The Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to discuss several key reports at its upcoming meeting. These include an annual update on the Combatting Drugs and Alcohol Partnership, an overview of consumer protection enforcement activities, and an update on open water safety initiatives. The committee will also review the council's performance for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year.

Combatting Drugs and Alcohol Partnership in County Durham Annual Update

The committee is scheduled to receive an annual update on the work of the Combatting Drugs and Alcohol Partnership (CDAP) for the 2025/2026 period. The report outlines how the CDAP aligns with the national Harm to Hope 10-year Drugs Plan, with three strategic priorities: breaking the supply chain, delivering world-class treatment and recovery systems, and shifting demand for recreational drug use.

Funding for drug and alcohol prevention, treatment, and recovery, known as the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant (DATRIG), totals £12,452,452 in County Durham. However, this funding is set to decrease gradually over the next three years. The report highlights that while alcohol-specific mortality rates in the North East remain higher than the national average, County Durham's levels have plateaued. Harm from drug use is noted as increasing due to the complexity and synthetic nature of substances, with a particular concern around synthetic opioids like nitazenes.

The report details various activities undertaken, including the establishment of a Drug and Alcohol Related Death (DARD) Steering Group, expansion of the 'Clear, Hold, Build' strategy to tackle serious and organised crime, and the Checkpoint diversionary programme which has a high success rate for drug and alcohol-related interventions. The County Durham Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service (CDDARS) has seen an increase in people accessing treatment for opiate, non-opiate, and alcohol use, with successful completion rates for treatment being higher than the England average.

The recommendations for the committee include noting the reduction in alcohol-specific mortality in the most recent year, acknowledging the changing nature of drug harms and the toxicity of synthetic opioids, confirming that a detailed plan for prevention, treatment, and recovery is in place, and noting the gradual decrease in funding for these services over the next three years.

Consumer Protection Enforcement and Intervention Activity

The committee is set to receive a presentation on the enforcement and intervention activities undertaken by the Consumer Protection Service, which encompasses Trading Standards, Animal Health, and Licensing. The report indicates that this presentation will provide an overview of the service's activities, including reactive enforcement, engagement, and proactive advice and education, often in partnership with other enforcement agencies. Tracey Johnson, Consumer Protection Strategic Manager, is scheduled to deliver the presentation. The report highlights that the information presented aims to contribute to reducing crime and disorder in County Durham and supports legitimate businesses.

Open Water Safety Update

An update on open water safety initiatives during the first and second quarters of 2026/27 is scheduled for discussion. The report indicates that the City Safety Group (CSG) and the county-wide Open Water Safety Group (OWSG) continue to meet to review interventions and risk mitigation. A proactive approach to education and awareness remains a key focus.

Statistically, there has been a positive trend in reducing open water-related fatalities in the Durham City Centre location, while fatalities across County Durham have remained at a similar level to previous years. The report mentions a near-miss incident in Durham City where two young men were rescued from the River Wear. An updated water safety review of the River Wear by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has been conducted, with 25 actions to be discussed.

The OWSG has continued to monitor high-risk locations, with a refreshed assessment following a coroner's report linked to a fatality at County Bridge in Barnard Castle. A public safety engagement event, Be Water Aware, was delivered by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) and supported by Durham County Council (DCC), which generated media interest. A water safety awareness assembly was also held at Cestria Primary School, attracting media coverage.

The report notes fatal incidents outside of County Durham, including in Seaham and Seaton Carew, and states that Durham County Council has engaged with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to review and reassess coastal water safety controls along the Durham coastline. This has led to the commissioning of surveys for priority coastal areas.

The committee is recommended to note the progress made by the CSG and OWSG.

Quarter One, 2026/27 Performance Management Report

This report provides an update on the council's progress towards its strategic ambitions and objectives as outlined in the Council Plan 2025-30. It tracks performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) using dashboards that show trends, comparisons with other councils, and performance against targets. The data presented is the latest available as of 30 June 2026, covering activities from April to June 2026.

Key performance messages indicate a mixed but broadly positive position. Under the Building Better Communities ambition, there has been positive progress in reducing First Time Entrants (FTEs) to the Youth Justice System for a second consecutive year, with a 28% reduction. Reports of fly-tipping remain low, environmental cleanliness is high, more long-term properties are being brought back into use, and reports of anti-social behaviour are at their lowest recorded level for three years. The target to repair 90% of highway defects within set timescales was also met.

The report also highlights areas that are being addressed, such as road traffic collisions, where there has been an improvement with fewer collisions, serious injuries, and fatalities compared to the previous year. The committee is recommended to note the overall position and direction of travel during the first quarter's performance, including actions being taken to improve areas facing challenges.

Operation Ford

Superintendent Dean Haythornthwaite and Force Elected Official Advisor (FEOA), Durham Constabulary, are scheduled to introduce Operation Ford. Further details on this operation are not provided in the publicly available documents.