Jubilee Park, Spennymoor

No ticket required, free entry – Friday 12th August 6-11pm, gates open 5.30pm

Free live music for all the family. Including, bungee, trampolining, bouncy castle, giant slide, catering trailers, bar and much more…

10 am – 12 noon

Trinity Methodist Church, Rosa Street, DL16 7NB

• Call for a cuppa and a chat
• Clothing Bank
• Redeem Foodbank vouchers
• Computers and free Wi-Fi available

Following the unfortunate leak of confidential reports and other comments on social media, Spennymoor Town Council would like to clarify its relationship with the organisation Step to the Occasion/One Step at a Time.

The Council was approached 18 months ago by the organisation’s two directors, who wished to set up a pilot project in a building in Jubilee Park.  As a not for profit community interest company offering free mental health services to residents, the Council approved the trial, with no fees for rent or utilities. The Council also funded repairs, maintenance and inspections of the building, registering it with a name and address so it could receive mail.  The organisation was also awarded grants to undertake activities for the benefit of the community.

Following the successful pilot, the Council agreed to extend the organisation’s use of the building, pending negotiations on a long-term lease, providing the organisation with stability and allowing it to apply for funding, that could be reinvested back into the community via mental health support services.  This represented substantial investment and commitment by the Council.

Unfortunately, recent events required the Council to seek legal advice in relation to the tenure of the organisation in the building, as part of the Council’s civil and criminal responsibilities outlined in a variety of legislation. As a result, a report will be presented to councillors on Tuesday 28^th June, 2022 to decide on future use of the building.

A further update will be available following the meeting next week.

Please note the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 21st has been cancelled.

The excellent Spennymoor Town and Youth Bands 🎺🎺have been shortlisted for funding from the Venator Community Together Fund and would appreciate your support 🙏.

You can use the link below to vote for the best brass in the business up to three times, with grant of £250 each being awarded to the top 40 applicants receiving most votes – so all votes ❌are important 👍👍.

Voting ends on 7 July

Visit here: https://www.venatorcommunity.com/community-fund-2022-vote-now/project/?project_id=118&fbclid=IwAR3vYSlsknRNE5pnTiCUzQJC4IHw5A3_EUj-s1nsvb4UPc96Cz1FK_pkLk4

Working with you, alongside planning and housing, neighbourhood wardens, police and community officers, fire and rescue teams we aim to improve the local environment and promote healthier lifestyles.

We will be in your area from:

20th June 2022 until 4th September 2022

Whilst we are in your area we will be dealing with a range of issues including:

• Improving housing standards and management of privately rented property
• Dealing with empty properties
• Making sure rubbish dumped in gardens, streets and on waste ground is removed
• Seeking improvements to derelict buildings and abandoned land
• Antisocial behaviour
• Investigating noise issues
• Challenging under-age sales of alcohol/cigarettes
• Implementing energy efficiency projects
• Advising on your consumer rights and dealing with cold callers
• Supporting local businesses through the Better Business for All scheme

If you would like to get involved or express your views on our plans to improve your area please come along to the residents events at: St Pauls Centre, St Pauls Gardens, Spennymoor, DL16 7LR

Residents Engagement:

• Tuesday 21st June 2022 — 4pm — 6pm
• Monday 27th June 2022 — 9.30am — 11.30am

Mid Action Drop In:

• Tuesday 19th July 2022 — 1pm — 3pm
• Wednesday 27th July 2022 — 9.30am — 11am

For more information on the work of Durham County Council’s Community Action Team visit www.durham.gov.uk/CAT email communityactionteam@durham.gov.uk or call 03000 261 016

The new civic head of Spennymoor has put physical and mental wellbeing at the top of the agenda for his mayoral term.

Cllr Dean Ranyard, 41, who has lived in the town since 2013, also pledged to work with officers and fellow councillors to help continue the progress the town has made in recent years.

Cllr Ranyard, who is a train driver and has served on Spennymoor Town Council since May 2017, said: “It is a great honour and privilege to take up this position and I’d like to pay tribute to my colleague, Cllr Neil Foster, who has served Spennymoor fantastically during one of the most challenging periods in our history.

