Labour Party Crook Branch

16/10/2026

We are looking for enthusiastic and committed practitioners to join our new Best Start Inclusion Team, supporting children aged 0–5 years with emerging additional needs and their families.

Based within our Best Start Family Hubs, you will deliver flexible, hands-on support in hubs, community settings and family homes, helping to identify needs early and improve children’s development outcomes.

There are various locations throughout County Durham, locations can be discussed at interview.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new and evolving service, working as part of a multi-agency team to ensure families can access the right support at the right time.

https://www.northeastjobs.org.uk/job/Best_Start_Inclusion_Practitioner_SEND_/303415

13/10/2026

Real improvements taking shape across the country.
Practical changes making everyday life easier.
Steps forward after years of challenges —
and reasons to feel hopeful about the future. , . ,

13/10/2026

We want to hear from you.💬

This is your chance to share your views on our proposed budget by attending one of our upcoming online consultation sessions.

🗓️ Taking place on Wednesday 21 October, come along to our next online session to hear more about how we are planning to achieve significant savings targets.

Residents, businesses, partners, and community organisations are encouraged to attend.

Like many local authorities, we are facing significant financial pressures. The council does not receive sufficient government grant income to fund these cost pressures, and the government expects as part of its funding formula that residents’ council tax will increase by the maximum 4.99% when calculating the money we have available to provide local services.

To put this into context, the council would have a forecast budget deficit of £83.662 million over the next four years if we relied solely on the government grant we receive and did not raise council tax. Even if council tax increases by the maximum expected by government, the council still faces a budget deficit of more than £21 million over the next four years. This means savings have to be made to ensure the council can set a balanced budget as this is a legal requirement.

New savings proposals, totalling £21.5 million have already been developed and we are working hard to minimise the impact of running an under-funded council.

A consultation has therefore been launched to gather feedback on:

💬 A range of new savings proposals across back-office functions and frontline services.
💬 Improvements to how we operate, use technology and serve our communities over the longer-term.
💬 Options for council tax increases over the next four years up to 4.99 per cent, in line with what government expects from us and what most other authorities are having to do.

13/10/2026

📰 Food hubs, affordable meals and vital household support backed in latest round of Mayor Kim’s Opportunity Fund.

We know the cost of the living is still affecting too many of our communities, so Round 4 of the £1 million Mayor's Opportunity Fund will help tackle this directly. 🤝

This fund is all about backing community-led projects that provide practical support with the everyday pressures facing individuals and families across the North East. 📍

With thanks to Point North & Community Foundation North East for their support in ensuring the funds reach the most in need.

Read more about the fund, and the organisations benefiting, via link in comments. ⬇️ 🔗

08/10/2026

Good to see. Lets have more of it where there suitable sources of ground heat.

A major milestone has been reached in one of Britain's first large-scale mine water heat projects, with the scheme now officially up-and-running.

We've worked with a number of organisations to deliver the project, which sees mine water used to heat affordable properties at Seaham Garden Village.

We've teamed up with Karbon Homes, Vital Energi, the Mining Remediation Authority and others on the scheme, which also delivers hot water to residents.

Following completion of construction of an energy centre, the project is now operational - using naturally warm water from the nearby Dawdon Mine Water Treatment Scheme.

The project has received more than £3.8m in government funding and will go on to heat 750 affordable homes.

Cllr Kyle Genner, our Cabinet member for neighbourhoods, environment and police relations, said: "We're really pleased to have helped facilitate this scheme which makes impressive use of the legacy left by our coal mining heritage, using mine water to create a heat network supplying heat and hot water to around 750 homes.
"This is an exciting emerging option for heating our homes, and we're looking closely to see where else it might be viable in the future."

05/10/2026

Andy Burnham prefers the 1970s but Kemi Badenoch prefers the 1790s

29/09/2026

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gT6b9Opy69E&t=30s -sheet

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16/09/2026

Reform’s “majority” in County Durham is looking more like a sandcastle at high tide. With three more councillors walking out — on top of the long list who’ve already quit — the group is edging closer to losing control altogether.

Residents deserve a council that can hold itself together. This constant churn isn’t strength. It’s a warning sign.

Three more councillors have quit Reform UK at Durham County Council just a day before a crucial meeting to decide how it will find £20 million of…