Owen Temple

Tonight’s Annual Meeting of Derwentside District Council will probably be the usual round of appointments to committees with a bit of political jockeying at the edges. It may all be over in quarter of an hour (depending on how long Alex Watson’s “State of the Union” message takes).

In amongst it, however, we will receive the “Transition Plan” in which Derwentside District Council seeks to leave its mark upon, and its legacy for, the local area. It may all sound a bit dry but in a series of posts I hope to share with you some of the very important issues involved.

Item 1.1, the three year “Family Intervention Project” is unique in the county as a support and enforcement project set up to work with the most serious perpetrators of anti-social behaviour in the district. Its aim is to improve the lives of the families themselves by bringing them stability, increased opportunity and a reduced risk of homelessness. At the same time it aims to improve the lives of their neighbouring communities. Full external funding has been secured for this year, but will reduce over the next two years.

This leaves the question of how the funding gap of £20K next year and £70K the year after is to be made up. It will also present a challenge, if the project is successful and cost-effective, as to how to make its work permanent.

So it’s going to be vital that councillors stay alert to what’s going on and help the new unitary authority to make the right judgement. There’s never been a more important time for Derwentside’s councillors to keep their eye on the ball. And there’s never been a time when it was harder to maintain motivation.