Town Board seeking independent chair

The board is made up of community representatives, local businesses and other organisations and is led by an independent chair.

The Bishop Auckland Town Board is looking for an independent chair who will be directly involved in the future development of the town.

A successful candidate would see themselves ensuring everyone’s voices are heard and clear decisions are reached for the benefit of the wider community, while encouraging everyone to work together in the spirit of partnership.

The Towns Fund is a £3.6 billion fund established by the government to level up towns and cities across the country while attracting jobs and long-term investment.

Established in February 2020, the Bishop Auckland Town Deal Board was set up by Durham County Council to oversee the spending and allocation of these funds.

The board is made up of community representatives, local businesses and other organisations and is led by an independent chair.

The board meets quarterly, or as required to oversee the delivery of the programme and monitor progress against the Town Investment Plan.

The exciting role would help lead and deliver the board’s aims of ensuring that Bishop Auckland is a visitor destination of choice, while strengthening its position as a market town and gateway to the Durham Dales.

Since being established, the board has overseen the production of the Bishop Auckland Town Investment Plan, and successfully secured £33.2m of UK Government Stronger Towns Fund funding.

Significant progress has since been made by the board to prioritise funding for transformational projects in the town. Find out more about Bishop Auckland Regeneration www.bishopaucklandregeneration.com.

Regeneration in the town has also been supported by match funding from Durham County Council and private enterprise, as well as the Future High Streets Fund.

Some of the projects the board has been directly involved in include: Springboard to Employment, Town Centre Diversification, Heritage Walking and Cycling and Infrastructure capacity improvements. For more information about the Bishop Auckland Towns Fund visit www.durham.gov.uk/townsfund.

Jessica Mortimer-Wabel, Durham County Council’s strategic programme manager, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to be directly involved in the future of Bishop Auckland.

“The Town Fund is vital for ensuring that Bishop Auckland is a visitor destination choice while cementing its place as a thriving market town. We’re encouraging anyone who feels they would be a good fit for the role to send in their CV.”

Interested applicants are asked to send a CV and cover letter setting out why they are interested in the role to bishopaucklandregen@durham.gov.uk. Any questions about the role can also be submitted to the same email address.

The ideal candidate will have experience of working in the public and private sector, or in a community leadership role; excellent communication skills; and the ability to run an effective, diverse and inclusive board.

A strong connection to Bishop Auckland and understanding of local needs are essential.

The application process is open until Wednesday 4 June and will be followed by shortlisting and interviews. The appointment would be, initially, until March 31, 2027.