City of Durham Parish Council

City of Durham Parish Council

Parish Council responds to consultation on proposed Main Modifications of the County Durham Plan

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The County Durham Plan was submitted to the Secretary of State for examination in public on 28 June 2019.

The Planning Inspector’s examination in public is now almost complete. The Inspector has provided his Post Hearings Advice in which he has provisionally accepted that the County Council’s proposed main modifications to the Plan are necessary to make the County Durham Plan sound. These main modifications are what Durham County Council has been consulting upon during June and July. The next step is for the County Council to revise its proposed main modifications and submit them to the Inspector so that he can complete his report. Hopefully, this will be followed by formal adoption of the County Durham Plan, as modified, by the end of the year.

The County Durham Plan is an extremely important document which will help shape the future of not just the City of Durham Parish area, but the whole of County Durham for years to come. It has been a long process to get to this stage and the City of Durham Parish Council has submitted a number of comments to the proposed Main Modifications to the plan.

To have your say on the proposed Main Modifications, find out more here:
https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/21702/County-Durham-Plan-examination-in-public

The schedule of Main Modifications can be found here:Main_Modifications_CDP

A full copy of the City of Durham Parish Council’s responses to the proposed Main Modifications can be found here: City of Durham Parish Council responses to proposed Main Modifications

Parish Council continues work to support community during Covid-19

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The City of Durham Parish Council is continuing its work to support the local community during Covid-19. Here are just a few of the actions that we have taken:

Signposting vulnerable residents to the most appropriate support services during the pandemic.

Providing the public with the latest Government advice, i.e. regulations around social distancing, the job retention scheme, etc.

Encouraging volunteers to sign up to the NHS and County Council volunteer schemes to support those who are vulnerable and shielding.

Providing emergency grant funding to local Food Bank services in Durham City.

Providing emergency grant funding to local domestic abuse charity Harbour in light of increased demand on their services.

Contracting the services of retail consultant Graham Soult to provide businesses with free and independent advice on how to change and improve their operations to be more resilient to the pandemic.

Provided an unprecedented level of grant funding from any Parish Council to its local businesses in the form of a £30,000 Covid-19 business resilience grant fund to support the purchase of PPE, protective screening, hand sanitisers, etc.

Funded the provision of hand sanitisers, social distancing ambassadors and signage to support the re-opening of the popular indoor and outdoor market.

Increased grant funding to local community and voluntary organisations in light of the increased pressure on their services – services like Sanctuary 21, the WI, Blind Life in Durham, Durham Hospital Radio, St Cuthbert’s Hospice, etc. have been given much needed support.

Working with key stakeholders in the City lobbying for free parking and the provision of toilet facilities as the City re-opens from lockdown.

Currently working with the County Council to ensure that the £469,000 given to DCC from the Government to support the safe re-opening of High Streets is spent as effectively as possible.

Lobbying the County Council to suspend the closure of New Elvet Bridge.

Working with Durham University to support Green Move Out day.

Continuing Council services as usual through the use of virtual meetings – new planning and licensing applications being considered as normal, projects being progressed with the Environment Committee, a successful annual audit carried out, Council Strategy 2020-21 agreed, etc.

Poppy knitting project launched with community groups supporting from home to mark 2020 as an important year of Remembrance.

Launched a community planting project whereby the Parish Council has purchased bedding plants from local nurseries which may have otherwise been binned due to Covid-19 and the lockdown and working with local residents’ groups to provide these across the Parish area. Colourful plants planted across the parish to cheer everyone up in a time of gloom and over £200 raised from our honesty boxes which went towards a local hospice and a charity which supports the homeless.

Set of principles agreed as a Council to support the re-opening of City businesses such as supporting temporary license applications for use of outdoor space where appropriate to allow for social distancing.

Representing the Parish in responding to important consultations such as the Main Modifications consultation on the County Durham Plan and new Traffic Regulations Orders.

Progressing the Neighbourhood Plan.

Emergency Covid-19 business resilience fund – APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

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A very big thank you to everyone for their interest and applications for the Parish Council’s Covid-19 business resilience fund.

