Darlington: Tory councillors accused of wasting taxpayers cash

The debate on Thursday evening was called as part of a plea for Darlington Borough Council to speed up and improve its support of local clubs and sports facilities. 

A motion titled: “Supporting Sporting Clubs and Protecting Green Spaces for the Stars of Tomorrow” was tabled by opposition councillors in the hope of encouraging the Labour/ Liberal Democrat administration to prioritise achieving the aims set out in its Pitch and Built Facility Strategy. 

The party criticised the local authority’s previous support of local clubs and said that any council decisions which affect sporting clubs and local green spaces should be made by all elected members.

Conservative leader Jonathan Dulston added: “Protecting green spaces is absolutely a priority and that’s why we have brought this motion forward.”

Councillor Scott Durham, of Brinkburn and Faverdale ward, added: “We must do more and we must go faster.”

Rival members traded verbal blows as tensions rose during the debate, with Labour Council Leader Steve Harker scathing in his criticism of the opposition, saying they had resorted to “gutter politics” and “dog whistle comments”.

He added: “It is absolutely disgusting behaviour.”

Labour’s Matthew Roche said Tory councillors failed to raise concerns or scrutinise the council’s recently-approved Physical Activity Strategy at three previous meetings. 

“The Conservatives had plenty of opportunity to raise these points and didn’t,” he told the meeting. “Instead, they chose to waste taxpayers’ money and everyone’s time by calling an extraordinary meeting.”

Yet Cllr Dulston said his party’s intervention was needed as it was not on the ruling administration’s radar.

He added: “In 2023 we were told that Labour had dynamic plans for our town and tackling inequality would be central to that. Since this council slashed its youth services in 2015 our young people have been impacted. 

Recommended reading: 

“[They] have less opportunities, less facilities, and the importance of our playing fields has become ever more important.”

However, Cllr Roche, cabinet member for health and housing, accused the Tories of playing political games.

He said: “Conservatives who asked for this meeting only need to have asked me or staff colleagues within the council to find out that steps to review and revise the sports facilities and pitches are already underway. This meeting could have been an email. 

“This waste of time and money could have been avoided by speaking to hard working council staff. That they didn’t is a huge act of disrespect.”