Community Engagement is a key strand of the Council’s organisational development strategy and has informed Council priorities and planning over many years. Good consultation and consideration of the public’s needs and wishes has helped to inform programmes such as Let’s get Cracking, investment in youth services and in the development of an Anti-social behaviour team.

A Bigger Say and a Better Deal for our Communities identifies the way in which the Council can improve its approach to community engagement, improving co-ordination so that existing good practice can be shared across the Council. Quick wins for doing this have been identified.

The Chief Executive, Ada Burns, is championing this project.

David Plews (Communities and Social Inclusion Manager) is managing the project. He is happy to answer any queries or receive suggestions for how the Council can improve its engagement in the future. He can be contacted on 01325 388023 or by emailing david.plews@darlington.gov.uk