This has been an unprecedented level of funding and support from a Parish Council for its local businesses and we are really proud to have been able to support nearly 50 of our much-loved independent businesses across the parish area; safeguarding jobs and providing the public with reassurance.

We have had an overwhelming response with funding being made available within 48 hours of applying.

Please note that applications are now closed as all of the funding has now been allocated.

Support from our retail consultant Graham Soult remains available to all businesses in the Parish. To find out more about this, please contact our Parish Clerk via email at parishclerk@cityofdurham-pc.gov.uk

Parish Council supports proposed new Lowes Barn Community Centre

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The City of Durham Parish Council has written a letter of support in response to the planning application for the new Lowes Barn Community Centre.

If approved, this community centre will represent the culmination of over 3,500 volunteer hours of work carried out by a small, dedicated team of 6-7 Trustees of the Lowes Barn Community Project (LBCP) and 8 volunteers. Funding for this project has been made possible thanks to the allocation of a substantial amount of Section 106 Community Fund by Durham Area Action Partnership and a further £80,000 committed from the former County Councillors for the area towards the construction of this new centre. A great deal of time, effort, detail and consultation has been carried out ahead of this planning application and the Parish Council applauds the enormous community effort which has allowed the project to reach this stage.

See the Parish Council’s response to the application here:
DM/20/01008/FPA | Erection of community centre building with associated bin store and cycle parking | Lowes Barn Recreation Ground Off Park House Road Durham DH1 3QF

Parish Council responds to bus station planning application

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Durham County Council is proposing to demolish the existing bus station on North Road and replace this with a brand new building in the same location. This application is one of the most important in our parish for a number of years and the Parish Council hopes that this will be an important first step in regenerating North Road.

Anyone wishing to respond to the consultation can do so here:
https://publicaccess.durham.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=Q878RTGDGSU00&activeTab=summary

Find the Parish Council’s response to this planning application here:
DM/20/00912/FPA: Demolition of bus station and erection of a replacement including office space, Bus Station, North Road, Durham City DH1 4SG

Parish Council responds to Aykley Heads consultation

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Durham County Council is currently consulting residents, businesses and interested local groups on the redevelopment of Aykley Heads. The County Council is inviting comments from the public prior to the submission of the planning application.

The County Council is proposing the submission of a hybrid application which comprises a detailed application for office use on Plot C and an outline application for phases one and two of Aykley Heads.

Further details of the consultation can be found here:
https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/22935/Aykley-Heads-update

A copy of the City of Durham Parish Council’s response to this consultation can be found here:
Parish Council response to Aykley Heads consultation

Anyone wishing to submit a representation on this important consultation can do so by e-mailing: aykleyheads@durham.gov.uk

Support services available during the Covid-19 pandemic

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A helpline, webpage and support network have been set up to help people in County Durham who are struggling during the Coronavirus pandemic. Help is available to local residents for thing such as food shopping, deliveries, general help and guidance, or someone who can listen and support.

People are advised to accept help from friends, family and neighbours where possible, but anyone in need of extra support can find a list of local groups on the council’s website http://www.durhamlocate.org.uk or fill in our Coronavirus help form at http://www.durham.gov.uk/covid19help

Alternatively, help can be accessed by emailing help@durham.gov.uk or calling 03000 260 260.

Anyone wishing to volunteer to support local residents can also sign up to do so via the Royal Voluntary Service here: https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

The Parish Council has also created a helpful list of contacts of support services and local retailers offering food deliveries, etc. This can be found here: Key contacts during Covid-19 outbreak

Residents are asked to continue to follow Government and NHS advice during this pandemic and to seek support where needed.

ALL MEETINGS OF THE PARISH COUNCIL CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

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In line with the County Council and other organisations, the decision has been taken to cancel all meetings of the Parish Council until further notice.

We will be reviewing this regularly and will take a view on events beyond the end of March. The Parish Clerk is still contactable via email on parishclerk@cityofdurham-pc.gov.uk

Thank you for your support with this.