“I am humbled to have been made Mayor of this special town, which has such an incredible sense of community. The people genuinely care for the area and fellow residents, and that is something I have not failed to notice since coming here.

“I feel like I’m very much part of a real community, along with my partner Cllr Beckie Calder, who is Spennymoor born and bred, and our four sons.

“Community and health are what I wish my mayoral year to be all about, and I will strive to serve every person, business and organisation during my term.”

Cllr Ranyard was inaugurated at the Spennymoor Town Council AGM on May 24 and has selected two local charities close to his heart to support and raise funds for during his term.

ManHealth is an organisation that runs peer support groups across the region, working with men affected by depression and other mental health issues, sharing friendship and support over a common condition. ManHealth groups are run by men with a hands-on experience of mental ill health.

The second charity is Moors in the Community, recently launched as a community outreach programme, working alongside Spennymoor Town Football Club. It works with a variety of people and groups across the town, with one of its main focuses being to enhance the physical, social and mental wellbeing of children and teenagers.

Cllr Ranyard added:

“There are many fantastic groups and organisations operating across the town and I’m really looking forward to meeting the many hardworking volunteers running them and seeing just what they deliver for local people week in, week out.

“Having lost my Dad to suicide as an eight year old child, I feel the work of ManHealth is something very close to my heart. Just over three out of four suicides are by men and suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under the age of 35.

“Moors In The Community builds on the great work of our football club, rising from the Northern League to the National League North in a short space of time and firmly putting Spennymoor on the map. This outreach work and a desire to do even more is a credit to them and a testament to how embedded they are within the community.”

Cllr Ranyard also paid tribute to the hard work and dedication of Spennymoor Town Council officers and staff.

The Town Council will ignite Platinum Jubilee celebrations by firing up a spectacular beacon of light in Spennymoor.

The event will be led by Councillor Dean Ranyard, Mayor of Spennymoor Town Council, who today unveiled details of the event in Jubilee Park.

Cllr Ranyard said: “There is a long and unbroken tradition dating back generations in our country of celebrating royal jubilees, weddings and coronations with the lighting of ceremonial beacons, and this summer it will be no different.

I am delighted to announce that Spennymoor Town Council will stage a Beacon Lighting event on June 2, during which we will come together as a community to celebrate this incredible unique milestone in UK history, Her Majesty The Queen’s 70th year as our Monarch and Head of the Commonwealth.

“It would be fantastic if you could join us for this momentous occasion.”

A Platinum Jubilee is a feat achieved by no previous monarch, and to mark its arrival more than 1,500 beacons will be lit throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and overseas territories. One will also be lit in each of the capital cities of Commonwealth countries, recognising The Queen’s long and selfless service.

Those planning to attend this event, should arrive at Jubilee Park by 9.30pm. The itinerary for the event is:

• 35pm – A piper will play the tune ‘Diu Regnare’ at 9.35pm.
• 40pm – A bugler or cornet player will play the tune ‘Majesty’ at 9.40pm.
• 45pm – The Beacon will be lit whilst a choir sings a song specially commissioned for the event – Song for the Commonwealth.

Platinum Jubilee Grants

The Mayor has also announced the community organisations that secured Spennymoor Town Council Platinum Jubilee Grants, which were offered earlier in the year:

• Kirk Merrington Village Hall – £2000
• The Settlement – £384
• The Park Run – £80
• Step to the Occasion – £1500
• Clyde Terrace Community Garden – £50*

*Clyde Terrace Community Garden is under new management and will re-launch the Community Garden on Saturday June 4, with refreshments being available and all welcome to attend from 12 noon until 4pm.

“I am really pleased to see so many of our fantastic dedicated community groups seizing the opportunity to stage events for people across the town and surrounding areas,” said Cllr Ranyard.

“Occasions to come together and socialise with friends, colleagues and neighbours have been few and far between over the past two years, so we should grab this opportunity to celebrate and enjoy ourselves.”

