Greater needed in how Teesdale cash should be spent

PEOPLE in Teesdale are being urged to have a greater say in how a pot of cash is spent.
During the past year Teesdale Action Partnership has had more than £100,000 to spend in the area, but only 300 people made their voices heard to determine where the money should go.
A similar amount is expected to be available next year.
Now TAP co-ordinator Craig Morgan is calling for more people to get involved by voting for what they believe is important.
Current priorities are older people, transport and environment, and jobs, enterprise and training.
Mr Morgan said: “Priorities can change year-on-year depending on how people vote and previous priorities have included children and young people, broadband, and tourism. It is important that people in Teesdale have a say in what the priorities are.”
Other priorities people can vote for are: children, young people and families; communication, IT and technology; community safety; culture, tourism and heritage; employment, enterprise and training; health and wellbeing; older people; supporting lcoal groups; transport, traffic and roads; your local environment.
People can vote through a ballot paper that has been included in this week’s issueof the Teesdale Mercury. They can also vote online, via post or by attending the area action partnership’s forum event on November 21.
Mr Morgan said the event, which will be held at St Mary’s Parish Hall, in Barnard Castle, offered people and community groups an opportunity to receive advice on how to apply for funding for their projects.
He said: “Come along and talk to us about your own ideas, any thoughts you have about TAP or if you have any questions about developing a project or are looking for funding for a project.”
He added that groups that have received grants in the past will be on hand to show what they have done and the difference they have made in their community.
People can attend an informal drop-in session at the event between 12.30pm and 5.30pm, or a formal presentation from 6pm.
TAP, which was formed in 2009, is one of 14 area action partnerships in County Durham with the key aim of identifying and taking action on local issues by working with communities and groups. Its board includes all six Teesdale county councillors, public representatives and partner bodies such as police, fire, health, and housing among others.
The TAP forum has about 1,100 members who receive regular information updates by post or email about local issues and initiatives.
People do not have to be a member to vote on the partnership’s priorities and anyone over the age of 11 who lives, works, studies or volunteers in Teesdale can vote.
People can also vote for their priorities by visiting the website surveymonkey.co.uk/r/AAPPriorites2017-18
Voting closes on December 11.