March 2014 - Darlington Together by Darlington Borough Council

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Welcome to this month’s magazine for Darlington Borough Welcome to the March edition of Darlington Together.

You can read all about who won on pages 30 and 31.

Speaking of dedication to the So far in 2014 we have sadly mourned community, why not try your hand at a the passing of two prominent quiz on pages 24 and 25 where you can Darlington residents; Ron Lewis and find out how healthy your community Cliff Hutchinson. Both men loved our MARCH spirit is? Yes, it’s a little tongue-in-cheek, town and in their own way did so much but the message in it is clear, we all to make it a better place, and I’m proud need to play our part and take ownership of to have known both of them. Please visit page 19 where we live if we want Darlington to thrive. to find out more about them and their Even the little things like checking in on your achievements. elderly neighbours occasionally and recycling On a more positive note, we received great your rubbish can make a difference. news about the Head of Steam at the start of Cllr Bill Dixon MBE February. The museum received £42,300 from (@BillDixonDton) the Heritage Lottery Fund for a project about Leader of the Council North-Eastern railway workers during the First World War. This is wonderful news and will allow the museum to conserve documents for future generations.You can find out more on page 10. Darlington celebrated its sporting champions at the annual Sports Winners Scheme awards at the end of January, where young people and adults were lauded for their contribution to sports in the area. It’s great to see so many people investing time and dedication to their community, and putting Darlington on the map.

MP’s surgeries Jenny Chapman: MP for Darlington. Walk-in surgery will be held Friday 14 March and Friday 28 March from 9:30 - 10:30am at the Constituency Office, 40a Coniscliffe Road, Darlington, DL3 7RG. E-mail: jenny.chapman.mp@parliament.uk Call: 01325 382345

Phil Wilson: MP for Sedgefield. The office is open between Monday to Friday, 9.30am - 5pm. Appointments can be arranged by calling 01325 321603 or e-mail phil.wilson.mp@parliament.uk

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NEWS IN BRIEF Have your say about childcare in Darlington: Let us know what you think

Track Across Time: Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget that the Track Across Time exhibition runs until the end of this month (30 March) at Head of Steam. The exhibition bridges two events; the opening of North Road Locomotive works in 1863 and the start of World War I in 1914. It is included in the museum admission price.

about childcare provision in Darlington - your views will help us make sure there is enough childcare for parents and carers.Visit www.darlington.gov.uk/childcareaudit for more information or email pfis@darlington.gov.uk

Phone number change:

European elections:

The telephone number for making a payment has changed to 0300 456 2671. Calls to 0300 numbers cost no more than calls to 01 & 02 numbers and are included in landline and mobile call packages (please check with your phone provider for details). This number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.You can also make payments online and in person.Visit www.darlington.gov.uk/payments to find out more.

The European Elections take place on Thursday 22 May. Make sure that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re entitled to vote by registering on the Electoral Roll by midnight on Tuesday 6 May. If you currently do not have a postal or proxy vote and would like one, you need to apply by 5pm on Wednesday 7 May. Find out more by visiting www.darlington.gov.uk/democracy

CONTACT US STREET SCENE www.darlington.gov.uk/streetscene Tel (01325) 388777 COUNCIL TAX www.darlington.gov.uk/counciltax Tel (01325) 388373

www.darlington.gov.uk 01325 380651 enquiries@darlington.gov.uk

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HOUSING BENEFIT AND COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT www.darlington.gov.uk/benefits Tel (01325) 388514 HOUSING AND REPAIRS www.darlington.gov.uk/housing Tel (01325) 388542 HIGHWAYS,TRANSPORT, PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH www.darlington.gov.uk Tel (01325) 388799

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Councillor Ron Lewis Councillor Ron Lewis, a retired land surveyor passed away on Thursday 9 January 2014 aged 77. He had been a member of Darlington Borough Council since 1987 and had represented Mowden Ward for almost 27 years. During his time on the Council, Ron served on a number of committees including the Place Scrutiny Committee and the Human Resources Committee, as well as representing the Council on the Combined Fire Authority. He was also Mayor of the Borough in 2003/2004.

Ron was the Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors at the Federation of Mowden Schools and represented the Council on numerous external bodies. Councillor Heather Scott, Leader of the Conservative group said: “Ron was an enthusiastic and hardworking member of the group. He always participated fully in council meetings, he had a dry sense of humour and was the perfect gentleman. He will be sadly missed by us all and will be a hard act to follow.” A by-election will be held in the near future.

