Social inclusion is a central feature of the Labour government’s political and social agenda for the UK. But the problem of social exclusion is not a recent phenomenon. It is one that local authorities have been tackling for many years from a number of different angles. Anti-poverty, neighbourhood renewal and community regeneration are just some of these approaches.

Pressure to deliver improvements in social inclusion is coming from different places. And it is important to remember that this pressure is on the business and voluntary sectors as well as the public sector, the biggest source of pressure is from the Council Tax paying residents of the borough themselves. The Community Strategy is also driving this agenda and has identified “narrowing the inequalities gap” and “building community confidence” as two of the strategy’s four key aims to promote inclusive communities.

Darlington Borough Council wants to act in order to meet its commitments to its communities. It has to act in order to meet legislative and strategic requirements. For example, the recommendations of the Council’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment, the need to produce a Race Equality Scheme, our aim to produce a Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.

The Local Government Act 2000 describes the “duty of well being” that local government owes to its citizens. This strategy helps Darlington Borough Council to deliver that duty.