The Town Council is here for the people who live, work and enjoy spending time in Spennymoor.

We’re often asked about the services we deliver and the areas in which we can help support people and groups.

We’ve prepared this short animation to give a flavour of the services we provide, events we organise and support we can give.

Hope you enjoy it ☺

While many restrictions may have been lifted, the fight against COVID-19 continues.

Here are some simple tips that will help us, as we all get used to living with COVID-19.

Spennymoor has an abundance of allotments, and the Town Council would like to maximise their benefit for anyone interested in developing green fingers.

In November 2021, the Council’s internal auditors examined how allotments are run. They made the following statement:

A formal Allotment Policy should be compiled and agreed by the Council as soon as possible, to assist in the management of allotment provision.

Adherence to the policy should be included in the tenancy agreement, relating to Council run sites.

The Council should formulate an Allotment Strategy, providing guidance on management, development and maintenance of allotment provision.

They also pointed out that the current tenancy agreement, introduced in 2016, has a clause that tenants holding prior agreements could continue with these, even though some allow activities not permissible under the 2016 agreement. Often, there no evidence of such agreements. As a result, it’s difficult for the Council to enforce agreements demonstrating consistent treatment of tenants.

In January, councillors on the Council’s Facilities and Recreation Committee instructed the Grounds and Estates Officer to meet secretaries or representatives from each allotment site as soon as possible to establish views on a new agreement and Allotment Strategy.

Minutes and video from this meeting are available on the Council website, showing debate between the Councillors in attendance, what was discussed, and the instructions given.

Following a meeting with allotment representatives, a further report will be drafted so Councillors can decide on the next course of action, including plans for wider consultation in which all allotment holders can participate.

The Council is very much in the early stages of this process, and it is anticipated that it will take months to complete. If changes are decided upon these will not occur until 2024, as allotment tenants will be afforded 12 months to prepare for any proposed changes.

SPENNYMOOR Town Council is asking residents to name their community priorities.

Since May 2021, the Council has worked hard to develop a short to long term strategy, enabling it to deliver projects that will have maximum benefit for residents.

A wealth of exciting projects are already underway, but now it’s time to have your say!

What has been done so far…

The Council secured almost £40,000 in grants, with applications submitted for a further £45,000+.

Having declared a Climate Change Emergency, a carbon reduction plan is being developed to achieve Investors in the Environment accreditation.

Spennymoor Gala Committee received £9,500 to secure the 2021 Gala and the Council committed further funding for this year’s event.

Grants were awarded to support attendance at sporting events, bus trips and community hampers.

Town Show, Party in the Park, Fireworks Display, Santa in the Town Hall, Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday events went ahead. Plans for 2022 include The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Beacon Lighting and Armed Forces Day.

CCTV was upgraded in the Town Hall, and additional cameras installed in the Town Centre.

The Bob Abley Art Gallery has expanded, creating space showcasing Chris and Steve Rocks, twin artists, born and raised in Spennymoor.

The Council funded new boilers and heating systems for several community buildings.

Strong financial management, success in securing grants and income generated from the Bob Abley Art Gallery, means the Town Council portion of Council Tax precept will not increase.

So, what happens now?

The Council wants your views. What are your priorities for the short to long term?

Town Hall consultation will take place on Tuesday March 15, 6.30-7.30pm, followed by the Meeting of Electors/Town Meeting at 7.30pm, where you can ask the Council questions about its work.

If you cannot attend, there are other opportunities to contribute. Choose up to five priorities from the list below and send them to: info@spennymoor-tc.gov.uk or call: 01388 815276 with your picks. Please also submit your name and address as consultation is open only to residents of Spennymoor, Tudhoe, Byers Green, Kirk Merrington and Middlestone Moor.

