NO TAX PLEA: Acting Durham police, crime and victims commissioner Steve White
PARISH councillors in a dale village have urged Durham’s police and crime commissioner to follow their example and not hit taxpayers in the pocket.
Members of Startforth Parish Council agreed not to increase the amount paid by residents for grassroots services in the next financial year. It means those living in a band D property will continue to pay £42.51 towards the cost of the parish council.
Later in the meeting, councillors were asked for their views on proposals by acting Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner Steve White to add £15 to council tax bills – a seven per cent increase and the maximum he is allowed.
FASTER broadband could be on the cards for hundreds of people in two dale villages.
Almost 650 households could benefit from a proposed Startforth and Boldron Community Fibre project.
The scheme would be led by Liverpool-based Factco, a company which specialises in fibre and communication technology for residents and businesses.
It would be funded via the Government s Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme, which is worth £1,500 per household and £3,000 for each business which signs up to the scheme.
To cover any shortfall, the Digital Durham programme will increase the value of the vouches to £3,000 for residents and £7,000 for businesses if required.
Discussions involving Startforth Parish Council, Boldron Parish Meeting, county councillors Richard Bell and Ted Henderson, representatives from Digital Durham and officials from Factco have taken place. Members of Startforth Parish Council were told the project offered the best solution to slow broadband speeds for the majority of