Helen has attacked the coalition Government’s decision to cut funding for Durham County Council by £16.5 million. 

The cuts – which are among the largest in the county – include:

• £700,000 for the Local Economic Growth Initiative – which has helped 3,000 people to find work

• £3.3 million for children and young people’s services

• £1.65 million for transport & highway repairs.

The cuts come on top of Durham County Council’s planned efficiency savings of £51.3m over the next 3 years, including £8.5m this year.

Helen said:

“This is terrible news for Co. Durham and will make it extremely difficult for the Council to maintain the local services we all rely on.

I am particularly disappointed that the Local Economic Growth Initiative will have its funding cut – creating jobs and helping people back to work should be the Government’s number one priority in the current climate, but once again the new Government are showing that for all their rhetoric about caring for the North East, it is our region that will be worst hit”.

ENDS