PROPOSALS to secure the long-term future of a North-East centre for troubled youngsters have been announced.

Durham County Council is to bring the Aycliffe Young People's Centre, in Newton Aycliffe, under closer control.

It follows the announcement that the centre's trustees are considering standing down at the end of the year.

The council says the move would allow a more strategic approach to be taken to meet the needs of young people in the county.

Council leader Don Robson said trustees were thinking about standing down because they believe the 50-year-old rules governing their role are outdated, and restrict their ability to offer a modern service.

"The trustees' announcement that they are minded to stand down must not be taken as a lack of confidence in the centre or seen as the first step in some plan to close it down," he said.

"Their deep-lying concerns are for the future wellbeing of Aycliffe Young People's Centre and the standard of care it is able to provide for the young people who use it."

The council plans to consult the Department for Health about updating the current management arrangements.

It is hoped this will lead to the centre becoming a directly-managed part of the social services department.

Coun Robson said: "The centre has made significant progress over the last five years under its new management, and both the board of managers and the trustees have done a superb job.

"The present arrangements date back to 1948 and are restrictive and cumbersome. We need to make sure they are replaced with a structure which is more appropriate for the rapidly changing child care environment of today".

The centre's 281 staff have been informed and are being offered briefings today and tomorrow.

There are 54 young people staying at the centre, of which 33 are in secure accommodation.

They include the trouble-making youngster dubbed Lambton Worm Boy, who is spending 12 weeks at the centre.

It was also once home to child killer Dominic McKilligan, who was given two life sentences earlier this year after being convicted of the murder of 11-year-old Wesley Neailey.

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