Public service reform, collaborations, shared services; like most councils Darlington is heavily engaged in exploring and implementing new models.

One particular new partnership, crossing a less familiar divide, will see the construction of new offices for 400 Department for Education (DfE) staff in a building adjoining the town hall and sharing services and facilities.

This new partnership with the DfE is one of the most exciting projects I have been involved in during my career in local government. Not only does it see the retention of around 400 public sector jobs in Darlington, it sees the creation of what I believe to be the first public sector hub between local and central government in the North East region.