The Cabinet of County Durham Council met on Wednesday 15 October 2025 to discuss and approve a new Council Plan for 2025-2030, alongside a review of the County Durham Plan and proposals for High Street Rental Auctions in Bishop Auckland and Stanley. The meeting also addressed the Director of Public Health's Annual Report, the Sufficiency Statement for Children in Care and Care Leavers, and the Durham Family Strategy.

Council Plan 2025-2030

Cabinet approved the new Council Plan for 2025-2030, a key strategic document for the authority. The plan, developed following extensive public consultation, outlines five core ambitions: 'Reforming the council', 'Supercharging our economy', 'Building better communities', 'Caring for our people', and 'A practical environmental stewardship'. The new administration has requested this plan to reflect its political priorities, focusing on tangible services that residents can see, value, and afford. The plan is underpinned by a refreshed performance framework with updated Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Councillor Andrew Husband, Leader of the Council, and Councillor Darren Grimes, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, presented the report, highlighting the plan's focus on efficiency, value for money, and frontline services, while also acknowledging the challenging financial position of the council.

Director of Public Health Annual Report

The Cabinet agreed to publish the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025, titled 'Healthier Futures: Our Ambitions and Actions'. The report details the health and well-being of County Durham's population and outlines six key ambitions for the next ten years, aimed at reducing health inequalities. These ambitions include reducing self-reported high anxiety, obesity, smoking prevalence, alcohol-specific deaths, and under-18 conceptions, while also increasing breastfeeding rates. Councillor Howard Brown, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Adult and Health Services, thanked Amanda Healy, Director of Public Health, and her team for their work on the report.

Sufficiency Statement for Children in Care and Care Leavers 2025-2029

Cabinet approved the new Sufficiency Statement for Children in Care and Care Leavers 2025-2029, alongside its associated Sufficiency Delivery Plan. This statement outlines the council's strategic approach to ensuring sufficient accommodation for children in care and care leavers, addressing increasing demand and budget pressures. Councillor Cathy Hunt, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People's Services, highlighted the strategy's focus on preventative services, family-based homes, and the development of in-house children's homes to meet a range of needs locally. The report also noted the significant increase in children in care expenditure, rising from £30 million in 2020 to £88 million in 2024, and outlined plans to mitigate future cost increases.

Durham Family Strategy

Cabinet approved the new Durham Family Strategy 2025-2029, which rebrands the council's corporate parenting role as the 'Durham Family'. This strategy, developed with input from children and young people, focuses on six key priorities: Feeling Safe, Emotional and Physical Well-being, Positive People in Your Life, Being Listened To, Understanding Things Better, and To Be the Best I Can Be. Councillor Cathy Hunt, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People's Services, emphasised the strategy's commitment to equity for care-experienced young people and the importance of relationships, stability, and love in achieving positive outcomes. The meeting also agreed to rename the Corporate Parenting Panel to the Durham Family Panel.

Mordon Parish Meeting: Application for Order Conferring Functions of a Parish Council

Cabinet agreed to confer specific expenditure functions of a parish council upon the Mordon Parish Meeting. This decision allows the parish meeting to undertake a limited range of activities, including financial assistance for the village hall, mowing of village greens, and maintenance of the defibrillator at the village hall. Councillor Darren Grimes, Deputy Leader of the Council, supported the application, noting that the two county councillors for Sedgefield Division were also in favour. Helen Bradley, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, presented the report, explaining that conferring the full powers of a parish council was not deemed necessary for the proposed activities.

County Durham Plan Review Paper

Cabinet agreed to the publication of the review of the County Durham Plan (CDP). The review concluded that while the existing plan remains largely compliant with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and effective in delivering its objectives, a significant increase in Local Housing Need (LHN) figures warrants the commencement of work on a new local plan. Tony Hanson, Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth, presented the report, highlighting that the LHN has increased from 1,308 to 2,011 dwellings per annum. Councillor Joe Quinn, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning, Investments and Assets, seconded the report, acknowledging the need to adapt to changes in national policy.

High Street Rental Auctions

Cabinet approved the commencement of consultation to designate Bishop Auckland and Stanley as pilot areas for High Street Rental Auctions (HSRAs). This new power, introduced by the government, allows local authorities to auction leases for long-term vacant properties to bring them back into use. Councillor Karen Allison, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Tourism and High Street, stated that the pilot approach is recommended due to the size of the county and the number of towns. The report noted that Bishop Auckland has a vacancy rate of 35.35%, and Stanley also has vacancy rates above the national average. An evaluation of the pilot schemes will inform future decisions on expanding the HSRA initiative.

Exclusion of the Public

Cabinet agreed to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting to discuss exempt or confidential information.