Feature Articles

09/01/2009 - Darlington Borough Council - Budget Setting 2009/10

Article from www.DarlingtonFuture.co.uk

FIRST RESPONSE BY THE DARLINGTON CONSERVATIVE GROUP 8th January 2009


While the initial reading of the Labour group’s budget proposals would seem to indicate recognition of the economic actions necessary in these difficult times, it is clear upon examination they are simply fiddling while Rome burns.
Fiddling is an appropriate definition when some of the proposals such as closing the South Park aviary and also the Mayors Charity shop are considered.

To provide council services for this year ending March 2009 it is forecast the cost will be £ 134.9 million.

The Labour cabinet intend to spend next year ending March 2010 £140.3 million an increase of £5.4 million or 4.0% .

They intend to fund this additional expenditure of £5.4 million by increasing council tax by £1.4 million being more efficient making further savings of 2.4million and topping the whole thing off using tax payers reserves of £1.6 million.

The tax payers reserves have been plundered annually and the pot is now dry ,there are no more unrestricted reserves.

It may well be asked why such efficiencies were not already in place- efficiencies the Conservative group called for in when setting budgets this time last year.

Most organisations and households are tightening their belts and at best hoping to manage budgets next year with no increase in income or expenditure so why is the Labour Council continuing its ten years of unbridled ever increasing expenditure instead of doing the same.

The answer is simple their socialist dogma overrides any concerns for the Town or the economic hardship facing our residents particularly those on fixed incomes.

For the last 18 months they ignored financial warnings, carried on with high levels of spending and borrowing knowing full well this was building a debt for future generations.
And all this to fund badly thought out failing schemes.

They still fail to recognise the realities of today’s economics and Darlington taxpayers can quite rightly ask are these the right people to manage our money.


Cllr Charles Johnson JP
Conservative spokesman Resources

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Save Our Post Offices 16 February 2008

In October last year, 2,000 sub-postmasters marched on parliament protesting at Post Office closures and presented a 4 million signature petition to Tony Blair; the largest ever UK petition.

And Labour still isn't listening. Post offices are the lifeblood of any community. They are vital local institutions, just like a local school or pub.

Post Offices are essential for people who rely on them to collect benefits and pensions. Local business rely on Post Offices, neighbouring small businesses often suffer a drop in trade.

When a local Post Office closes, often the last shop in the community closes too. A van for a couple of hours a week is no replacement for a full time Post Office. Labour's Post Office cuts will hit the vulnerable the hardest.

Please sign the petition to keep our Post Offices open

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Tesco Express on North Road? 12 June 2007

Tesco submitted plans to Darlington Borough Council earlier this year to build a "Tesco Express" store, on North Road, on the site previously occupied by a Shell petrol station.

The proposed store would occupy 330sqm (3,552sqft) with a 243sqm (2,615sqft) sales area and includes parking for 15 motor vehicles including and 2 disabled bays which are situated on the corner of the site on Bensham Road/North Road.

The building, which would also include a 24hr free cash dispensing machine, would be constructed in red and brown bricks to match adjacent building with soldier coursing above windows and doors, eternite composite slate tiles and white UPVC self finished fascia.

UPDATE: After a fierce campaign mounted by local traders and residents, the Tesco planning application was unanimously rejected at a recent Planning Committee meeting.

We are still keen to hear the views of local people (both for and against) the Tesco plan, please contact us or send us a message.