COUNCILLORS in Darlington will review the successes and failures of the past four years when they meet for the last time ahead of the election in May.

Members of Darlington Borough Council will meet on Thursday (April 30) at the town hall for the final full meeting of the authority in its current form, before the number of ward councillors is cut from 53 to 50 following the vote on May 7.

The changes follow last year’s review by the Independent Local Government Boundary Commission and will also see some ward boundaries altered.

Changes include the immediate town centre ward, Central, being incorporated into Park East and a new Stephenson ward, while Lingfield has merged with Red Hall to become the Red Hall and Lingfield ward.

At the meeting, updates will be given by cabinet members on a number of local issues, including children and young people, transport, and health and partnerships, while council leader Bill Dixon will also look back on his time as leader.

Cllr Dixon will hope to continue as leader of the council, but that will depend on the mood of the electorate on May 7.

In his report prepared for councillors, Cllr Dixon said over recent years, there has been a large amount of work undertaken to secure changes in rail infrastructure for Darlington and the Tees Valley, including the release of £300,000 for improvements to Bank Top station.

He also praised the work of the Good Friends scheme, run by Darlington Partnership, Age UK Darlington, the police and Neighbourhood Watch, which won at the Local Government Chronicle Awards last month.

Cllr Chris McEwan, cabinet member for economy and regeneration, will also discuss plans for a new brand – Ingenious Darlington – which will be launched in the summer to promote the town.

In his report prepared for councillors, he said: “Businesses will be encouraged to adopt the brand, to consistently tell the story of the town, in order to 'put the town on the map' and compete more strongly for investment and for business growth.”

He said a website is being developed for the brand, and local businesses and community groups will be invited to an event to find out more about it and look at ways in which it can be used.

Chairwoman of the council's place scrutiny committee, Cllr Dorothy Long, will also deliver her final report to the authority before stepping down as councillor for the Northgate ward.

The meeting begins at 6pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend.