Dear Sir,
The Great Aycliffe and Middridge Area Action Partnership (GAMP) is responsible for spending a lot of County Council money on projects in this area. It is run by a Board comprising our local County Councillors, representatives from Partner Organisations (such as the local Police, NHS, Fire and Rescue Service, Livin and businesses), and volunteer Public Representatives. Local organisations apply for funding for projects to meet locally determined priorities, and the Board decides which to support. In addition, each County Councillor controls a budget to fund projects in their Ward, again subject to GAMP Board approval. As a result, over the years, a lot of public money has been spent on projects locally determined to best meet the local community’s needs.
I may be wrong, but if Labour were to lose control of the County Council, I fear that GAMP funding may be cut in the interest of reducing the Council Tax paid by the better off. Moreover, given the Government’s clear preference for central control, if the Tories win control of the County Council, I foresee decision-making being removed from local hands, and returned to Durham. Electors may care to consider this when deciding how to vote on 6th May.
Alan Jordan,
