A POLITICAL row has erupted in County Durham after opposition councillors accused leaders of being ‘rudderless’ and called on them to step aside.
Councillor Carl Marshall attacked the joint administration of Durham County Council for "failing to offer direction for companies" and demanded action on economic development.
Council leader Amanda Hopgood hit back at the broadside and accused County Durham Labour of "talking the area down" at every opportunity.
The spat came as Labour said the coalition of councillors, which has run the authority since Cllr Marshall’s party was ousted at the polls last May, was “hanging the closed sign” on Durham.
Cllr Marshall said: “It’s been ten months and we still don’t know what the plan is.
“Nobody knows what this Coalition’s vision for growth and attracting investment is...in fact, it often appears to be anti-investment.
“It’s devastating how much damage this Tory-led Coalition has done so quickly, reducing massively our standing as a great home for business.
“In less than a year, County Durham has gone from a place with investors queuing up to create businesses, jobs and wealth, to one that’s hung the “closed” sign over our county.”
Cllr Marshall said County Durham had recently attracted significant private sector investment, with the council developing and delivering economic plans that secured large-scale inward investment projects, created thousands of jobs and generated hundreds of millions for the local economy.
Labour is calling on the joint administration to set out a bold vision for the future of the county and ‘engage proactively with potential investors’.
Cllr Marshall added: “The coalition administration of the council is unambitious, has no clear vision for the future of the county and without immediate action Durham will undoubtedly be left behind neighbouring areas that have already embarked upon such visions.”
Cllr Marshall called on the administration to ‘act quickly or risk turning Durham into an economic backwater’.
He said: “It’s not too late. This can be turned around. There remains a huge appetite for projects in Durham.
"Projects that will create exciting new businesses, leisure activities and developments, generating jobs and income for our economy, but what it requires is a plan, leadership, and courage from Durham County Council...three things that we have seen zero evidence of.”
County Durham Labour has called on the administration to address five key areas:
• Provide clarity on the future of Aykley Heads and the Sands building.
• Stop stifling local businesses that want to invest in the visitor economy and new leisure, retail and entertainment sectors.
• Lobby the government hard for the full investment to restore the Leamside Line.
• Focus Levelling Up Fund applications on projects to create good jobs.
• Get serious about delivering new homes at Sniperely for our hard-working residents.
Cllr Amanda Hopgood, the Lib Dem council leader of the authority, said County Durham is ‘absolutely open for business’.
She said: “We have shown not only our commitment to businesses, but also our ambition for the county to excel.
"For too long County Durham has underperformed against its peers and we are not prepared to let this continue.
“Far from being ‘rudderless’, we have led with ambition and the response from hundreds of local businesses has been overwhelmingly positive, most recently demonstrated at a business breakfast event that we hosted only this week at the Riverside cricket ground in Chester le Street.”
Cllr Hopgood pointed out her administration has:
• Expressed interest in and been named in the government white paper as one of the first counties to progress with a county deal for devolution
• Bid and made it to the final four shortlist for the City of Culture 2025, supported by over 500 of the county’s businesses
• Visited numerous businesses and sites with government ministers to show them the amazing companies we have here, and showcase their ambitions to expand and what we have to offer new businesses
• Approved the funding and delivery of NETPark Phase 3
• Lobbied the government with local MPs and the JTC to restore the Leamside Line
• Succeeded in securing the first constituency Levelling Up bid and worked hard on developing the other five, to ensure that all constituency areas have the opportunity to bid.
With regard to the remaining issues Cllr Marshall raised, she said: “We are serious about delivering the new homes on Sniperley as per the county plan and as such have been working with planners and developers.
“A report will be going to cabinet on April 27 confirming the future of the Aykley Heads site as a business park along with the proposals for the Sands building.
Read more: Aldi is hiring over 350 people in County Durham
“I have no idea where you would get the idea that we are stifling the visitor economy, leisure, retail, and entertainment sectors - perhaps you would like to provide me with specific details, and I can address them directly with the people involved. I would reiterate that this is not the feedback we are getting.
“Neither I nor my colleagues will be stepping aside to let you lead, if anyone is damaging this county’s reputation it is you and your group who constantly talk it down at every opportunity.”
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