Environment and Sustainability

• Declaring a Climate Change Emergency – ✅
• Survey of Town Council’s carbon impact
• Strategy for dealing with the Council’s carbon impact
• Cow Plantation Nature Reserve
• Paperless Office
• Council Vehicles – going hybrid/electric

Art and Leisure

• Art Gallery
• Allotments
• Community Centres
• Parks, Play Areas & Football Pitches
• Cow Planation Nature Reserve
• Cemeteries
• Dog Walking areas
• Sports Facilities
• Green Spaces

Community Engagement and Strength

• Engage and consult with people and businesses
• Provide grants and support to community groups and individuals
• Support and Leadership to and for Communities
• Business Engagement
• Community Website/Comms/Marketing Strategy

Growth and Development

• Promote and develop Spennymoor effectively as a place to live, work, play, shop and visit
• Work with the Area Action Partnership, Towns and Villages Fund
• Build relationships with businesses and traders

Health, Wellbeing and Community Safety

• Flower and tree planting
• Support and deliver community events and encourage organisations delivering these things
• Liaison with partners such as the Police, Durham County Council etc
• Staff and Member Wellbeing
• Accessibility and Inclusion
• Assets

Governance

• Local Council Award Scheme accreditation– Foundation, Quality, Quality Gold
• Maintain the General Power of Competence
• Ensure Accounts & Audits demonstrate good finance management and Council is well run
• Attract Staff and Councillors when vacancies arise

Councillors to consider plans to help low-income households

Councillors will next week discuss the progress of schemes to help tackle inequalities in County Durham and decide on the future approach for supporting vulnerable residents and their families.

Members of Durham County Council’s Cabinet will discuss the action taken so far to alleviate poverty across the county, the impact of coronavirus and how best the council can support low-income households in the future.

Councillors will hear about the work of the Poverty Action Steering Group to support financial inclusion, directed by its countywide Poverty Action Plan.

The council’s Poverty Action Plan was approved by Cabinet in September 2019 to support lower-income households facing increasing financial pressures as a result of the Government’s welfare reforms and longer-term challenges in the labour market.

Since then, in response to further welfare reforms and the coronavirus pandemic, a number of national policies have been updated and reflected in the work of the Poverty Action Steering Group, including the temporary “uplift” to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit, the furlough scheme and the introduction of the Kickstart job placement scheme for young people.

Cabinet will hear about the key interventions put in place to help individuals and communities to move out of poverty, and to access the support they need, including those which support people to access well-paid employment, training, welfare support, housing and food.

They will also hear about the work the council, and its partners, have undertaken to help households facing financial pressures as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, including:

• Administering more than 2,500 Test and Trace Support Payments, totalling almost £1.3million to people on low incomes who were unable to work from home and had lost income due to self-isolating.
• Progress in recruiting to eighty-one available job placements across the council, as part of the Kickstart Scheme, which funds job placements for young people, aged 16 to 24, claiming Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.
• Distributing food hampers and food vouchers to vulnerable families, including more than 101,100 vouchers, worth £20 per child per week and covering the school holiday periods, providing support to over 21,000 0-to-19-year-olds across the county.
• The Household Support Fund, which will see more than £4.6 million used to support the county’s most vulnerable families with food, energy and water bills, as well as essential costs such as winter clothing and school uniform.
• Administration of 655 applications for a £35 grant towards winter coats and/or school shoes.
• £2,383,860, allocated by the Department for Education, which the council used to co-ordinate and deliver free holiday activities and healthy food for children eligible for free school meals during the Easter, Summer and Christmas holiday periods in 2021.
• Encouraging families to claim help towards the cost of buying milk, baby milk and vitamins, and to access free vitamins, through the Healthy Start Scheme.
• An extension of its Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which reduces council tax bills for those least able to pay, and support totalling around £0.17 million of council tax reductions in 2020/21 specifically for young people leaving council care.
• Support given to more than 3,500 households, which contacted the council’s Housing Solutions team between July to September 2021, to request help with housing issues and homelessness.
• Over £10 million of grant funding issued for insulation and renewable heating measures in 600 fuel poor homes across County Durham, and assisting 1,724 fuel poor households to receive a grant for energy efficiency measures, equating to more than £2.9 million of external funding.
• Assisting almost 800 low-income households collectively to reduce their energy bills by £65,800, between April 2020 and August 2021.
• Efforts to reduce the cost of the school day, including making school uniform more affordable and a new requirement for all schools to make second-hand uniform available to parents.
• £2.9 million allocated over the last 21 months, to almost 300 community projects combatting the effects of coronavirus.
• Grants of £50,000 to Durham Foodbank, £2,700 to East Durham Trust, and £250,000 to the That Bread and Butter Thing project, to ensure low-cost food is available to those most in need.
• Continued work with the County Durham Together Community Hub to proactively support residents and businesses, including 70,000 people identified as potentially vulnerable during the pandemic.
• Helping hundreds of residents into employment, through various programmes, including more than 600 participants who found work through the Durham Advance scheme, and 5,830 people aged 16 to 24, who were helped into work, training, education and volunteering opportunities by the DurhamWorks programme.

