Governance

The Town Board first met in January 2020 and continues to meet on a regular basis.

The Chair of Darlington Town Board is a senior officer within BT Communications. Our vice chair is the Chief Executive and Principal of Darlington College. The Leader of the Council is also a member of the Board. Agenda’s are set via discussions and briefings with the Chair and Vice Chair in advance of each meeting to ensure that relevant matters are addressed at the Board. All decisions relating to ongoing project interventions and resource allocation are agreed by the Board and recorded as minutes of the Town Board meetings. Updates on progress of the various interventions is a standing agenda item where successes are noted, but more importantly where challenges are highlighted and Board views on how to address these challenges are noted and adopted.

Future meetings

• 7 January 2025

Terms of Reference [pdf document]

Code of Conduct [pdf document]

Darlington Towns Fund Board minutes of meetings and agendas

The Darlington Towns Fund Board members

• Angela Howey (Chair), BT (formerly EE), Member of the Tees Valley LEP, Member of Darlington Cares, Large Local Employer
• David Gartland, (Deputy Chair) Principal, Darlington College
• Councillor Stephen Harker, Leader of Darlington Borough Council
• Lola McEvoy, MP for Darlington
• Stephen Fenwick, Project Development Manager, Tees Valley Combined Authority
• Chris Farlow, Associate Director, Carver Commercials, Town Centre Reference Group Member, Local Business
• Adam Suleiman, Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
• Martin Short, NHS
• Yvonne Richardson, Community Representative
• Jim O’Connor, Locality Ch. Inspector for Darlington, Durham Police
• Gary Hutchinson, Arriva, General Manager, Arriva
• Christopher Mains, Towns Fund Programme Manager, Darlington Borough Council
• Mark Ladyman, Assistant Director, Economic Growth, Darlington Borough Council
• Naomi Jenkins, Town Fund Programme Officer

Long Term Plan for Towns Board members

• Seth Pearson, Darlington Partnership Director, Darlington Borough Council
• Councillor Jim Garner, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Darlington Borough Council
• Kay Sandham, Community Volunteer/Activist
• Hilary Bevan, Director, Bevan VAT
• Yvonne Beattie, CEO, 700 Club
• Gordon Pybus, Chair, Darlington Association on Disability (D.A.D)
• Sarah Bentley, CEO, Tandem
• Jasmin Robson, Business Owner, Hatch, Hash and Hyve
• Shaun Campbell, Founder and Community Volunteer, Arthur Wharton Foundation
• Joy Allen, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner
• Janine Browne, CEO, YMCA

Darlington Borough Council Key Support Officers

• Ian Williams, Director of Economic Growth & Neighbourhood Services, Darlington Borough Council
• Brett Nielson, Assistant Director Resources, Darlington Borough Council
• Katy Tate, Senior Marketing Officer, Darlington Borough Council
• Sarah Everett, Communications Officer, Darlington Borough Council
• Lucy Simms, Personal Assistant to Assistant Director of Economic Growth, Darlington Borough Council