NEWS
New leadership team in place at North East’s largest council
DURHAM County Council is preparing for new leadership, with Reform Group leader, Cllr Andrew
Husband, expected to be agreed as the new Leader of the local authority at its annual meeting on
Wednesday (21 May).
In preparation for leading the council into a new era, the new political leadership – consisting of
Reform Group Leader, Cllr Husband, and Deputy Group Leader, Cllr Darren Grimes – has met with
the council’s chief executive, John Hewitt, to discuss members and officers working positively
together to achieve the priorities and aims of the new administration.
Cllr Husband said: “We have held very positive discussions with John Hewitt, the chief executive
of the council, about our ambitions to ensure we provide the best possible services and deliver value
for money. These are ambitions shared by the senior team at the council and we are keen to work
together for the benefit of the residents and businesses of this fantastic county.
“We do want to take some time to review the existing contractual commitments of the council
and to set out our own priorities. We will work closely with John and the senior team to gain a full
understanding of the current position and to set out our plans for the future.
“I would like to reassure everyone that we will be working with the staff in the council as we go
forward. I know that local authorities have been under intense pressure for many years and that
change has been a constant. I would like to think we can give some clear messages to government
about the pressures that impact on local authorities like ours – which are having a direct impact on
local people’s lives here in County Durham.
John Hewitt said: “Myself and the senior team look forward to working in partnership with the
new political leadership of the council. I know from speaking to Cllr Husband that there is a great
appetite to ensure the services we provide are the best they can be and a strong desire to work in
partnership with our staff to deliver priorities for local people.
“We have also discussed the challenging financial position facing the council and the wider reform of
the local government funding system that is necessary to ensure County Durham receives its fair
share of government funding.”