Cllr Alan Shield, the council’s Cabinet member for Equality and Inclusion, said: “Many households in our county were left facing greater financial uncertainty following the coronavirus pandemic and providing support for vulnerable residents is a key priority for our council.

“During the pandemic our efforts to address and alleviate poverty increased significantly but there is still much to do.

“Vouchers to the value of £20 per child each week are being provided for children receiving Free School Meals during the Christmas holidays, while new dispersion hubs to provide low-cost surplus food are to be progressed across County Durham.

“Looking forward, we will continue to work closely with our partners, to support households through co-ordinated advice and guidance, to ensure no resident is left behind.

“This will include helping residents to move away from having to access food through crisis intervention support such as food banks, working with key providers such as the credit unions to improve access to low-cost loans and supporting work to address fuel poverty and digital exclusion.”

The Poverty Action Plan is currently being reviewed, in line with the most up-to-date data and intelligence, and the Poverty Action Steering Group aim to present an updated plan to Cabinet for consideration in March 2022.

Cabinet will meet virtually at 9.30am on Wednesday 15 December. Members of the public can view the meeting on the council’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/DurhamCouncil

Avian Flu – Important Information

The Chief Veterinary Officers for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have agreed to bring in new measures to help protect poultry and captive birds. The new housing measures will come into force across the UK from 00:01 on Monday 29 November 2021 to protect poultry and captive birds from avian influenza following a number of confirmed cases across Great Britain in recent weeks.  See attached poster which has comprehensive requirements for all poultry and captive bird keepers.

For full details click https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#latest-situation

23M People Used 123456 As A Password

Whether it’s your Facebook, Amazon, or Netflix account, the explosion in popularity of online apps and services means more and more of us have to remember an increasingly long list of passwords.

Unfortunately, some of us cope with this challenge by resorting to practices that leave our data, devices and money at risk – by using the same password across multiple accounts, or by creating simple passwords that could easily be guessed by hackers. Bad password practice is more prevalent than you might think – the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre carried out analysis of passwords leaked in data breaches and found that more than 23 million users worldwide used 123456 as a password. You can read more about it here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/most-hacked-passwords-revealed-as-uk-cyber-survey-exposes-gaps-in-online-security

Here are some top tips that will make your life easier and your online accounts more secure:

1: Creating memorable passwords
A good way to create strong, memorable passwords is by using 3 random words. But remember, don’t use words that can be guessed (like your pet’s name). You can include numbers and symbols if you need to. For example, “RedPantsTree4!”

2: Saving passwords in your browser
Saving your password in your browser means letting your web browser (such as Chrome, Safari or Edge) remember your password for you.

This can help:

• make sure you do not lose or forget your passwords
• protect you against some cyber crime, such as fake websites

It is safer than using weak passwords, or using the same password in more than one place.

Here are some useful links on how you can start saving passwords in your browser: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Safari.

3: Email account passwords
If a hacker gets into your email account, they could:

• reset your other online account passwords
• access personal information you have saved about yourself or your business

Your email password should be strong and different to all your other passwords. This will make it harder to crack or guess.

