Council sets out proposed priorities for new council plan
ENSURING resources are spent wisely and well is at the heart of a new set of priorities
set out by Durham County Council following a change in leadership.
An initial framework setting out the focus for the authority’s work over the next four years will be discussed by Cabinet members later this month. As well as agreeing to the proposals in principle, members will also be asked to give the go-ahead for the public to have their say, before the priorities are finalised in a new council plan for 2025 to 2030.
Cllr Andrew Husband, leader of Durham County Council, said: “Our aim is to prioritise the immediate, tangible needs of County Durham’s residents, and deliver efficient, effective services that residents can see, value and afford.
“The framework we have set out for the next four years aims to do just that, giving a clear directive of meeting the needs of our communities, while also providing services in the most cost-effective way possible.”
It is proposed that the new council plan will be structured around five core ambitions:
- Reforming the council for efficiency – ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and well by:
- Streamlining processes and ensuring decision-making is accessible to residents
- Delivering value for money while protecting frontline services
- Ensuring a workforce that is fit for the future.
- Supercharging our economy – making County Durham the best place in the north east to do business by:
- Supporting local businesses to start, grow and succeed
- Attracting investment and developing the county’s economic strengths
- Giving residents the skills and opportunities for good careers
- Building better communities – that are connected, safe, clean and thriving by:
- Creating communities that are digitally connected, and are safe, clean and attractive places to live
- Ensuring residents shape local priorities and see their concerns addressed
- Supporting those who need help while encouraging self-reliance
- Ensuring there are good quality homes that working families can afford
- Keeping towns and villages vibrant and well maintained
- Caring for our people – supporting those who need it by:
- Supporting families to thrive and stay together, ensuring children are protected and have safe, loving homes.
- Providing excellent care for vulnerable children and adults
- Helping residents live healthy, independent lives
- Ensuring effective, high-quality, sustainable care services focussed on prevention
- A practical environmental stewardship – practical, not ideological:
- Efficient waste management and recycling
- Keeping our air clean
- Maintaining the beautiful natural and built heritage environment
- Focusing on practical environmental improvements and efficiency savings built on evidence-based business cases
With the future financial landscape for all local councils looking extremely challenging, the proposed new priorities will need to align to the authority’s ongoing financial planning, as well as its work to transform services in the light of these ongoing budget pressures. Cabinet members will, therefore, also be asked to approve a separate report setting out an approach to this work.
The paper outlines how, with rising demand in social care in particular placing a huge and unsustainable strain on the council’s budget, the authority will need to make £31 million in savings next year, with a further £102 million in savings required over the next four years without any increase in council tax.
As a result, the council will continue to ensure that all opportunities are considered to identify areas for efficiency and savings through its in-year financial management and medium-term financial planning processes. It is also proposed that the authority’s transformation programme will be expanded to incorporate further specific areas for review.
Cllr Darren Grimes, deputy leader of the council and Cabinet member for finance, policy and communications, said: “It’s important that we provide financial stability for the council.
“One of our key priorities is ensuring the organisation is efficient and effective, while providing the best possible value for money for residents, and this will drive forward our financial planning as well as shaping the way in which we provide services over the next four years.”
The report also considers how the council might engage with the Reform Party’s national DOGE team in order to supplement work to ensure value for money.
Cabinet will meet on Monday, 21 July at County Hall in Durham.
