The County Durham success stories of 2021 - according to council leaders

COUNCIL leaders have spoken of their ambition and achievements after their first months in office.

Councillor Amanda Hopgood, leader of Durham County Council, says she is proud of the new joint administration’s accomplishments so far.

“There was lots of talking but less action,” says the Liberal Democrat group leader, “that’s what we wanted to come in and look at.

“I think one of the big things that people have noticed is that we’re really ambitious for the county to do well and for County Durham to punch at least at its weight, if not above it, because for too long it hasn’t.”

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The coalition of former political rivals – Conservatives, Lib Dems and Independents in a cross-party cabinet – took steps to rethink two notable controversies.

The first was to study the possibility of restoring the former Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum building as an exhibition centre, gallery and café venue.

This moved a campaigner for the regiment’s extensive collection to say “we’re actually being listened to”.

“One of the biggest ones is bringing the DLI back on to the table,” says Cllr Hopgood.

Equally as contentious is the question of replacing the council’s headquarters at County Hall.

They were to move into a nearly-complete £49m building at The Sands, as decided by the previous Labour administration, but the new cross-party council is reviewing that decision.

One alternative is for an “interested third party” to move into the Sands building, and another new council HQ to be built at Aykley Heads.

Due next summer, it was dubbed “the people’s review” by one supporter, “a pointless waste of taxpayers’ money” by a Labour critic.

Cllr Hopgood maintains the Sands plan was “extremely unpopular”.

And she says the pandemic and a public land inquiry allowed time to look at the plans afresh.

She says: “The big opportunity was post-Covid. The way people work now is very different.

“It would have been irresponsible not to review it with the aftermath of Covid and what the requirements are for office accommodation after that, with people working from home.

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“It hasn’t delayed anything. We’d still be in a position by the time the building is practically complete to make a decision.

“The location of the new one I think is questionable from day one.”

Cllr Richard Bell, Conservative group leader and deputy council leader, says of The Sands project: “It’s a lovely building in the wrong place.”

Cllr Hopgood points to the bid for the City of Culture of 2025, where Durham is through to the last eight: “That will put Durham on the map. That will bring in a regeneration programme, a legacy.”

She also refers to the ongoing £78m leisure transformation strategy, with proposals for new and revamped leisure centres.

“Instead of talking about it, we’re actually doing it, because we’ve spoken about it for four or five years,” she says.

Cllr Hopgood also speaks of towns and villages “masterplans”, currently out for consultation.

“We’ve made sure that every area and every member gets something to spend in their area.

“That’s six months. That’s as well as learning the day job. I think we’ve got an awful lot to be proud of, and an awful lot of ambition.”

Masterplans are part of the drive to win government cash for “levelling up”, a phenomenon which Cllr Bell says is starting to happen, with Bishop Auckland projects approved and others soon to bid for funding.

“Unless you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to do, you’re never going to get your hands on that government money,” he says.

“Preparedness is a key element of taking advantage of what government funding’s on offer.”

Cllr Hopgood says masterplans will ensure projects are “ready on the shelf to pluck off” with government funding.

The leaders stressed the plans are not just for levelling up the county against other regions, but within the county itself.

“We want every area in the county to be successful,” says Cllr Bell.

“One of the things we’re looking to do is to disperse economic activity and county jobs across the county as far as is reasonable to do so.

“We’re going to look wide-rangingly (sic) at what the opportunities are for levelling up across the county.” 

Our series continues tomorrow looking at future challenges for the administration. 

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