.” Vanessa added: “This is a great opportunity for those wishing to become their own boss to get advice from experienced business advisers who will take them through each step involved in setting up a business. “The building is perfectly located for travel links, situated right next to the railway station as well as fantastic road, bus and airport access. This is a real boost to start-up clients as well as established businesses.” Carole White, Chief Executive at TEDCO Business Support added: “TEDCO has been delivering business support in Darlington for many years and it is fantastic to be able to acquire a base to help streamline business support.” For more information please call 01325 526 006 or visit www.businesscentraldarlington.co.uk
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Move More Taster Sports Sessions Success Last month the Council’s Healthy Darlington Move More team held an event to celebrate International Women’s Day and the ‘‘This Girl Can’’ campaign and offered women a host of sports taster sessions to try for free.
Dozens of people turned up and had a go at something and in some cases, everything on offer! Workouts in the gym, plunges in the pool, netball, dodgeball, football, rounders, badminton, tennis, trampolining, taekwondo, strength and conditioning, spinning, swim fit, boxercise and squashercise, to name but a few, were all sampled. We caught up with some of the women who took part to see what they had to say.
A strength and conditioning class
Sharon Penman who enjoyed her Spinning session said;
Sharon, who enjoyed her Boxercise session said;
“I didn’t realise how much fun spinning can be – I’ll definitely be making it part of my exercise regime.”
“I loved the boxercise session – it’s a great way to burn calories and use lots of muscle groups at the same time.”
Paul Foreman, Healthy Darlington’s Move More Manager said: “No one should feel self-conscious when exercising - it should be all about having fun and feeling great. We hope to see many more women taking part in the exercise of their choice.” For health and fitness information and support contact the Move More team movemore@darlington.gov.uk / 01325 254370.
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Swinging into action Ten year old, Oliver Millichap, future golf champion, is this month’s Move More Star. Oliver competes in the top National junior events in the country and plays off an adult handicap of 19. He has represented the Country at under 14 level, qualified for the Junior European Championship, was picked by the England Elite Coaches for the England (North) Futures squad and was recently invited to play in the 2015 Junior World Championships at Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA.
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We caught up with Oliver to find out what he thinks about his golfing success… He said: “I love golf and play whenever I can. When I’m not playing golf, I’m either watching it or talking about it! I do love to swim too though! For anyone Ten year old interested in giving golf a go I recommend going along Oliver Millichap on to golf lessons or sessions as soon as you can - before Darlington Golf Club golf course. you get into any bad habits. Lessons certainly helped me. The Council’s Tri-Golf Academy sessions sound great – I’d advise anyone interested in giving golf a go to go along to the sessions – they’ll give you a real taster for the game and teach you what you need to get started.” Oliver’s father Andrew said: “As a family we are extremely proud of Oliver - it’s great to see all his hard work and determination pay off. I recommend any parents/guardians of keen little golfers to take them along to a club or session where they will be taught the basics in a fun professional manner. As Oliver says the Council’s Tri-Golf Academy sessions will be a great opportunity for any would be golfers to learn from.”
Tri-Golf Academy The Tri-Golf Academy is a junior coaching session aimed at children between 5-11 years and is a great way for children to be introduced to golf. It aims to teach children key skills and is a fun way for children to be introduced to the sport, using easy to use, child-friendly equipment. The skills and activities are team based and focus on the three main swings in golf – putting, chipping and pitching. Children will then get to practise the skills they learn in a variety of fun games.
Sessions take place monthly on the last Saturday* of every month, from 10am – noon at Darlington Golf Club. The first session is free and then £5 per session. There is no need to book, simply turn up. The next session takes place on Saturday 25 April. For more information about the Darlington Tri-Golf Academy email movemore@darlington.gov.uk or call 01325 254370. *August’s session takes place on Saturday 15 August.
Tri-Golf was set up by the golf foundation. To find out more visit www.golf-foundation.org Darlington Borough Council | 31
Fantastic News as Darlington’s Good Friends Scheme wins National Award
Darlington Partnership’s ‘Good Friends’ scheme, managed by Age UK Darlington has gained national recognition by winning a Local Government Chronicle Award. The scheme was set up to support Darlington’s elderly and vulnerable population who are often lonely and isolated. Volunteers offer small amounts of time doing small tasks that make a big difference to their neighbours, like clearing snow in winter and making a cup of tea for someone in their home, things that help people to continue to live independently. Darlington Partnership members worked closely together to set up the scheme and since the launch in October 2013 there are now over 700 ‘Good Friends’ helping 465 neighbours, and the scheme continues to grow. Well done to volunteers and staff!
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Representatives of the Good Friends Scheme collect their award. Pictured Left to Right: Catherine Brogan, Chief Executive, PHAST (award sponsor), Professor John Ashton, President of the Faculty of Public Health (award sponsor), Seth Pearson, Director of Darlington Partnership, Gillian Peel CEO of Age UK Darlington, Sue Perkins, Awards host.
UPCOMING COMMITTEE DATES Efficiency and Resources Thur 16 April 9:30am Committee Room 2 Scrutiny Committee _____________________________________________________________ Health and Well Being Tue 21 April 3:30pm Committee Room 1 Board _____________________________________________________________ Planning Applications Wed 29 April 1:30pm Committee Room 1 Committee _____________________________________________________________ Council Thur 30 April 6:00pm Council Chamber _____________________________________________________________ General Licensing Tue 5 May 9:30am Committee Room 1 Committee _____________________________________________________________ Cabinet Tue 5 May 5:00pm Committee Room 2