Alderman Cliff Hutchinson Alderman Cliff Hutchinson passed away on Friday 24 January 2014. He retired as a Councillor in May 2007 after 44 years’ service representing Cockerton Ward. Later in 2007 he was given the title of Honorary Alderman to recognise his service to the Council and the people of Darlington. He was Mayor of the Borough in 1974/1975. In 1974, Darlington Council prepared for local government reorganisation, with Cliff as chairman of the shadow authority. His guidance and advice also proved invaluable when the Council became a unitary authority in 1997. Cliff had a great interest in housing and was Chair of the Housing Committee for several years. During his time as chairman there was a large programme of new build housing and his name can be seen on plaques throughout the town on buildings he officially opened.

Cliff also served on a number of Committees and national and regional bodies, including the National Housing and Town Planning Council. He was also a Justice of the Peace.

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Help keep your Borough beautiful Recycle your glass The Council’s refuse and recycling service is changing. From October 2014 the Council will be introducing an alternate weekly collection service. Further details will be published shortly and will be available on our website: www.darlington.gov.uk/awc. Before this change you will need to make sure you have a green recycling box for recycling glass now and in the future, in the same way you do now. Simply wash out your empty jar or bottle, remove and discard the lid in your household rubbish and put your glass in your green recycling box. Then place your green box on the kerbside of your property the morning of your collection day. Please make sure you have your green recycling box to recycle your glass. If you haven’t got one, you will need one before October. Contact Customer Services to request one. E-mail customer services at customerservices@darlington.gov.uk or call 01325 388777.

Recycling glass is great for the environment and will leave more room in your wheeled bin for household rubbish.

DID YOU KNOW?

Tackling chewing gum The sticky issue of discarded chewing gum littering our streets looks unsightly and is hazardous. It is the most difficult type of litter to deal with and costs the Council approximately £20,000 per year. If people discarded their used gum in the bin we wouldn’t have to clean up after them and the money could be spent on essential services.

Be proud of where you live and help keep your Borough Beautiful. 20 | www.darlington.gov.uk

• We wash the town • We use 1400 litres of centre streets four water per day mornings per week removing chewing gum which takes at least from the town centre, two hours per day for that’s 5,600 litres per approximately 6 week and 145,600 months of the year! litres per year!

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Let the challenge commence on No Smoking Day As part of our Heart Town commitment and role in the Tobacco Alliance, Public Health, Darlington and the Smoke Free Network North East are supporting Smokers across the Borough to give up cigarettes for good on No Smoking Day, Wednesday 12 March 2014. It is estimated that one in five adults smoke in Darlington and that around two thirds of those smokers want to quit. The annual No Smoking Day campaign is run by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and encouraged one million smokers to make a quit attempt last year. This year’s No Smoking Day has a ‘V for Victory’ theme to help smokers on the road to victory, providing information, support and encouragement to make a successful quit attempt on the day. Around 9000 children take up smoking every year in our region and over 13,000 every year have to have hospital or GP treatment as a result of breathing in second-hand smoke. We need to do more to help to reduce the number of young smokers and to protect our most vulnerable from other people's smoke. As part of this year’s No Smoking Day campaign all school children in Darlington were invited to design posters to raise awareness and help reduce the number of young smokers. Longfield Academy of Sport’s Head Teacher, Susan Johnson said: “The pupils loved getting involved – it was a great opportunity to talk about the terrible harm smoking can cause. I hope it will help to remind pupils and young people to say no to tobacco and not accept a cigarette.” Megan Bailey aged 13 said: “I loved making my poster.We learnt about what can happen if you smoke. It is a horrible habit and affects lots of people, not just the person smoking. I wish everybody would stop smoking cigarettes – it would stop lots of illness and upset.”

For more information about the No Smoking Day campaign visit www.nosmokingday.org.uk. For more on the BHF visit www.bhf.org.uk. For local Stop Smoking Service information contact Darlington Borough Council’s Customer Services – Email: customerservices@darlington.gov.uk – Telephone: 01325 380651.

