On December 3rd, Darlington Council could put a freeze on the builders’ masterplan for 4,500 unnecessary houses on the rolling, rural acres of Skerningham. But they won’t. That’s when the Council cabinet and officials will discuss Theakston Estates’ “masterplan” for a “garden village” there. They don’t have to. Nor does the full council. Legally, council […]
Pensioners in Darlington may die this winter unless the Government abandons its plans to stop around ten million people from getting help with fuel bills, says a leading councillor.
Matthew Snedker, leader of the Green Party councillors in Darlington, today demanded an about-turn on plans to scrap the universal winter fuel allowance. “I met with members of Age UK today because I am so worried about the way older people in Darlington will be put at risk,” he said. “Labour themselves have estimated that, […]
Darlington Green Party gearing up for the General Election on 4th July
Matthew Snedker, Darlington’s Green parliamentary candidate, is a hard-working and well-respected Darlington councillor. First elected in 2019, he leads the Green group which increased to seven Darlington councillors in 2023. Matthew is an experienced activist, campaigner and local politician – he is increasingly well known in Darlington, regionally, and beyond. Darlington Green Party has ambitious […]
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Darlington Council Climate Change Working Group – recent successes
The Darlington Borough Council Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) was founded following a motion put forward by Green councillors. It is a cross party group, with Matthew Snedker as the chair. As the saying goes – “a Green in the room” can make a massive difference, even without a Green majority in the council, and […]
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Darlington Council Stronger Communities Fund – Harrowgate Hill Green councillors making a difference
Darlington Borough Council has a “Stronger Communities Fund”, which allocates £1,000 to each elected councillor to spend in their wards to use for the benefit of their ward and its residents. The funding must be used to: ⦁ support individuals and groups to enhance access to opportunities to improve health and wellbeing outcome within their […]
Darlington Council Finances
You may have read stories in the local press lately about the state of Darlington Council’s finances (https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23897943.warning-black-hole-darlington-councils-finances/). The new Labour led administration have warned that there are rough times ahead, but the former Conservative leader of the council has been at pains to point out that they built up reserves of more than […]
Latest Skerningham “consultation”
Some of you, although probably not many, would have spotted that a further step in the consultation process for the Skerningham development took place at the beginning of November. There has been deep dissatisfaction from residents about how this consultation has been set up and organised. Unbelievably, there was no advance announcement or publicity by […]
Darlington Green Party offer solidarity to CEPAC workers.
Dear CEPAC Workers, Darlington Green Party believes that working people should receive a decent, living wage and be entitled to a sufficient level of economic security to meet their needs. Every worker should have the right to fair income security. This is a particularly important issue facing local people at the moment due to rising […]
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Councillor Matthew Snedker selected as Green Party parliamentary candidate for Darlington
The next general election will take place next year and Matthew will be standing as our Green Party candidate. Matthew said: “We’re facing a double crisis in our country, for our climate and for our democracy, but the Greens have the ideas and the political energy to push for progressive solutions. I’m both hopeful and […]
Report from the latest full council meeting – Labour tries to tighten their grip on power
The latest full council meeting was held on 28th September. There was a big turnout from the public (around 45, which is a lot more than usual), lots of interventions from Green councillors, and it didn’t finish until 12.30am. During the proceedings Green councillors tabled three positive and well considered amendments but the Lib/Lab coalition […]