Darlington Labour

02/05/2026

✅ Be Proud of where you live!!!

Whilst Darlington Conservatives continue to put our Town Centre down, it’s great to see it thriving & so busy today!!

01/05/2026

🏡 A proposal to build even more Council Houses by the Labour lead Council is great

✅If approved this will result in more affordable housing to Darlington residents!!

Plans to develop a 2.66-acre plot of land for new council homes for social rent will be considered by councillors at an upcoming meeting.

The proposal, for council-owned land at Sparrow Hall Drive, will enable the council to bring forward a future development of much needed, high quality council homes for social rent.

If approved, the scheme would contribute directly to reducing waiting lists for council housing and supporting residents who are currently priced out of the private rental market.

Councillor Matthew Roche, Cabinet member for Health & Housing, said: “This proposal is about doing something practical and positive to help Darlington residents who are struggling to find a safe, secure and affordable place to live.

“We need more social rented homes in Darlington, and this proposal paves the way for new properties that would give local people a real opportunity to put down roots in their own community.

“Using council land in this way means we can focus on quality, affordability and long term benefit rather than maximising profit.”

05/04/2026

🐣Happy Easter from all at Darlington Labour

03/04/2026

🏘️ Have your say on shared homes (HMOs)

We’re proposing new guidance to better manage shared homes across the borough — helping ensure good quality housing while protecting our neighbourhoods.

📋 What’s changing?
• New planning guidance for HMOs
• Clear rules for landlords and developers
• Supporting balanced, sustainable communities

🗳️ If approved by Cabinet
(7 April), a 4-week public consultation will launch.

💬 We want to hear from residents

👉 Share your views. Shape your neighbourhood ⬇️

02/04/2026

❓Your questions answered

📍The Facts around what actually took place at last weeks Full Council meeting

♦️Darlington Labour Administrations commitment to all residents of Darlington

We are today issuing a clarification, after confusion online following last Thursday's (26 March) Full Council meeting.

At that meeting, councillors passed a motion relating to the provision of services. A Supreme Court ruling, in April 2025, stated that 's*x' in the Equality Act refers to biological s*x, rather than gender identity. After the ruling, the Council has been clear that any single-s*x spaces that are clearly marked are determined by biological s*x.

Contrary to some interpretations, the motion agreed at Full Council does not change, nor require any change to, the Council’s current provision of single s*x toilets, changing rooms or similar facilities. These arrangements will continue exactly as they are and remain compliant with the law.

The motion, which was passed by a majority of councillors, resolved that: “The Council will not introduce blanket exclusions of transgender individuals from services. Any restriction must be justified on a case by case basis as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, in line with the Equality Act 2010.”

The term ‘services’ in the motion covers the full range of Council services – not only toilets and changing rooms.

The Council recognises the importance of both women’s safety and the rights of transgender people and remains committed to upholding its legal duties to all residents.

To address inaccurate claims circulating online, the Council confirms that it is not introducing new restrictions and not altering how single s*x spaces are currently managed.

The Council will continue to:
• Comply with the law, which protects people on the basis of s*x and gender reassignment.
• Treat all individuals with dignity, respect and fairness.
• Ensure that decisions about access to services are based on evidence, proportionality and the law; not on blanket rules.

The Council will review its policies only when the Government issues statutory, legally binding guidance for public bodies. This work will be supported by the Equality Advisory Group and scrutinised through the appropriate committee processes.

A council spokesperson said: “We understand discussions around single-s*x spaces can be sensitive, and we are aware of some misconceptions circulating online. To be clear, the Council is not changing how single s*x spaces are currently managed – that use is determined by biological s*x. Our priority is to act lawfully, responsibly and respectfully – ensuring safety, dignity and privacy for everyone.”

The Council remains committed to equality, safeguarding and providing inclusive, lawful services for all residents.

31/03/2026

✊️ We stand with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and our affiliated Labour Unions because everyone deserves real protection and fair opportunity.

📣 Labour have introduced the Employment Rights Act and the Renters' Rights Act to benefit working people, families, and tenants by giving them greater security, fairer treatment, and protection against exploitation at work and at home.

Farage's Reform has pledged to rip up legal protections for workers and renters - handing power to bad bosses and rogue landlords.

The planned attacks include:

• Taking sick pay, bereavement leave, and pregnancy protections off millions of workers.
• Legalising fire-and-rehire and workplace discrimination.
• Reintroducing "no-fault" evictions and reducing limits on rent increases.

29/03/2026

28/03/2026

‼️Transfer deadline looming Conservative >>>>Reform

❓Will it be the leader Cllr Dulston, who loves Trump and looked uncomfortable when his possible defection was raised with him?

❓Or Cllr Tostevin who wants to “drill baby drill”?

⛴️Who will jump ship first? All guesses welcome⬇️

27/03/2026

♦️At last nights Full Council meeting a motion was put forward for Darlington to become an Inclusive Recovery Borough.

✅ The motion was passed

Community is the antidote to addiction.

Yesterday the Council agreed to Darlington becoming an Inclusive Recovery Borough.

This means that the Council will work hard with organisations and the community to ensure all Darlington residents who have suffered addiction are supported through their recovery.

Huge thanks to Recovery Connections, a great local charity, and to all those in the STRIDE partnership who provide support every day to residents facing addiction and in recovery. Thank you to Cllr Toms for proposing the motion, and Cllr Roche (Health and Housing) for seconding it.

26/03/2026

✅ Labour Councillor Joe Dillon for Eastbourne standing up for residents by submitting designation to protect Tommy Crooks Park

❌Tories failed to put forward to protect the park & designate the land they simply stood by & did absolutely nothing!!