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The MASH – keeping adults and children safe in Darlington Professionals and members of the public can now easily report issues about vulnerable adults and children with the launch of the MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) The MASH is a partnership between Darlington Borough Council, Durham Constabulary, health services and other agencies. It is based at Darlington Police station and launched on Friday 7 February. The MASH will act as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns, when someone is worried about the safety or well-being of a child or adult. Agencies working together in the same office will be able to share relevant information with one another, improving decision-making and ensuring a better service for children, adults and families. “The MASH has been established to keep the people of Darlington safe. Sharing information will ensure that faster, more accountable decisions can be made; decisions which may ultimately mean the difference between life and death.” Councillor Bill Dixon, Leader of Darlington Council with additional responsibilities for policing and community safety

You can call the MASH between 8:30am-5pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:30am-4:30pm on Fridays. ..................................................................................................................................................................................... CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: 01325 742020 / ccdref@darlington.gcsx.gov.uk ..................................................................................................................................................................................... ADULTS: 01325 742030 / ssact@darlington.gcsx.gov.uk ..................................................................................................................................................................................... Outside of these hours, please call The Emergency Duty Team on 08702 402994. ..................................................................................................................................................................................... IN AN EMERGENCY ALWAYS CALL 999. ............................................................................................................................................. You can find out more about the MASH on the Darlington Borough Council website: www.darlington.gov.uk/mash (or scan the QR code)

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Be part of the future of Darlington town centre Darlington Borough Council and Distinct Darlington are holding a Town Centre Conference to ask businesses and residents to help plan for the future of Darlington town centre. Darlington is a good place to do business, go shopping, relax and meet friends. Eighteen months ago we worked with you to develop a vision; this is your chance to see what has come out of that and what more can be done. Find out more about what’s happening including: • • • • •

New Cinema Plans for car parking Proposed riverside park New offices in the town centre And how the Council and Distinct Darlington are supporting businesses.

Town centres across the country are changing because people’s lifestyles are changing. We want Darlington town centre to keep-up with change and we need the help of local businesses and residents to do this.

Who can come and what exactly is going on?

You will be able to:

It’s open to all Businesses and Residents in Darlington.

• Hear about the changing nature of retail and how this affects Darlington Town Centre • Discuss what the town centre is used for and how we can make sure it thrives in the future • Together we need to plan for the future, including thinking about:

✔ Planning policy ✔ The markets ✔ Night time economy ✔ How businesses can tap into online shopping

When and Where?

Thursday 27th March from 5pm – 8pm At the Dolphin Centre, Central Hall Register at: www. tcconference.eventbrite.co.uk For more information visit: www.darlington.gov.uk/business or www.distinctdarlington.co.uk Darlington Borough Council | 23

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How healthy is your Community S 1

Do you know the name of your next door neighbour?

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a) Yes, I’m round there every other day helping with the bins and picking up milk ............................................................................................................................................................................

b) Yes, I feed the cat when my neighbour goes away ............................................................................................................................................................................

c) Almost, I say hello as I pass and ask about the kids ............................................................................................................................................................................

d) No, I might have nodded at them once in the street

Do you shop locally?

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a) I do all my shopping at Darlington’s markets and independent shops ............................................................................................................................................................................

b) I try and buy as much as I can locally

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c) I occasionally get into Town to support local shops ............................................................................................................................................................................

d) Does the local big supermarket chain count?

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What’s the last thing you volunteered to do?

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a) I volunteer every other night with a variety of organisations

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b) I volunteer once a week to help the community ............................................................................................................................................................................

c) I volunteered to babysit for a friend the other day ............................................................................................................................................................................

d) I voluntarily got out of bed this morning ............................................................................................................................................................................

What are your thoughts on litter around the Town?

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a) I am a member of Keep Britain Tidy; I think there is too much litter in certain areas so I organise litter picks and try to encourage others not to drop litter ............................................................................................................................................................................

b) I have been on a litter pick with work and I don’t drop litter ............................................................................................................................................................................

c) I don’t drop litter but that’s the extent of my involvement ............................................................................................................................................................................

d) I don’t really look at the floor... I keep my garden pretty tidy! ............................................................................................................................................................................

RESULTS If you answered: ..................................................................................................................................

Mainly a)

You are the very meaning of Community Spirit! Mere mortals can only look at you in admiration. ..................................................................................................................................

