Cllr Hopgood,
Today, Cabinet will vote on what a devolved County Durham looks like, signing off a proposed deal with the other six authorities of the NELEP, creating a mega-authority stretching from the Borders to Barnard Castle.
Last month, Full Council voted to support the “best deal” for County Durham.
Labour believes the “best deal” is one that enjoys the support of people in our county. Residents of unique and diverse communities, informed and consulted on the benefits of the Cabinet’s preferred option. Fully aware of the investment it will bring and projects it will fund.
This is one of the most significant changes to local government in generations. It is incumbent on the County Council to ensure the process is transparent, democratic, and that councillors and residents can interrogate the deal to fully appreciate its advantages.
We’ve yet to see any detail of the Council’s favoured deal or its benefits, and the proposed “one size fits all” standard consultation document the Council plans to adopt fails to recognise the diversity of communities. It is not unique to Durham.
Can the Coalition reassure us that it will offer nuanced consultation? Engagement recognising the bespoke requirements of communities, rather than the mass-produced, flat-pack template document the Government is pushing forward. The whole point of consultation is for people to air their views freely, and have those views considered when a decision is made.
This Cabinet, comprised of ten members responsible for negotiating this deal, is “marking its own homework” – waving through policy without a thorough and informed consultation process.
County Durham differs greatly from our neighbours – indeed, villages a few hundred metres apart have very different needs, priorities and ambitions. If the deal preferred by the Coalition is truly the “best deal” for County Durham, then it must be explained to the people of the county and their views heard and debated by the councillors elected to represent them.
In short, tell us:
- How much money will this deal specifically bring to County Durham?
- What projects will it fund?
- How will it benefit communities?
- Will you commit to a final decision made by all councillors at Full Council, considering all of the consultation responses?
Then, we all go into this deal understanding exactly what “the best deal for County Durham” actually means.
Yours sincerely,
Cllr Carl Marshall