By County Councillor John Clare
Key news in the last fortnight includes:
1. The County Council continues to fast-track progress on the ‘Combined Authority’ – the alliance of the seven north-east councils to deliver an integrated strategy for economic growth, skills and transport – and notes with satisfaction that local newspapers are on board too, through their ‘NEvolution’ campaign
2. Delegations from Chicago, New York and Denmark have visited to learn from how County Durham organises its affairs, particularly the Area Action Partnerships.
3. The County Council has arranged a stunning programme of events for the tourist season, including the visit of the Lindisfarne Gospels, the International Brass Festival, the Lumière and many others.
4. The Council has tendered its domestic waste to a company which does not put it into landfill, but turns it into electricity … and has saved the Council £27m into the bargain.
5. The decision has been taken to merge County Durham’s and Sunderland’s IT departments, which will allow pooling of expertise and economies of scale.
Meanwhile, HealthWatch County Durham – the grassroots body set up to monitor the performance of the local NHS – is seeking to recruit for its Enter-and-View teams which visit medical premises and produce reports. If you are interested, you will have to join HealthWatch and express an interest in Enter-and-View before 19 July. Email: info@healthwatchcountydurham.co.uk