Mainly b)

Your Community Spirit is healthy, you’re a great example and should encourage your neighbours, family and friends to get involved too. ..................................................................................................................................

Mainly c)

You have some Community Spirit – if you’d like to do more check out the ideas on the right ..................................................................................................................................

Mainly d)

Bah humbug, your Community Spirit is out of shape! Get some inspiration from the ideas on the right ..................................................................................................................................

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y Spirit? 3

Take this quiz to find out what kind of shape your community spirit is in:

How much do you recycle?

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a) My friends call me the recycling guru! I recycle almost everything - I have a compost heap in the garden and I love websites like freecycle ............................................................................................................................................................................

b) I make sure I put my rubbish in the recycling bin and take my glass to the bottle bank

Do you make use of everything Darlington has to offer?

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a) I am a member of the Dolphin Centre, the Library and visit every exhibition at the Head of Steam ............................................................................................................................................................................

b) I visit either the library or the swimming pool about once a month and I went to the Festival of Thrift

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c) I manage to separate paper and card from the rest of my rubbish but I don’t have time to wash out empty yogurt pots

c) I go to see the Panto at the Civic Theatre every year

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d) I watch Kirstie’s Homemade Homes on the telly – does that count?! ............................................................................................................................................................................

How involved are you in your kids activities?

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a) I am a school governor, I organise sports days and I put on a holiday club in the summer ............................................................................................................................................................................

I help out with the Brownies and am on hand to help with homework

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c) I take my kids to activities in the holidays and I read to them before bed ............................................................................................................................................................................

d) Involved? I have Teenagers; I don’t see them

TAKE ACTION

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d) I watched the Darlington version of ‘Come Dine With Me’ ............................................................................................................................................................................

How do you take care of yourself?

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a) I always eat my 5 a day, exercise regularly, don’t smoke, rarely drink and I meditate every day ............................................................................................................................................................................

b) I eat a balanced diet and I get to the parkrun every once in a while ............................................................................................................................................................................

c) I am quite careful with my diet, I could probably do with cutting down on certain items and I try and walk to work ............................................................................................................................................................................

d) I don’t know about 5 fruit and veg every day… I definitely eat at least 5 things every day! ............................................................................................................................................................................

JOIN good friends and offer your company to a lonely person in your area www.goodfriends.org.uk GET TO KNOW your neighbours – set up a coffee morning or offer to babysit once in a while TRY freecycle.org.uk and ilovefreegle.org to recycle things you don’t use anymore VOLUNTEER with eVolution www.darlingtonevolution.com SHOP LOCAL – try the markets for a start! Search Darlington markets and Darlington Sunday People’s market on Facebook for more info.

BECOME a School Governor visit www.darlington.gov.uk/schoolgovernors, contact the Governor Development Team on 01325 388816 or email governors@darlington.gov.uk.

BECOME a Street Champion and organise litter picks for your area: Email phillippa.scrafton@darlington.gov.uk or call 01325 347467 to get involved

GET MOVING join in the South Park parkrun find more details at www.parkrun.org.uk or join the Dolphin Centre, more information at www.darlington.gov.uk/dolphin

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Energy help just a phone call away Help with heating bills and making your home warmer and more energy efficient may be just a phone call away thanks to a new scheme – Warm Up North. Darlington Council is working with British Gas, and eight other North East authorities, on delivering the Warm Up North scheme which aims to help local residents make their houses warmer through the installation of energy efficiency improvements, leading to a reduction in heating bills. This may include a new central heating boiler, loft insulation, cavity wall or solid wall insulation.

“Local residents are already benefitting from Warm Up North. Anything that can make the household budget stretch further is to be welcomed and this scheme can do that as well as ensuring homes are warmer and more energy efficient. “In addition, the Scheme offers peace of mind to people as it is linked with the Council and a national energy provider. Residents can rest assured that they will receive professional advice and service.” Councillor Chris McEwan, The Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration

Since the scheme launched, more than 250 North East residents have benefitted from the installation of energy efficiency improvements in their homes, which covers private and rented homes, and social housing as well as publicly owned buildings.

Getting involved with Warm Up North is as easy as one two three…

Contact the team on free¹ phone 0800 294 8073 or visit www.warmupnorth.com to find out if you may be eligible for assistance.

If eligible, a Warm Up North assessor will carry out a simple survey of your home and recommend a tailored package of improvements to help make the property more energy efficient.

