The Stanley South Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board held its inaugural meeting on Friday 29 May 2026, marking a significant step in the £20 million government initiative aimed at community-led regeneration. Key decisions included the agreement to propose boundary alterations to include the town centre and parts of South Moor, and the appointment of Mark Stewart as Vice Chair.

Boundary Alterations

The Board discussed proposed changes to the initial boundary for the Stanley South Pride in Place Programme. Councillor John Cook and Mark Stewart were in favour of including the town centre and South Moor & Quaking Houses. Councillor Karen Allison sought clarification on whether these proposals aligned with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) guidelines. The Board considered the population implications of extending the boundary, with Julie Anson, Community Economic Development Manager, reassuring members that areas outside the defined boundary could still benefit from projects identified within it. Tony Hanson, Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth, suggested a compromise of including half of South Moor and two schools along the A693. Ultimately, the Board agreed for Julie Anson to submit boundary changes to the government for the inclusion of the town centre and South Moor along the A693.

Programme Update and Engagement

Shaun Meek, Lead Officer for Pride in Place Stanley South, presented an update on community engagement events that had taken place and those planned for the future. Word clouds illustrating suggested improvements from residents were shared. Luke Akehurst MP noted that jobs and economic growth were also mentioned in his own engagement activities, which Shaun Meek confirmed had been recorded. Julie Anson discussed the capacity funding received and the potential need for a business representative on the Board, encouraging members to share surveys and create pen portraits to be sent to Shaun Meek. The change of the Pride in Place logo was also mentioned.

Concerns were raised about the effectiveness of surveys, with William Wilkinson stating that people don't think anything will happen, and Mark Stewart adding that despite numerous regeneration plans, there had been no tangible change on Front Street. William Wilkinson emphasised the importance of quick wins to build resident confidence. Julie Anson suggested that a potential scheme could be created from the Pride in Place funding to cover business planning and architect costs for Targeted Business Improvement grants, pending the outcomes of community engagement.

Luke Akehurst MP expressed his thanks to Durham County Council for their appropriate and generous support and noted positively that the council was not using external consultants. Questions were raised about the Pride in Place budget and officer costs, with Julie Anson clarifying that only Shaun Meek's salary was covered by the budget. Mark Stewart suggested communicating that board representatives work for free to build community trust.

Approved Interventions

Julie Anson informed the Board about the intervention themes for the Pride in Place Programme, highlighting their flexibility and that most proposed projects would likely fall within these categories. These themes include regeneration, high streets and heritage; housing; work, productivity and skills; cohesion; community power; health and wellbeing; transport; safety and security; and education and opportunity.

Next Steps

The Board discussed the upcoming next steps, which include submitting boundary alterations and Board details to MHCLG, ongoing community engagement to support the creation of a draft vision and priorities, presenting the draft submission to the Board, and finally submitting the Vision and Pride in Place Plan. Mark Stewart inquired whether the Pride in Place funding was guaranteed, and it was confirmed that MHCLG had provided a Grant Determination letter to the Accountable Authority.

Any Other Business

The Board agreed to cancel the meeting scheduled for 12 June. Mark Stewart was appointed as Vice Chair. A request for support from Stanley Town Council for the Christmas Event was discussed, and the Board agreed, with three members abstaining from voting due to declared interests. Shaun Meek outlined upcoming engagement events, including Karbon's Food Market on 12 June, Armed Forces Day on 28 June, and planned school engagements. He also expressed willingness to engage at community-booked events and encouraged organisations to contact him directly. David McMahon and Mark Stewart raised the idea of funding and supporting more fun and food schemes for holidays, linking them to engagement activities, with more information to be provided.

The next meeting of the Stanley South Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board was scheduled for Friday 24 July 2026, from 13:00 to 15:00.