The City of Durham Parish Council has entered into a service level agreement with Durham County Council to fund an enhanced neighbourhood warden service for our area. Our warden is tasked with tackling issues such as waste, littering, dog fouling, low level anti-social behaviour and so much more.
We are working with our local community to tackle these issues and make Durham City life even better.
Find out more about what has been achieved over the last month of this service level agreement in the latest report here:
Durham City parish report
Examiner gives seal of approval on Durham City Neighbourhood Plan
Chair of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Party and of the City of Durham Parish Council Planning Committee, Coun. Roger Cornwell (pictured) welcomed the news.
The City of Durham Parish Council has welcomed news that the Independent Examiner of the Durham City Neighbourhood Plan has given his seal of approval that the Plan, with recommended modifications, will be sound and will therefore be able to progress to Referendum stage.
The plan was initially created by members of Durham City’s Neighbourhood Planning Forum and was taken over by the City of Durham Parish Council following the Council’s creation in May 2018. Since then, the Plan has undergone two rounds of public consultation, where members of the public, businesses and interested parties have been able to have their say on its content.
The Neighbourhood Plan sets down guidance for development within the City of Durham Parish area over the next 15 years. It is a comprehensive Plan which includes policies on Sustainable Development, the Historic Environment, Green Infrastructure, Employment and Town Centres, Housing, Transport, and Community Facilities.
In his report, the Independent Examiner Mr Tony Burton said: “Producing the Durham City Neighbourhood Plan has clearly involved significant effort over many years led by the Neighbourhood Plan Working Party both before and after the creation of City of Durham Parish Council. There has been significant community involvement. There is evidence of collaboration with Durham County Council and this will continue to be important in ensuring delivery of the Plan. The evident commitment of all those who have worked so hard over such a long period of time to prepare the Plan is to be commended and I would like to thank all those at Durham County Council and City of Durham Parish Council who have supported this examination process”.
In his summary of the Plan, Mr Burton said: “I am satisfied the Durham City Neighbourhood Plan meets the Basic Conditions and other requirements subject to the modifications recommended in this report and that it can proceed to a referendum.”
The Examiner has also made it clear that the policies set out in the Neighbourhood Plan can now carry significant weight when considering new planning applications within the Plan area.
Chair of the Neighbourhood Plan Working Party and of the City of Durham Parish Council Planning Committee, Coun. Roger Cornwell said: “I am very pleased that the County Council has now issued a Decision Notice saying that the City of Durham Neighbourhood Plan can go forward to a referendum next May. This is a key stage which means that it can now be given “significant weight” in determining planning applications within our Parish. The Plan is the result of six years’ work by a dedicated team of volunteers, first from the Neighbourhood Planning Forum then subsequently by largely the same people working with the Parish Council. The theme of sustainability runs like a golden thread through the Plan, which encompasses six themes including heritage, green spaces, employment, housing and transport. We have tried hard to reflect the hopes and concerns of the people who live and work in the Parish, and these will now be taken into account as planning applications are considered.”
Both the City of Durham Parish Council and the County Council have accepted all of the modifications recommended by the Examiner and it is hoped that the Referendum may take place in May 2021. The Referendum must be delayed until May 2021 in accordance with Government guidelines relating to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A full copy of the Examiner’s report can be found on the County Council’s website here:
http://www.durham.gov.uk/media/33311/Durham-Neighbourhood-Plan-examiners-report/pdf/DurhamNeighbourhood_Plan-ExaminersReport.pdf
Parish Council continues work to support community during Covid-19
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.
Parish Council commends County Council for its Covid-19 response
The City of Durham Parish Council has written to the Chief Executive of Durham County Council to thank officers at the County Council who are on the frontline in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. Along with our wonderful NHS staff, other emergency services personnel, key workers and an incredible team of volunteers, officers at the County Council are putting themselves at risk to support the local residents, businesses etc under immense pressure. Find our letter here:
Keeping people connected in Durham during Covid-19
Please see more details about a project aimed at keeping people connected during the COVID 19 crisis; enabling them to stay safe and stay well.
Grants report for financial year 2019-20
It was a real pleasure to support so many worthy local community and voluntary organisations this financial year.
Find out more about the organisations the Parish Council supported and the impact this has had for each of them here: Grants report
Parish Council Working Group responds to County Council consultation on selective licensing scheme
Durham County Council is currently consulting on introducing a selective licensing scheme on privately rented homes in some areas of the County.
In order to respond to this consultation, the Parish Council established a Working Group which consisted of Members of the Parish Council, a representative of Durham Students Union and a local student landlord. The final response of the Working Group can be found here: CoDPC response – Selective Licensing Scheme
It is unlikely that such a scheme will be introduced in Durham City despite the number of HMOs in our parish. To that end, the Working Group is calling on a separate scheme to be introduced to run alongside the County-wide Selective Licensing Scheme to address the issues we are all aware of with HMOs in our parish.
Anyone wishing to find out more about this consultation can find more details here: https://www.durham.gov.uk/article/22640/Consultation-on-licensing-of-privately-rented-homes-in-some-areas-of-the-county
Please let your views be known on this important consultation by writing to selectivelicensing@durham.gov.uk by 5pm on 24th May 2020.
City of Durham Parish Council – Key decisions (February 2020)
The following key decisions were made at the February Full Council meeting of the City of Durham Parish Council:
Notice of Vacancy for the Elvet and Gilesgate Ward
Notice is hereby given that, due to the death of Cllr Judith Atkinson, a vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Parish Council. The Notice of Vacancy can be found here:
Notice of Vacancy – City of Durham (Elvet and Gilesgate) – dated 18 February 2020
Farewell to our beloved colleague Councillor Judith Atkinson
The City of Durham Parish Council is sad to announce the death of popular Elvet and Gilesgate Parish Councillor Judith Atkinson.
Coun. Atkison sadly passed away at home on 31st January following a short illness. Condolences were expressed across the Council at the sudden passing of our beloved colleague Judith.
Chair of the City of Durham Parish Council Elizabeth Scott led the tributes: “Since her successful election in May 2018, Judith volunteered much of her time to make Durham a better place for everyone and she distinguished herself as an exceptionally caring, warm-hearted and hardworking member of our Council. Judith will be especially remembered for her brilliant contribution to our Council’s Environment Committee and the work she did to launch our very popular business frontage awards for Christmas; a first in the City and something we are keen to continue”.
Coun. Scott added: “Councillors and staff at the Parish Council have expressed to me their real shock and sadness at Judith’s passing in the last few days. We have extremely fond memories of working with Judith and she will be extremely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Judith’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time”.
At the funeral on 15th February, a poem written by Coun. Atkinson herself, titled “the Eternal Optimist” was read by her son and attendees made donations to Blind Life in Durham – an organisation dear to Judith’s heart – at the family’s request.