Warm Up North will manage your application through to the installation of your new energy efficiency measures, helping you to look forward to a warmer home and cheaper heating bills.

For a limited period of time (subject to funding) we are providing free Green Deal assessments a saving of £99. Get in touch to find out more.

Sam and Mavis Bates were amongst the first people in the region to have their inefficient heating system replaced through Warm Up North. Sam, a former oil company contractor, said: “Without the help of Warm Up North I don’t know what we would have done as we just wouldn’t have been able to afford to have a new boiler fitted.The team was fantastic, they were very easy to deal with and the local contractors who completed the installation work have done a marvellous job. “Our new combi boiler is much more efficient than our previous back boiler and we’re already feeling the benefits.When we turn the tap on we have instant hot water while our home is warmer and much more comfortable than it was previously.” Stay up-to-date with Warm Up North by following @WarmUpNorth1 on Twitter and like facebook.com/warmupnorth.

¹Calls to an 0800 number are free from a BT Landline, calls from other lines and mobiles may vary.

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Celebrating great apprenticeships in Darlington

We are a major provider of Apprenticeship training in Darlington, offering Level 2 and Level 3 Apprenticeships in; Business Administration, Childcare, Health and Social Care, Site Joinery and Motor Vehicle. Apprentices attend the Coleridge Centre or workshops in Lingfield Way for one day a week, and four days a week with their employer, gaining the skills and knowledge to complete the qualification. For employers, Apprenticeships are a great way to build a team, providing a cost effective way to recruit employees with relevant skills and respected qualifications. During Apprenticeship week we will be running vocationally based activities which will be set up around team or individual challenges:

Laura’s story Laura started as a Foundation Learning student in September 2011 aged 16, having left school with insufficient GCSEs to join an Apprenticeship course. As part of her course, she did work experience at the Gardens Care Home two days a week. The manager at the Gardens was so impressed, she offered Laura a place as a Level 2 Apprentice. Laura successfully completed her Level 2 Apprenticeship, progressed to Level 3 and was soon offered a permanent contract with the Gardens. With the blessing of her manager, Laura began looking for opportunities with the NHS and secured a temporary health care role in the A & E department of Darlington Memorial Hospital. Within around 12 weeks, Laura was offered a permanent contract at the hospital and she will be embarking on a degree in Nursing in the near future.

MOTOR VEHICLE – removing and refitting a tyre in the fastest time or carrying out service checks on a vehicle.

SITE JOINERY – building a flat pack item of furniture in the quickest time or building a bird table within a time frame, judged on best product design and finish

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE – painting and decorating rooms or tending to gardens in a local care home. Advanced apprentices and employers will be invited to judge the activities and give prizes.

DID YOU KNOW? In the academic year 2009/2010 only 690 Darlington residents took up an apprenticeship. By 2012/2013 this number had risen to 1,550 - up 255%! Anyone living in England, over 16 years old and not in fulltime education can apply to be an apprentice. If you would like more information, please contact Chris Burney (Trainer/Assessor) on 01325 248021 or christopher.burney@darlington.gov.uk. You can also visit www.darlington.gov.uk/apprenticeships (or scan the QR code)

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Posed by models

Monday 3 to Friday 7 March is National Apprenticeship week; a time to celebrate apprenticeship talent and encourage apprenticeships as a great way to gain nationally recognised qualifications whilst being paid.

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Darlington needs to build for the future Did you know that Darlington’s population is the fastest growing in the North East and has increased by 7.9% in the past 10 years? To make sure that everyone has somewhere to live and to keep businesses investing in the Borough, we are proposing around 6,000 new houses. Most will be built on private land but the Council can use its spare land to make sure that housing meets Darlington's needs. Eight pieces of land have been suggested: Red Hall; Glebe Road North; Lime Avenue; the rear of Tyne Crescent and Bamburgh Place; Upper Russell Street; Alexander Street/Blackett Road and Muscar House Farm.

By selling council-owned land we can have some say over how the new homes are built and avoid building houses in areas that are less suitable. Councillor Chris McEwan, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration says: “Not enough houses are being built in Darlington.We want to make sure that there are enough homes for future generations and for businesses looking to invest in Darlington and grow their workforce here.”

