Durham County Council is scheduled to meet to discuss a range of issues, including the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme, treasury management, and public health. Councillors will also consider motions on waste incineration, poverty among the terminally ill, and support for local farmers.

Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme

The council is scheduled to consider changes to the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) for working-age residents, with a report of Corporate Director of Resources, and Councillor Darren Grimes, Deputy Leader, and Councillor Nicola Lyons, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Stronger Communities and Belonging, to be presented on the topic.

The proposed changes to the LCTR scheme, as detailed in the LCTRS 2026-27 report, include:

• Introducing an income-banded scheme for working-age residents from 1 April 2026.
• Reducing the maximum support level from 100% to 90%, meaning that all working-age residents in County Durham who are liable for council tax will have a liability to pay.
• Ending council tax support for working-age residents in the form of Second Adult Rebate (2AR).
• Introducing one set deduction for non-dependant deductions set at £10.00 per week for each non-dependant.
• Reducing the maximum capital limit for working-age residents from £16,000 to £10,000.

A public consultation on the proposals ran from 18 July 2025 to 26 September 2025 and received 1,856 responses. According to the report, a majority of respondents agreed with the introduction of an income-banded model, while views on capping support were mixed.

The report notes that an equality impact assessment showed that changes would disproportionately affect women and disabled residents, as these groups represented a higher share of claimants.

Director of Public Health Annual Report

The council is scheduled to receive the Director of Public Health Annual Report 2025. The report, titled Healthier Futures: Our Ambitions and Actions, focuses on six key ambitions developed to demonstrate targeted action, with the aim of reducing unfair differences in health and wellbeing.

The six key ambitions for future health and wellbeing covered within the report over the next 10 years are:

• Reduce self-reported high anxiety to 10% or less.
• Reduce the number of people living with obesity to less than 1 out of 5.
• Reduce the number of people smoking to 5%.
• Reduce alcohol-specific deaths by 20%.
• Reduce under 18 conceptions by half.
• Increase levels of breastfeeding at 6 to 8 weeks to 2 out of 3 mothers.

The DPH Annual Report Council December 2025 report includes findings from a large-scale adult health and wellbeing survey commissioned to provide a comprehensive dataset on the physical, emotional, social, and economic wellbeing of adults across County Durham.

Mid-Year Review Report on Treasury Management

The council is scheduled to discuss the 2025-26 Mid-Year Treasury Management Report, which provides a summary of the council's treasury management position, borrowing activity, investment activity, and compliance with treasury management and prudential indicators as of 30 September 2025.

According to the report, as of 30 September 2025, the council held £460.735 million in borrowing and had £142.002 million in cash balances invested with counter-party financial institutions. The net debt position was therefore £318.733 million, which is lower than the position at 31 March 2025, when net debt was £360.626 million.

Report from the Cabinet

The council is scheduled to note a Cabinet Report to Council -- 10 December 2025, which provides information on issues considered by the Cabinet at its meetings held on 15 October and 19 November 2025.

Issues considered by the cabinet include:

• Durham County Council Plan 2025–2030
• Annual Report of the Director of Public Health
• Sufficiency Statement for Children in Care and Care Leavers 2025–2029
• Durham Family Strategy
• Mordon Parish Meeting: Application for Order Conferring Functions of a Parish Council
• County Durham Plan Review Paper
• High Street Rental Auctions
• Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026/27
• Council Tax Base 2026/27, Forecast Surplus / Deficit on the Council Tax Collection Fund and Grant Payments to Town and Parish Councils
• Medium Term Financial Plan (16), 2026/27 – 2029/30 Financial
• Apprenticeship Strategy 2025-2028
• Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 - Annual Review of the Council's Use of Powers

Appointment of Town and Parish Co-opted Members to the Standards Committee

The council is scheduled to agree the appointment of the Town and Parish Council co-opted representatives to the Standards Committee. The Appointment of Town and Parish Coopted Members to the Standards Cttee report recommends the appointment of Councillors Susan Walker and John Hirst as non-voting co-opted Parish Council representatives on the Standards Committee.

Councillor Susan Walker is a Parish Councillor sitting as the Chair on the City of Durham Parish Council. Councillor John Hirst is a Parish Councillor sitting on Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council.

Motions on Notice

Councillors are scheduled to discuss the following motions:

• Councillor Jonathan Elmer is scheduled to move a motion regarding waste incineration, calling on the Cabinet to withdraw from the TVERF project and immediately progress with a revision of the council's Municipal Waste Management Strategy. The TVERF, or Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility, is a planned waste incinerator on Teesside, being negotiated with six other councils.
• Councillor Chris Foote-Wood is scheduled to move a motion calling on Durham County Council to help make sure that nobody in County Durham dies in poverty, by helping those living with a terminal illness and experiencing poverty. The motion requests the Cabinet to review Council Tax Support schemes, consider including households which include someone living with a terminal illness as a priority group for discretionary support, and encourage all councillors to make a donation to Marie Curie or other charities which provide support to the terminally ill.
• Councillor Tim McGuinness is scheduled to move a motion recognising the contribution made by local farmers, growers, and the wider food and drink industry to the local economy, environment and rural communities. The motion commits the council to further enhancing its relationship with farmers and growers, supporting local suppliers, and encouraging residents to shop locally.

Petition

Councillors are scheduled to consider a Petition to reduce the speed limit on the A167 through Neville's Cross from 40mph to 30mph. The petition calls on Durham County Council to reduce the speed limit on the A167 through Neville's Cross from 40mph to 30mph, citing concerns about road safety, noise and air pollution, and community severance.

Other Items

The agenda also includes:

• Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2025.
• Declarations of interest from members.
• Chair's announcements.
• Leader's report.
• Questions from the public.
• Appointment of Chairs/Vice-Chairs of Committees/Sub-Committees.
• Questions from members.