Wednesday Went this morning to Full Council at County Hall. The most important decision was to continue the local tax support scheme into 2013-14. Last year, when the government stopped paying council tax welfare benefit (and replaced it with a 90% grant), Durham did not pass on that cost to the people on benefits ... even though this meant making up a £4million shortfall in the grant. This year, the government has cut the grant by another 10% but, again, DCC is managing to get by without asking the people on benefits to pay any Council Tax (even though the shortfall this year is now some £8million). This is amazing - Durham is one of the few authorities which is still not asking people on benefits to pay some Council Tax (it is still passing on the grant to its town and parish councils as well - many authorities are keeping the TPC element). How long it will be able to do so, however, no one can say - but, for the moment, we are managing to protect the poorest members of our community. A second decision was to approve a motion on free schools: countydurhamlabour.wordpress/ Popped in this afternoon and talked to the Town Clerk about the need to get the Neighbourhood Plan up and running. Then tonight I accompanied Mayor Barbara Clare to Greenfield Community Colleges Awards evening. Simply amazing stats (70%5 A-Cs inc Eng & Ma) but much more the most lovely, mutually supportive, happy atmosphere ... a real privilege to see what a great school Greenfield has become. Barbara awarded the Mayors Trophy to a spectacular pupil, but the room was full of brainboxes! Great day - still on a high!
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 22:18:58 +0000
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