Why do we need more houses? • People live in smaller households, for example a lot of elderly people live by themselves

• We need to make sure that there are enough houses for future generations

• When businesses move to Darlington they create jobs, attracting new people to the town – these people need somewhere to live

To find out more about the proposals visit www.darlington.gov.uk

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Business is booming in Darlington

DARLINGTON is THE place in the region to start up your business according to a Government-backed report. Research from StartUp Britain on the number of businesses registered with Companies House in 2013 showed 1,406 had a Darlington postcode. Success in Darlington can be credited to the strong working relationship between the Council and the private sector. "We offer a range of support from accessing funding to practical advice which means failure rates of new start-ups is way below the national average," said Shak Asghar of the

Council’s economic regeneration team. A £100,000 grant from the High Street Innovation Fund has backed retail start-ups in the town, and the regeneration team also works closely with Job Centre Plus and business support organisation Tedco to help jobseekers set up their own businesses. In addition to handling enquiries and giving business advice and support, the team also works closely with schools to encourage entrepreneurial skills and raise aspirations amongst young people.The Team can be contacted on 01325 388121 or e-mail: business.support@darlington.gov.uk

Start-up success A la memoiré, based in Clark’s Yard, is just one of the start-up businesses that our business support team has helped.

Sisters, Leanne Pearson and Claire Louise Clay decided to turn their hobby making stationery for friends weddings into a business. They worked with the team, based in the Town Hall, to turn their dream into a reality and have set up a handmade gift store, specialising in bespoke wedding stationery. The business support team helped the sisters with financial and marketing advice to help get the business off the ground. Leanne says: “I couldn’t put a price on the help from the team at the Council. They didn’t just help us access finance to get the business started; they gave us advice and support on all areas of running a business. “Darlington is a good place to set up a business and it’s great to be able to showcase crafts made by local people.

“It’s been hard work but it’s so worth it.” If you’re looking to set up or your own business or grow your existing business contact the business support team on 01325 388682 or email: business.support@darlington.gov.uk You can also find out more at: www.darlington.gov.uk/business

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Acknowledging Darlington’s sporting heroes Darlington’s sporting heroes celebrated in style at the annual Darlington Sports Winners Scheme awards, which took place on Wednesday 29 January at Darlington College. The awards celebrate achievement and progress in the borough’s young athletes and recognise the men and women who strive to help them reach their goals. An audience of friends, family, businesses and civic dignitaries attended the two-hour ceremony.

Organising committee member Brian Dobinson celebrated the nation’s sporting achievements and also paid tribute to former Mayor Ron Lewis who died recently. He said: “Ron will always be remembered for helping us secure the Mülheim Trophy for the person most dedicated to sport, which marked our 50th year of twinning with the German town. “This scheme is so worthwhile and I am so grateful to all our sponsors for helping to keep it going for the town’s youth.”

THE WINNERS YOUNG SPORTS WINNER U13 Presented by Darlington Borough Council Chief Executive Ada Burns.

“This is a really special event in Darlington’s calendar because it celebrates very special people; the youngsters who commit themselves to sport and the coaches and parents who have dedicated their lives to helping them.” Alasdair MacConachie, Chairman of Darlington College and managing director of Sherwoods.

Longfield School student Courtney Burton, 12, took the award for her success as a young gymnast. She joined South Durham Gymnastics team at the age of seven and has been selected for the GB squad. YOUNG SPORTS WINNER 13-19 Presented by editor of The Northern Echo Peter Barron.

Longfield School pupil Ben Marksby may only be 14 but he is already British boxing champion and a member of the winning GB squad. U13 TEAM/CLUB AWARD Presented by Councillor Andy Scott.

Darlington Sports Winners scheme is sponsored by; Sherwoods, Darlington Borough Council, Tees Valley Sport, Master Skills Sporting Academy, Rotary International and Serco.

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Longfield School’s Year 7 football team proved so dominant in their season that several matches were cut short after putting up to 11 goals past the opposition. They represented Darlington at county level, taking the County Cup and dominating the town league.

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L-R, back row, Ben Marksby, Elizabeth Fenby, Courtney Burton and Andrew McBride, front, Sarah Murray, Jackson Sweeting and Steve Jackson

TEAM/CLUB AWARD 13-19

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Presented by Public Health principal Ken Ross. Hummersknott Academy cross-country team has showed massive commitment to the sport in all weathers winning at local, regional and national levels.

