Dear Syd, It saddens me to have to report that a decision taken by Durham County Council Cabinet was taken two years ago has resulted in a tax for voluntary groups utilising communal land which is DCC controlled. Local group ACORN Residents Association were shocked to receive a bill for using a communal green after 5 years of running fun days on the enclosed area bordered by Lightfoot Road, Marshall Road, Priestman Road and Christopher Walk. The bill for a license to use the land on any one specific day is for £50 and may impact on the ability of some groups to hold outside events. ACORN Chairman Ken Robson describes how DCC insist that the group carries public liability insurance of £10 million for activities held on the green, risk assessments must be carried out, a 13-page Safety Advisory Group form has to be filled in and approved, furthermore insurance for public liability and risk assessments must be collected from each entertainer or service and must be forwarded to the relevant County department. As a responsible group ACORN also pay £130 for first aiders to attend events and invite police and fire service to attend. I am slowly coming to the realisation that despite the County Council offering to fund groups it is busily putting restrictions in place to deter volunteers from holding events in local neighbourhoods. Of course running these events during summer holidays is only a small part of the activities that ACORN volunteers organise throughout the year to help our community. ACORN also hold Halloween Parties, Christmas events, a very popular Petting Zoo and organise Coach excursions. Volunteers from the organisation spend unpaid many hours applying for funding and organising the running of various activities throughout the year to help to provide entertainment and encourage social cohesion within the community. The license to use the communal land which ACORN view as a tax on voluntary activities will have the effect of reducing the available funding for events by £100 per year and also reduce our funding by £100 as we are working within the limits for not for profit groups. Shame on Durham County Council, Shame on the uncaring Labour Party Cabinet for making this decision to tax voluntary groups whilst supporting expensive vanity projects such as Lumierre. Chair of ACORN Ken Robson