NEWS
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Durham County Council ’ s corporate management team . From left : Alan Patrickson , corporate director of neighbourhoods and climate change ; Jane Robinson , corporate director of adult and health services ; John Hewitt , interim chief executive ; Amy Harhoff , corporate director of regeneration , economy and growth ; Paul Darby , corporate director of resources ; John Pearce , corporate director of children and young people ’ s services ; and Helen Lynch , head of legal and democratic services .
COVID CHAMPS
National recognition for council after response to pandemic
Durham County Council has received national recognition for its response to the coronavirus pandemic .
The local authority has been highly commended in two categories at the MJ Local Government Achievement Awards 2021 .
The awards celebrate the best in local public service and this year ’ s ceremony highlighted the work of councils across the country to overcome the ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic .
Durham County Council was one of only a handful of local authorities to make it down to the final few in the Digital Transformation Award .
The judging panel was impressed by how the council accelerated the delivery of its digital strategy at an unprecedented pace . This ranged from adapting the way it communicates with its customers , to supporting staff to work remotely .
It also recognised the introduction of the award-winning Health Call Digital Care Home system , which allows care workers to digitally share the results of their resident observations , such as blood pressure and heart rates , with health professionals .
In addition to this , the council ’ s corporate management team was also highly commended
COUNCIL SET TO APPOINT NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
A
new chief executive looks set to lead the North-East ’ s largest council .
The Chief Officer Appointments Committee at Durham County Council has advised that John Hewitt is their recommended candidate for chief executive following an appointment process .
John has been interim chief executive since December . He joined the authority in 2016 and has overseen the council ’ s financial response to the coronavirus pandemic as well as a wide range of other major projects and initiatives . in the senior leadership team category .
The judges recognised the team ’ s expertise and dedication in leading the authority through the pandemic , as well as its approach to empowering staff and implementing a major investment programme .
The leadership team ’ s commitment to community-focused ways of working , along with a nationally recognised approach to social value and partnership work , was also praised . John Hewitt , interim chief executive of Durham County Council , said : “ The last 18 months have been incredibly challenging for our communities and businesses and we have done everything in our power to support them through these difficult times , while continuing to deliver essential services .
“ I have been so proud of how staff across the council have risen to the challenge , quickly implementing and adapting to new digital ways of working and always remaining focused on providing the best possible service to the people of County Durham .
“ On behalf of the council ’ s leadership team I would like to express our delight at receiving this recognition and thank all Durham County Council staff for their hard work and commitment .”
He said : “ County Durham is a fantastic place , and I am incredibly proud to call it home , so it is a real honour to have been recommended as chief executive of the county council .
“ The past eight months have given me a good indication of what lies ahead , and I am confident that , with the support and commitment of our team who work across all our services , there is much to look forward to .”
NETPARK EXPANSION A flagship County Durham technology park is set to expand significantly following a £ 50m investment by Durham County Council , which will create over 1,200 jobs .
Plans to expand the North East Technology Park ( NETPark ) in Sedgefield have been given the go-ahead by the council ’ s cabinet , which has agreed to £ 49.6m to finance the first phase of the expansion providing up to 270,000 sq ft of new laboratory , office , production and storage space .
Since opening in 2004 , NETPark has become a collaborative community of growing science , engineering and technology businesses and is home to over 40 companies and 600 people employed on-site , delivering high value jobs in County Durham .
BBC ’ S NORTH-EAST BOON News the BBC is to make its biggest investment in the North-East in decades has been welcomed by the partnership spearheading County Durham ’ s Bid to be UK City of Culture 2025 .
The BBC has announced it will spend at least £ 25m over the next five years in the region to fund new television programmes , talent development and additional support to the creative sector .
As part of this commitment , the BBC , 12 local authorities and three combined authorities in the North-East have signed a memorandum of understanding to work together to grow the production industry in the region .
STUDENTS PROVE WORTH A new report highlighting the positive impact of international students has shown that just one year ’ s intake is worth over £ 240m to the Tees Valley economy .
The report , The costs and benefits of international higher education students to the UK economy , has been published by the Higher Education Policy Institute ( HEPI ) and Universities UK International ( UUKi ), with research from London Economics .
The estimated benefits of international students across their entire period of study is worth £ 28.8bn to the UK economy , with the Tees Valley accounting for over 2,500 new international students .
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