Presented by Vice President of Darlington Rotary Club Ken Wiper. Swimmer Elizabeth Fenby was recognised for battling to find the cause of a mystery illness that struck during a training session with her father Glen, who is head coach of Darlington Swimming Club.

U19 SERVICES TO SPORT AWARD Presented by Paul Beilby of Master Skills Sporting Academy. Nineteen-year-old coach Lewis Roberts received his accolade for his work with Spraire Lasses, encouraging them to train hard and enjoy their football that has led to a marked increase in their performance.

SERVICES TO SPORT 19+ Presented by Martin Jenkins of Tees Valley Sport. Diving head coach Steve Jackson won high praise for inspiring hundreds of young people to take up the sport over the past 25 years, passing on his expertise and passion and inspiring generations of young athletes.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Presented by Councillor Lee Vasey. Founder of Haughton Volleyball Club, Jackson Sweeting has become a legend in the town for coaching work which has seen young players represent their country over the decades.

MĂ&#x153;LHEIM TROPHY Presented by Mayor Councillor Charles Johnson. PE co-ordinator for 20 years at Abbey School, Sarah Murray, received the accolade for supporting sport within the schools network and in the community and for playing a key role in providing opportunities outside the curriculum.

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DARLINGTON TOGETHER

Your local councillor is there to listen to you and find out about the issues that are affecting life in your ward. You can e-mail, telephone or meet with your local councillor at regular ward surgeries.

E-mailing councillors: If you wish to e-mail your councillor their e-mail address is: firstname.lastname@darlington.gov.uk For example, if you wish to e-mail Bill Dixon, type in bill.dixon@darlington.gov.uk • The only exceptions are Andy Scott (Haughton West Ward), Anne-Marie Curry (North Road Ward) and Tom Nutt (Haughton North); their e-mail addresses are shown with their ward surgery details. BANK TOP WARD Veronica Copeland (L) Tel: 358530; Chris Taylor (L), Tel: 243298. Fri 21 Mar, King William Street Community Centre 5pm-6pm. Wesley Court Community Centre, Rocket Street 6pm-6.30pm.

LASCELLES WARD Wendy Newall (L) Tel: 251574. Helen Crumbie (L) Tel: 462642. Sat 8 Mar, Cleveland Bridge Social Club 12 noon – 1pm. Tue 18 Mar, St Johns Cof E Academy, 6pm-7pm.

CENTRAL WARD Jan Taylor (L) Tel: 243298; Malcolm Wright (L) Tel: 484374. Wed 19 Mar, Gurney Pease School 6pm-7pm. Wed 2 Apr, Park Place Community Hall 6pm-7pm.

LINGFIELD WARD Ian Haszeldine (L) Tel: 741508 Lynne Haszeldine (L) Tel: 07950521511.Wed 12th Mar, Eastbourne Sports Complex, 6pm-6.30pm. Wed 26th Mar, Heathfield Primary School, 6pm-6.30pm.

COCKERTON EAST WARD Paul Baldwin (L) Tel: 362690 Sue Richmond (L) Tel: 351538. Bryan Thistlethwaite (L) Tel: 485466. Thurs 13 Mar, Cockerton Library 6pm-7pm.

MIDDLETON ST. GEORGE WARD Doris Jones (C) Tel: 332820 Steve York (C) Tel: 332025. Tues 25 Mar, Dinsdale Court 6.15pm-7.15pm.

COCKERTON WEST WARD Jan Cossins (L) Tel: 241124 David Regan (L) Tel: 495258. Wed 12 Mar, Windsor Court 10am11am. Thurs 13 Mar, Cockerton Library 6pm – 7pm.

MOWDEN WARD Bill Stenson (C) Tel: 468249. Mon 7 Apr, Mowden Junior School 6.30pm-7.30pm.

