The Cabinet of Durham County Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 17 December 2025 to discuss the proposed Poverty Strategy for 2026-2030, the Quarter Two Performance Management Report for 2025/26, and the Quarter Two Forecast Outturn for the Revenue Budget, Capital Budgets, Collection Fund and Treasury Management. Also on the agenda is a review of options for the former council offices and Customer Access Point (CAP) building on Stanley Front Street.

Poverty Strategy 2026/2030

The Cabinet is expected to consider a report regarding the County Durham Poverty Strategy. The report pack states that the purpose of the report is to provide an update on review and evaluation activity, seek approval for a public consultation, and present proposed consultation and communication plans.

The report pack notes that financial insecurity remains a pressing challenge, intensified by the coronavirus pandemic and sustained inflationary pressures. The refreshed strategy is scheduled to align with the strategic direction of the North East Combined Authority¹ and the County Durham Health and Wellbeing Board Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2028. The report pack says that the refreshed strategic approach focuses on creating clear pathways out of poverty by supporting residents back into the workforce and building skills for long-term financial resilience, while also providing short-term crisis support. The refreshed strategy is scheduled to be structured around five proposed strategic pillars: Prevention, Protection, Pathways, Participation, and Partnerships.

The report pack indicates that following the public consultation and further review activity, a new strategy and action plan will be developed and presented to full Council in Quarter 2 2026.

Quarter Two, 2025/26 Performance Management Report

The Cabinet is expected to consider the Quarter Two, 2025/26 Performance Management Report. The report pack states that the purpose of the report is to inform members, senior managers, employees, and the public of the council's progress towards achieving the strategic ambitions and objectives set out in the Council Plan 2025-30.

The report pack indicates that the report is structured around 'easy to read' dashboards, focusing on trends, direction of travel, benchmarking, and performance to target. It frames performance within the wider national context to reflect the influence of political, global, and economic factors.

The report pack highlights strong performance across the council's five key strategic ambitions: Reforming the Council, Supercharging Our Economy, Building Better Communities, Caring for Our People, and A Practical Environmental Stewardship. Areas of challenge include an increase in sick days, planning applications completed within deadline, average vacancy rates in town centres, and an increase in the number of children in care.

2025-26 Quarter Two Forecast Outturn for the Revenue Budget, Capital Budgets, Collection Fund and Treasury Management

The Cabinet is expected to consider the 2025-26 Quarter Two Forecast Outturn for the Revenue Budget, Capital Budgets, Collection Fund and Treasury Management. The report pack states that the purpose of the report is to provide Cabinet with an updated forecast revenue outturn position for the General Fund, Dedicated Schools Grants, capital outturn position, Council Tax and Business Rates collection fund, and an overview of the achievement of the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) (15) savings plan targets in 2025/26.

The report pack indicates that the General Fund Revenue Budget is forecast to underspend by £4.758 million. The quarter one forecast outturn position highlighted a forecast £8.065 million underspend, therefore, the forecast revenue outturn position has deteriorated by £3.307 million between quarter one and quarter two, with the change being predominantly related to a significant increase in the forecast costs for Children Looked After.

The report pack notes that the Council's General Reserve is forecast to be £35.914 million at 31 March 2025, which equates to 5.76% of the Council's 2025/26 Net Revenue Budget Requirement, and is in line with the Reserves Policy agreed by County Council.

The report pack states that the quarter two updated forecast position for all current maintained schools shows a net planned in-year drawdown from schools' reserves of £7.749 million in 2025/26. The quarter two forecast outturn position for the Dedicated Schools Grant Centrally Retained Block shows a net £16.729 million overspend in relation to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)- High Needs Block.

The report pack indicates that the forecast capital outturn position for 2025/26 shows expected capital expenditure totalling £274.446 million this year. The total funded capital programme commitments are currently £615.999 million across the next three years.

The report pack notes that the quarter two forecast outturn for the Council Tax element of the Collection Fund shows an in-year surplus of £1.048 million, and a cumulative surplus of £0.391 million to 31 March 2026. The quarter two forecast outturn for the Business Rates element of the Collection Fund is an in-year surplus of £5.444 million and an undeclared surplus of £0.094 million.

The report pack states that £17,360 million of the £18.036 million savings factored into the 2025/26 budget, representing 96.2% of the total in-year savings requirements for 2025/26, had been delivered by 30 September 2025 or were expected to be delivered by the year end.

Former Council Offices / Customer Access Point (CAP) building, Stanley Front Street - Review of Options

The Cabinet is expected to consider a report regarding the former council offices and Customer Access Point (CAP) building on Stanley Front Street and a review of options for the site.