The Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss the selective licensing scheme, review the social housing allocations policy and receive an update on strategic place plans. Also on the agenda was the first quarter performance management report.

Selective Licensing Scheme

The committee was scheduled to discuss the selective licensing scheme, which aims to regulate landlords and managing agents of private rented property in designated areas.

The report pack included a report from Tony Hanson, Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth, and a presentation by the Building Safety and Housing Standards Manager.

Selective licensing gives a local authority certain powers to regulate landlords and managing agents of private rented property but only in designated areas that meet certain criteria regarding low demand for housing, anti-social behaviour, and/or deprivation.

Durham County Council's scheme was approved by the Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) on 30 November 2021 and came into force on 1 April 2022, lasting for five years. It covers 42% of the private rented stock (28,000 properties) and 103 of County Durham's 324 Lower Super Output Areas¹.

The key elements of the scheme in County Durham are:

(a) promotion of good management practice which are capable of being sustained and enforced where not maintained;

(b) mandatory licence application for every PRS property within the defined scheme;

(c) landlords must pass a 'fit and proper person' test in advance of receiving a licence;

(d) appropriate staffing structure in place to support scheme administration, inspection, and enforcement;

(e) property inspection regime in place; and

(f) support for landlords to comply with licence conditions.

Item 6 Selective Licensing Update 7 November

As of 30 September 2025, 17,027 applications had been received, with 15,807 licences issued and £7.47 million received.

The presentation also included information on:

• Anti-social behaviour and examples of interventions
• Enforcement powers and penalties
• Challenges and next steps

The report noted that a full review of the scheme would commence following the anticipated assent of the Renters Rights Bill² in October 2025.

Social Housing Allocations Policy Review

The committee was scheduled to discuss a review of the council's social housing allocations policy.

The report pack included a report from Tony Hanson, Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth, and a presentation by Peter Ollivere, Strategy, Partnerships and Commissioning Manager.

In County Durham, a choice based allocations scheme is in operation to allocate social housing to people on the housing register, as part of the Durham Key Options (DKO) partnership. The DKO Partnership is made up of Durham County Council and its four key housing partners: Believe Housing, Karbon Homes, Livin, and North Star Housing.

The proposed vision for the final allocations policy is to:

ensure that social housing across the county is allocated consistently and fairly to those in the greatest housing need in an open and transparent way.

Item 7 Social Housing Allocations Policy Review - Overview and Scrutiny Report

The objectives of the allocations policy review are as follows:

(a) work collaboratively and transparently with DKO partners and other stakeholders, including residents and users of the allocations scheme, to develop a joint allocation policy;

(b) ensure that the policy complies with current legislative and regulatory expectations and considers the Code of Guidance issued by central government;

(c) ensure that housing is allocated to those most in need;

(d) help prevent homelessness and offer a realistic choice to those with a housing need; and

(e) contribute to creating balanced and sustainable communities.

Item 7 Social Housing Allocations Policy Review - Overview and Scrutiny Report

The report set out the key issues raised through a consultation, including:

• Recent Connection to County Durham
• Level of Housing Need (Band 4)
• Disqualification criteria
• Financial Tests
• Higher Priority for those in Homeless Prevention
• Medical Assessment and additional tier of medical need
• Priority of domestic abuse cases
• Better use of social housing stock

The presentation also included information on:

• What is the Durham Key Options (DKO) Scheme? Importance of RPs
• Why are we reviewing the Allocations Policy?
• Legal Context – Reasonable Preference and Additional Priority – Bands 1 and 2
• Consultation Statistics - Overview of Respondents
• Six Key Issues Consulted Upon in Jan/Feb 2025
• Next Steps – 2025 and 2026

Strategic Place Plans

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the roll out and delivery of the suite of Strategic Place Plans (SPPs).

The report pack included a report from Tony Hanson, Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy & Growth, and a presentation by the Economic Development Manager.

Strategic Place Plans (SPPs) have replaced Masterplans in line with the principles and priorities of the Inclusive Economic Strategy³ & its Delivery Plan.

The SPP process is underpinned by the co-development principle within the Economic Strategy which also aligns with the proposed Council Plan priority of Building Better Communities - ensuring residents can shape local priorities and see their concerns addressed.

The report set out the pilot approach to Strategic Place Plans and lessons learned to-date, highlighted the co-design progress undertaken in Shildon and Newton Aycliffe and community perceptions, and outlined the delivery stages of live Strategic Place Plans and timetable to undertake the remaining plans.

The presentation also included information on:

• Strategic Place Plans Background
• Strategic Place Plans
• Strategic Place Plans - Process
• Strategic Place Plans Key Aims: SPP's will help develop a 10 year vision for each town
• Methods of Engagement and Co-Design
• Factors for consideration in prioritisation of Towns
• Strategic Place Plans Timetable: SPP's will help develop a 10 year vision for each town and identify priority projects to help us secure funding to deliver
• Strategic Place Plan Pilots & Current Position
• Lessons learned from SPP Pilots
• Bishop Auckland, Shildon, Newton Aycliffe, Stanley, Crook and Chester le Street current position
• Newton Aycliffe Respondents
• Newton Aycliffe Draft Vision -shared with community for feedback
• Shildon Respondents
• Shildon Draft Vision - shared with community for feedback

Quarter One 2025/26 Performance Management Report

The committee was scheduled to receive the Quarter One 2025/26 Performance Management Report.

The report pack included a report from John Hewitt, Chief Executive.

The report provided an overview of progress towards achieving the council's strategic ambitions and objectives.

The report contained the most recent performance data available on 30 June 2025, alongside contextual information of activities and events taking place in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year (April to June).

The report noted that in the May council elections, Reform UK was elected as the new administration for the council and that the interim ambitions, objectives and political direction of the administration were set out in a paper to Cabinet on 21 July following the end of quarter one, 2025/26.

The report stated that the council was showing strong performance across its five key strategic ambitions:

• Supercharging Our Economy
• Building Better Communities
• A Practical Environmental Stewardship