COLLEGE WARD Tony Richmond (C) Tel: 351538 Ian Galletley (C) Tel: 07507904109. Wed 12 Mar, Abbey Junior School 7pm-8pm. EASTBOURNE WARD Bill Dixon (L) Tel: 486588 Roderick Francis (L) Tel: 488173. Lee Vasey (L) Tel: 488513. Wed 19 Mar, Pilmoor Green Community Centre 5pm-6pm. Wed 26th Mar, Maidendale House 3pm-4pm. FAVERDALE Richard Grundy (C) Tel: 266314. Wed 12 Mar, West Park Academy 6pm-7pm. HARROWGATE HILL WARD Gill Cartwright (C) Tel: 382276. Wed 2 Apr, Harrowgate CIU Ltd. Salters Lane North 7.30pm – 8.30pm. Marjory Knowles (L) Tel: 265847 John Vasey (L) Tel: 488513. Thu 3 Apr, Classroom in the New Sports Hall Longfield Academy 7pm-8pm. HAUGHTON EAST WARD Chris McEwan (L) Tel: 283262 Martin Landers (L) Tel: 07709804580. Wed 2 Apr, Red Hall Community Centre, 6pm-7pm. Sat 5 Apr, Asda Foyer 10am11.30am. HAUGHTON NORTH WARD Tom Nutt (L) Tel: 360953 thomas.nutt@darlington.gov.uk Beverley Hutchinson (L) Tel: 262015. Sat 5 Apr, Asda Foyer 10am-11.30am. HAUGHTON WEST WARD Nick Wallis (L) Tel: 488797 David Lyonette (L) Tel: 464693 Andy Scott (L) Tel: 253707 andrew.scott@darlington.gov.uk Sat 5 Apr, Asda Foyer 10am11.30am. Wed 9 Apr, Salvation Army, Thompson St. 6pm–7pm. HEIGHINGTON AND CONISCLIFFE WARD Gerald Lee (C) Tel: 314622 Paul Crudass (C) Tel: 374537. Sat 5 Apr, Piercebridge Village Hall, 10am-11am. HUMMERSKNOTT WARD Alan Coultas (C) Tel: 350453 Charles Johnson (C) Tel: 463712. Mon 31 Mar, Carmel College 6pm-7pm. HURWORTH WARD Joe Kelley (LD) Tel: 266760. Martin Swainston (LD) Tel: 07535637060. Thurs 3 Apr, Hurworth Grange Community Centre Library 6pm-7pm.

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NORTH ROAD WARD Anne-Marie Curry (LD) Tel: 07531304050 annemarie.curry@darlington.gov.uk Fred Lawton (LD) Tel: 467413 Alan Macnab (LD) Tel: 482015 Wed 12 Mar, Morrisons North Road, Car Park Entrance, 6pm-7pm. Wed 2 Apr, Northlands Methodist Church, Entrance Hall, 9.15am10.15am. NORTHGATE WARD Eleanor Lister, (L) Tel. 254091 Dorothy Long, (L) Tel. 355755 Wed 2 Apr, Reid Street Primary School, 6pm-7pm. PARK EAST WARD Paul Harman (L) Tel: 483259 Cyndi Hughes (L) Tel: 480975 Joe Lyonette (L) Tel: 263480. Fri 14 Mar, St. Columbas Church Hall 6-7pm. Fri 21 Mar, The Coleridge Centre 6-7pm. PARK WEST WARD Bob Donoghue (C) Tel: 352582 Heather Scott (C) Tel: 468547. Fri 21 Mar, 76 Carmel Road South 5pm6pm. PIERREMONT WARD Bob Carson (L) Tel: 240627 Stephen Harker (L) Tel: 380039 Linda Hughes (L) Tel: 07904772387. Wed 5 Mar and Wed 2 Apr, Reid Street Primary School 6-7pm. SADBERGE AND WHESSOE Brian Jones (C) Tel: 332820. Wed 26 Mar, Bishopton Village Hall, Supper Room, 6pm-7pm. Key: (L) Labour (C) Conservative (LD) Liberal Democrat

Upcoming Committee Dates General Licensing Committee

Tue 11 March

9.30am

Committee Room 3

Planning Applications Committee Wed 12 March

1.30pm

Committee Room 2

Council

Thur 20 March

6.00pm

Council Chamber

Audit Committee

Fri 28 March

4.15pm

Committee Room 2

Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee

Mon 31 March

4.00pm

Committee Room 1

Cabinet

Tue 1 April

5.00pm

Committee Room 2

Planning Application Committee

Wed 2 April

1.30pm

Committee Room 2

Place Scrutiny Committee

Thur 3 April

9.30am

Committee Room 3

Efficiency and Resources Scrutiny Committee

Thur 10 April

9.30am

Committee Room 2