The Tory-led Coalition running Durham County Council has been slammed for its “pitiful job creation record”.
In one of their first acts after gaining control of the Council, Coalition members shelved a Labour economic development blueprint designed to create 6,000+ jobs, mainly in the FinTech (financial and technology sectors) industry on the Aykley Heads site alone.
Now, Labour is calling out Conservative, LibDem and Independent councillors for failing to deliver any significant job creation projects and allowing the potential of the Aykley Heads to “wither on the vine”.
“For two years we’ve highlighted the glacial pace at which Durham County Council moves, whether acting on the new HQ, agreeing a devolution position or reacting to a cost of living crisis,”
said County Durham Labour Leader, Cllr Carl Marshall.
“But one of the biggest scandals is allowing the potential to create 6,000 new, high quality jobs in the heart of County Durham to wither on the vine.
“Labour’s plan to establish the largest FinTech sector outside London on Aykley Heads was lauded by the Government and backed by influential members of the North East business community. By moving the Council into the energy-efficient, purpose-built HQ at The Sands, we were freeing up the Aykley Heads site for skilled job creation on a scale never before seen in County Durham. This regressive Tory-led Coalition took the political decision to scrap these plans for no other reason than they were Labour’s.
“Cllrs Hopgood and Bell have had two years to come up with a replacement for those plans. To sell us their big idea. To reopen County Durham to the businesses we had queuing up to take space here two years ago. Where is it? The answer is they don’t have a plan – the Coalition’s record on job creation is pitiful.”
The former Labour administration helped attract Atom Bank, the world’s first digital bank, by outlining the dream of creating a world leading FinTech sector at Aykley Heads, putting the firm at the heart of a site filled with potential clients.
“Dither and delay will be the words most associated with this chaotic Coalition,”
added Cllr Marshall.
“They’re happy to smile for photographs at the completion of projects instigated by Labour, but what are their successes? Will it be the posh restaurant they’re wasting culture cash on creating during a cost of living crisis? Or maybe it will be letting the prospect of 6,000 new skilled jobs slip through their fingers purely because they hate Labour.
“Like this Government, this Coalition will have no legacy. A failed council that failed residents.
“The irony is, they can still turn that things around by adopting Labour’s plan. Businesses that were desperate to come here two years ago, still want to come here. The potential for creating a world leading FinTech sector and, with it, thousands of new jobs remains, the Coalition just needs someone brave enough to seize it.”