The Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Durham County Council is scheduled to meet on Friday 6 November 2026. The meeting's agenda includes discussions on business engagement activities, financial outturns for the Regeneration, Economy and Growth service, and performance management reports.

Business Engagement Activities

The committee is scheduled to receive an overview of business engagement across County Durham, with a particular focus on the work of Business Durham and the Community Economic Development Team. The report will detail how these teams support businesses, collaborate with partners, and contribute to the council's ambitions for inclusive economic growth. It will highlight the significant role of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), which constitute 99.6% of the county's business population. The report is expected to outline the range of engagement activities, including business account management, events, sector forums, and inward investment efforts. The council's commitment to supporting business growth, encouraging innovation, and ensuring economic opportunities benefit communities across the county will be a key theme. This approach aligns with national and regional strategies, including the UK Government's Modern Industrial Strategy and the North East Local Growth Plan.

Quarter 1: Forecast of Revenue and Capital Outturn 2026/27

A joint report from the Corporate Director of Resources and the Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth will present the forecast outturn position for the Regeneration, Economy and Growth (REG) service grouping for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. The report indicates a forecast underspend of £0.588 million against a revised revenue budget of £39.831 million. For the capital programme, the revised budget stands at £81.380 million, with £15.316 million spent as of 30 June 2026. The report will detail the reasons for any variances in spending across different service areas within the REG grouping, including Housing, Communities & Leisure, and Place, Planning & Growth.

Quarter 1 Performance Management Report 2026/27

The committee will receive an update on the council's progress towards achieving the strategic ambitions and objectives outlined in its Council Plan 2025-30. The report, based on data available as of 30 June 2026, will present Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) using dashboards to show trends, performance against targets, and comparisons with other councils. For the Supercharging Our Economy ambition, the report highlights that over the past 12 months, 1,377 businesses were supported, four inward investments were secured, and £4.8 million was invested for companies, creating or safeguarding 1,411 jobs. Planning application completion times are reported to be improving and exceeding targets. The visitor economy in County Durham saw its strongest year in 2025, attracting 21.98 million visitors and generating a record £1.49 billion. The report also touches upon performance related to Caring For Our People, noting an increase in homeless assessments and households with a 'priority need,' which is impacting costs.