Council leader: 'Darlington's voice has never been stronger'

Darlington Borough Council leader Jonathan Dulston hailed a visit to the town by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng.

But he slammed councillors for no-shows to another recent event at the new Darlington Economic Campus, attended by just a fifth of members.

Read more: Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng visits Cummins in Darlington

He told a full council meeting: "Darlington's voice has never been stronger in terms of making sure that we can influence future policy as we move forward."

He said he spoke to Mr Kwarteng and two top civil servants last week: "I did ask them... will you be looking at the way you fund councils?

"What we learned during the pandemic was we were best placed to administer support the most vulnerable people during times of hardship.

Cllr Jonathan Dulston. Picture: Sarah Caldecott.

"I'm proud of the support that we've been given. I think we need to continue to review it.

"So I'm really content that Darlington's voice is heard."

Cllr Steven Tait spoke of a meeting at the Darlington Economic Campus: "That was an opportunity for members to meet significant leaders of that new campus and hear the stories of how they got there and what opportunities they could bring to our communities in Darlington.

Cllr Steven Tait. Picture: Darlington Borough Council.

"It was attended by 10 councillors out of 50. I found that quite saddening because the opportunities that people who are working there can bring are quite significant."

Cllr Dulston said: "We had a great opportunity for councillors to be briefed on the work of perhaps one of the most significant investments the Government's made in our time.

"10 people attended. That's really poor because it shows in essence our elected members aren't engaged in the success of the Darlington Economic Campus. So I am really disappointed.

"We also wanted to share our economic journey. The team arranged a minibus tour of the borough to highlight the fantastic things that are happening in the borough. Again, very low attendance.

"The reason we do this is because residents want to know. You've got a great opportunity as elected members to make sure that this information is cascaded to your communities in your newsletters. That's where you'll be held to account.

Read more: Bus services in Darlington: 'Arriva is failing' says council chief

"Tonight you've used the opportunity to continue to challenge me on local issues. You'll probably never ever contact Peter Gibson as your Member of Parliament.

"You're fixated on process. You don't want the answers. You want the soundbutes. That's all you do this for.

"It's all about the soundbites and a few local questions that you construct every single week.

"And it's disappointing because you have a fantastic opportunity as an opposition to hold us to account on the work we're doing to help build stronger communities and support people's lives.

"And yet you go on about national policy and [questions] you know I can't answer, and shouldn't be directed to me, but you do it because you want the soundbites and it's shameful."

Cllr Kevin Nicholson. Picture: Northern Echo.

Cllr Kevin Nicholson said he would write to the Mayor about the conduct of the meeting: "I'd like to have these meetings a bit more productive, a bit more respectful.

"When members are coming backwards and forwards and sniggering and shouting, it demeans us all.

"Ask questions that you want genuine answers to. Can we get back to having a bit more respect for each other?"

He said one councillor was "laughing like a 12-year-old, you're a grown man, have a bit of decorum please".

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