Labour Councillors on the Town Council are proud of their achievements. They have worked diligently on your behalf and served the town well. The last four years have been a difficult time in local government. During the longest sustained period of austerity in living memory, your Labour controlled Town Council has achieved the following:

• Only three increases to the council tax precept over the last seven years.

• Maintained and increased services.

• Achieved the highest level audit inspection of any town council in the country and been commended on our value for money initiatives.
• Working together with the townspeople we have developed a Neighbourhood Plan which will protect our open spaces and environment.

• Maintained and enhanced nine parks and numerous play areas.

• Created healthy financial balances and built up assets in excess of £6.5M.

• Continued to provide and increased the number of annual excursions for our senior citizens and created and financed the annual summer festivals.

• Secured a cost effect longterm contract with Durham County Council for essential street lighting on the A167

• Took a stand against demolition of garages and infill development of green open spaces, setting a planning precedent to safeguard our green open spaces for the future.

For the Town Council seats, the following Labour candidates are standing:

Aycliffe Village Ward – Danny Gibb.

Aycliffe Central Ward – Val Raw, Kathryn Beetham and Jim Atkinson.

Shafto St Mary Ward – Bob Fleming, Wendy Hillary, Mal Iveson and Derek Atkinson.

Neville Ward – Sarah Iveson (re-elected unopposed) and Jed Hillary (re-elected unopposed).

For the County Council seats Sarah Iveson and Jim Atkinson are standing for Aycliffe East.

Our Manifesto Over the next ten years the eastern side of the town will grow and develop with up to 1,000 new homes being built on the old approved school site and further expansion of the business park.  When elected, our realistic, costed, achievable objectives will be:

• To fight to ensure the appropriate amenities are provided and our green open spaces are protected and maintained.

• To ensure any future developments maintain the garden city concept and provide adequate off-street parking provision.

• Regularly review all our services to ensure ongoing value for money.

• Continue to work in partnership with Durham County Council to absorb, within our budget capacity, services which will enhance the environment of Great Aycliffe.

• Continue to maintain family and community events including the firework display, Santa tours, the festival, fun in the parks and senior citizen trips.

You can trust you local Labour candidates to continue to work hard on your behalf, for the benefit of the town, putting Aycliffe first.  Please vote Labour on 4 May 2017.

Jed Hillary, Chair of the Aycliffe East (Neville) Branch of the Labour Party