The new unitary Durham County Council held its historic first cabinet meeting in Durham Town Hall yesterday. Mark Tallentire reports.

Plans for town council postponed until after review

PLANS to create a town council for Durham City have been delayed.

Campaigners had hoped elections to the proposed new authority could be held as early as June.

But Durham County Council yesterday agreed to postpone any moves to establish the council until after a review of electoral boundaries is completed – a process likely to take several months.

The new authority could have powers to deal with minor crime, maintain footpaths and improve public transport, as well as having the right to be consulted on planning issues.

It would have 18 elected members and cover Durham city centre and Newton Hall.

Sue Pitts, who has led efforts to set up the town council, has vowed to continue the campaign.

In the meantime, Durham’s civic and ceremonial traditions, including the historic title of mayor, will be preserved by a Charter Trust, comprising 22 trustees, including three councillors from outside the former Durham City district.

Yesterday, Durham County Council agreed the three councillors should be Neil Foster, cabinet member for regeneration and economic development; Brian Myers, chairman of the council and Jim Cordon, who represents Pelton.

The present mayor of Durham, Councillor Grenville Holland, will retain the title until the charter trustees choose a new mayor at their first meeting, on Tuesday, May 5.

The county council has agreed to provide £132,155 to cover all mayoral expenses over the next financial year – the equivalent of an extra £5 a year on council tax for band D properties in the former Durham City district.

New rules on school admissions process

CHILDREN living close to one of the region’s best state schools could miss out on a place under new rules agreed yesterday.

Durham Johnston School is about to reopen following a £23.8m rebuild, with hundreds of parents hoping their youngsters will be able to take advantage of the improved facilities.

But Durham City children could be overlooked in favour of those from outlying villages, such as Brandon and Bowburn, under admissions arrangements agreed by Durham County Council.

Vanessa Kind, who has led a parents’ campaign, said although the deal was a partial victory, it represented a “lawyers’ charter” and would be open to appeal.

The problem has arisen because Durham Johnston’s lower school, in Whinney Hill, is closing, with all pupils moving to Crossgate Moor.

Families in the Bowburn area say they were promised the shakeup would not mean their links with the school were cut, while Durham parents insist they should be allowed to send their children to their local school.

However, the school is regularly oversubscribed, so some youngsters must miss out and the row has split communities, pitting parent against parent.

Yesterday, the council agreed to give preference to children living closest to their primary school, provided it is one of seven feeder schools: Shincliffe CofE (Controlled) Primary, Brandon Community Primary, Durham St Margaret’s CofE Primary, Bowburn Junior, Langley Moor Primary, Neville’s Cross Primary and Browney Primary.

Councillor Nigel Martin, who represents the Neville’s Cross division and is a governor at Durham Johnston, said: “I have 90 per cent agreement with this. But I have great concerns there are areas in my area which will be bottom of the queue.”

Councillor Claire Vasey, cabinet member for children and young people’s services, admitted the issue had been controversial, but council leader Simon Henig said the authority had been right to delay taking the decision last month and had tried to listen to public opinion.

The rules settled upon could be the subject of appeals to the Independent Schools Adjudicator, who threw out previous admissions proposals in July last year.

Dr Kind, who represents families at St Margaret’s CofE, said she would talk to other parents before deciding whether to take any further action.

Barring appeals, the new rules will come into force for at least three years from September 2010.

Museum facing ‘real-terms’ cut in funding

A COUNTY Durham museum has had its annual funding cut

The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, will receive £531,827 a year in core funding from Durham County Council.

The five-year agreement will replace the present funding deal, which runs out next year.

Although the museum will receive more than £2.6m in the new deal, in real terms, the funding will be less each year, because each payment will stay the same and not take into account inflation. Previous deals have seen the annual payment rise with inflation, but the local authority now faces tighter restraints on its budget.

Cabinet members at county hall yesterday said the Frenchstyle chateaux museum played an important part in the region’s tourism industry.

Councillor Eunice Huntington, cabinet member for healthier communities, said: “The Bowes Museum is a very prestigious museum. It has one of the finest exhibitions of fine art outside London and is recognised nationally and internationally.

“It has undergone extensive renovation. As a result, they have changed the basement into a unit where lectures can take place, so they can increase education. They are planning to exhibit some items including tapestries and fabrics in a more imaginative and innovative way.

The museum has maintained good visitor numbers, despite the extensive renovations. It’s also moving towards a shortcut from Barnard Castle to the museum, so it’s much easier to visit.

“It’s an important contribution to the local economy and we need to support it.”

Councillor Alan Napier, deputy leader, said of the funding decision: “We believe this will encourage the trust to operate in a more efficient manner.”

The report to the cabinet suggested two other funding options.

The first would have seen an increase in funding to enable new developments and attract major exhibitions, while the other option was to pledge an annual figure, taking into account inflation, for three, rather than five years.

The museum embarked on a multi-million-pound renovation in 2005 and is close to opening a silver and metals gallery.

Museum director Adrian Jenkins said: “We’ve not received communication from Durham County Council at present and we look forward to receiving their formal communication.”