Darlington'S over 50s want to be seen as an asset in society, not a burden.

A new council statement aims to do just that, presenting a positive image of older people, improving their quality of life and ensuring their views are listened to.

The town is one of only two in England to be chosen for a pilot scheme to integrate services for older people in the community.

A special meeting of the social affairs and health scrutiny committee backed its chairman, Coun Marian Swift, when she said the draft document was so important it should be made the subject of a themed debate at the next full council meeting on December 6.

"I think we should invite the people who specialise in this piece of work and representatives of other agencies to give it its just desserts," she said.

The document was presented by Mr Ewan Weir, assistant social services director, who said it reflected a new partnership between older people as citizens, the local authority and partner agencies from health, and the voluntary and private sectors.

It was based on views expressed by 450 older residents, and specialist agencies, about how they wanted to be seen and their priorities about quality of life, well-being and services.

But it also looked right across the spectrum at issues ranging from transport, leisure and lifelong learning to health, housing and social care.

He said: "I think the vision statement presents a very powerful message. By the year 2021, 41pc of the population of Darlington will be aged 50 or over.

"We want the support of all the people in the borough, young and old."

He said it was a real coup for the town that it had been chosen for the pilot scheme by the Nuffield Institute on work commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Integrated teams of housing, social services and care professionals would support people in their own homes instead of residential care.

But Coun Ian Haszeldine questioned where the money was coming from and Coun Ken Walker added: "It is described as a dynamic document. But it is not dynamic until it finds the funds to meet problems head on."

He referred to the bed crisis in hospitals, which were unable to discharge elderly patients because of the lack of places in residential and nursing homes.

Mr Weir said that was a national problem, adding that there was a social services grant for promoting independence for adults as well as joint funding from the Greenbank health project.

"I do feel a bit prickly about the suggestion this is just a talking document." he went on.

" A lot of work has gone into this already." An officer would be appointed to lead the strategy and link it in to other areas such as the national service framework for older people.

In addition, two workshops would be held early in the new year to develop practical partnerships between older people and agencies