Need help changing your email account password? You can use these links to find step by step instructions: Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Outlook, BT, AOL Mail

For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware

DMA Hands Redhills Over to the People

Information from Durham Miners Association

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH LAUNCHES ‘SAY NO TO ASB’ CAMPAIGN

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) incidents have increased over the last three years. Police forces, councils and housing associations are reporting significant spikes in ASB cases – and these are not minor incidents. They are complex and serious cases causing real harm to many people.

45% of people say ASB is a problem where they live, and 56% of those who had either been a victim of or a witness to ASB did not report it to anyone. *

To help tackle the issue, we are running a campaign encouraging people to SAY NO TO ASB.
The campaign will run from the 25th October through to the 21st November on our social channels with key information on recognising, recording, and reporting ASB on our website: ourwatch.org.uk/asb.

We are running a free online ‘SAY NO TO ASB’ webinar on 15th November at 5pm with the charity ASB Help as part of the campaign. Places are limited. To book your place, visit ourwatch.org.uk/webinars.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN

• Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and share our posts to your social channels, including WhatsApp community groups, to encourage more people to SAY NO TO ASB
• Download our ‘Recognising, Recording and Reporting ASB Guide’ from ourwatch.org.uk/asb to share with your community
• Download our 14-day ‘ASB Diary’ from ourwatch.org.uk/asb to support you in recognising, recording, and reporting ASB incidents in your area.
• To find out more and SAY NO TO ASB, visit  ourwatch.org.uk/asb.

If you would like a digital campaign pack, please email enquiries@ourwatch.org.uk.

* Data source: Taking Back our Communities – working together to make communities safer report, commissioned in 2021 by RESOLVE, a Centre of Excellence solely focused upon community safety and antisocial behaviour

DCC – Thousands to Continue to Benefit from Council Tax Reduction Scheme

Thousands of households across County Durham will continue to receive help in covering the cost of their council tax bills after councillors agreed to the extension of a scheme.

Durham County Council provides council tax discounts of up to 100 per cent to eligible households through its Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) and is one of only a small number of authorities to continue to offer this level of support.

There are currently 56,250 LCTRS claimants in County Durham, of which 21,150 (38 per cent) are pensioners and 35,100 (62 per cent) are working age claimants. Almost 80 per cent of all working age applicants receive maximum help, leaving them with no council tax to pay, with LCTRS support forecast to be circa £62million in 2021/22.

Durham is the only local authority in the North East and one of a small minority in the country to continue to offer the same level of support to all claimants as was available under the former Council Tax Benefit (CTB) scheme. The LCTRS is open to residents on a low income, whether in work, unemployed or retired, who have less than £16,000 savings.

There was in an increase in claims for Council Tax Reduction last year as a result of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on household income levels. At the peak in May 2020 the working age LCTRS caseload was almost 3,000 higher than in January of the same year.

In order to ensure that low-income households continue to access this vital support, the council has this week approved the continuation of the current LCTRS for a further year into 2022/23, which will continue the protection afforded to all claimants in line with what their entitlement would have been under the former CTB system.

Cllr Richard Bell, the council’s deputy leader and Cabinet member for finance, said: “We have one of the best schemes in the country for helping people with council tax support and are pleased to be able to continue this

“Following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic our staff have been working hard to ensure those eligible to receive additional help to pay their council tax bills are able to access this as soon as possible.

“We want to ensure that our residents are aware of the support offered through the scheme and that we can also provide assistance to anyone who thinks they may be eligible, to progress a claim.

“We are mindful of the continuing detrimental impacts that the pandemic is having on many low-income households and the fact that the additional council tax liabilities for working age households could have a significant impact on affected household budgets by around £100 to £350 a year based on a scheme whereby entitlement for working age claimants is set at a maximum of 90 per cent entitlement.

“We are now the only authority in the North East whose scheme continues to mirror entitlement under the former Council Tax Benefit system.”

The LCTR scheme in Durham, based on the former CTB scheme, designed to reflect the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) long-standing range of legacy benefits. All of which are calculated weekly, are based on the same premiums and allowances, have identical income and capital assessment rules and an established history of common case law.

For further information and support for helping to pay council tax bills go to http://www.durham.gov.uk/counciltaxreduction