The Council was pleased to hear a presentation by Ms Kelly Mason from Livin, who attended to give an update on their Community Plans. Members heard that Aycliffe Village is a ‘gold’ community, with low levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, and good levels of economic activity and educational attainment. The rest of Newton Aycliffe is rated ‘silver’, with some problems of anti-social behaviour, but good access to health and educational services. Livin outlined its plans for ‘partnership working’ to address issues such as anti-social behaviour, barriers to work, health and educational attainment.
You can find a copy of the Livin Community Plans online at http://bit.ly/N7UcLC
The Council agreed to enter into a licence agreement with Durham County Council to maintain certain plots of environmental land within the township owned by the County Council; GATC has been seeking this for a number of years, as it will allow us to apply a consistent environmental policy – and consistent standards of maintenance – across the whole town.
The Council also agreed to continue its Market Licence agreement; this currently includes a significant financial reduction, in order to help the Market’s viability. The Market is seen as a benefit to the town, and – although the Council is not allowed to subsidise it at all – Councillors wished to continue helping by reducing to the minimum possible the sum the Council takes from the market stallholders.
The government has issued a consultation on plans for the localisation of council tax benefit. The possibility in the proposed legislation that council tax benefit might not be passed on to the Town Council would not reduce people’s Council Tax . . . but does threaten to reduce Town Council finances, potentially catastrophically.
Members agreed to respond to the consultation, requesting that any changes in the regulations might be made in such a way that no town or parish council is left financially worse off.
Councillors agreed to send the Town Clerk to attend a Great Aycliffe Residents’ Association meeting about litter, to be held on Thursday 19th July at 7pm in St Mary’s Church. By coincidence, members heard that the Town Council’s energetic Youth Council is undertaking a Town Pride litter-pick week at the town’s primary schools on Monday to Friday, 9th-13th July – so congratulations to our young people on leading the way.