This week in County Durham:

• The Appeals and Complaints Sub-Committee met to discuss an appeal from Children and Young People's Services.
• The Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee considered a premises licence for St Mary's College¹, and reviewed minutes from November 2024.
• The Chief Officer Appointments Committee conducted interviews for the Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth.
• The Area Planning Committee (Central and East) discussed applications for housing, a fire station extension, and change of use requests.
• The Cabinet approved a Community Asset Transfer Policy and the Corporate Asset Management Plan 2025-2030.
• The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Pension Board Committee discussed pensions, risk, ill health retirements and internal disputes.
• The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Audit and Finance Committee approved the Statement of Accounts and reviewed the Corporate Risk Register.
• The Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee reviewed the premises licence for The White Horse pub in Ferryhill².

Appeals and Complaints Sub-Committee - Monday 07 April 2025

The Appeals and Complaints Sub-Committee met to consider an appeal from Children and Young People's Services. The meeting was scheduled to discuss the procedure for the appeal hearing, the appellant's statement, and the hearing officer's statement. No video was provided.

Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee - Tuesday 08 April 2025

The Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee convened to consider a premises licence application for St Mary's College and review the minutes of a previous meeting.

Premises Licence Application - St Mary's College, Elvet Hill Road, Durham DH1 3LR

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for St Mary's College, submitted by Mr Ricky Cohen on behalf of Durham University. The application requests permission for plays, films, live music, recorded music, performances of dance, and the supply of alcohol.

Two representations opposing the application were received from local residents, Ms Ward and Ms A Waters, citing concerns related to the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance, as outlined in the Licensing Act 2003. The Licensing Act 2003 is the act of parliament that governs the sale and supply of alcohol in England and Wales.

Mr Cohen stated that the application seeks to extend the scope of licensable activities to allow for occasional commercial events predominantly outside of term time. He also outlined measures in place to prevent public nuisance, including a detailed noise management plan and CCTV monitoring.

The sub-committee was reminded of their options, including granting the licence with or without modifications, excluding licensable activities, refusing to specify a Designated Premises Supervisor, or rejecting the application.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 26 November 2024

The sub-committee was scheduled to review the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2024, which related to an application for a Premises Licence for Memory Lane, 51 Church Street, Seaham, SR7 7HF. The applicant, Mrs T Price, requested permission to sell alcohol and operate until 11pm, with additional seasonal hours until 1am for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

The minutes note that Memory Lane had previously held a premises licence that was revoked following a summary review submitted by Durham Constabulary. The previous Licence Holder and Designated Premises Supervisor, Mrs E Bird, was appealing that decision at the Magistrates Court.

The Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer raised concerns about Mrs T Price's experience and the potential for Ms P Rutherford and Ms E Porritt to be working at the premises the majority of the time, despite not being the licence holder or Designated Premises Supervisor.

The Sub-Committee resolved to refuse the application for a Premises Licence.

Chief Officer Appointments Committee - Tuesday 08 April 2025

The Chief Officer Appointments Committee met to discuss the appointment of a Corporate Director of Regeneration, Economy and Growth. Formal interviews were conducted during the meeting. No video was provided.

Area Planning Committee (Central and East) - Tuesday 08 April 2025

The Area Planning Committee (Central and East) was scheduled to discuss several planning applications. No video was provided.

Land to the South of 28 Station Road, West Rainton

An application for the erection of 20 affordable dwellings on land south of 28 Station Road, West Rainton was to be considered. The proposed development would consist of 12 two-bedroom bungalows, 4 two-bedroom houses, and 4 three-bedroom houses, all designated as affordable dwellings.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, Durham Community Fire Station

The committee was scheduled to discuss a full planning application for a 2.5 storey building for offices and associated uses for the operation of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue and the North East Ambulance Service at the Durham Community Fire Station. The proposal included a new access road, external lighting, parking area, landscaping, PV panels and a wind turbine.

Land to the South of Co-operative Funeral Service, Front Street, Sherburn Hill

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for the erection of one dormer bungalow on land to the south of the Co-operative Funeral Service on Front Street, Sherburn Hill.

Silver Howe, Heathways, High Shincliffe

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for a variation of condition 2 of planning application DM/22/01509/FPA at Silver Howe, Heathways, High Shincliffe.

8 Cooper Square, Gilesgate, Durham

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for a change of use from Dwelling (C3)³ to HMO (C4)⁴ at 38 Cooper Square, Gilesgate, Durham, including a driveway extension, single-storey rear extension, bin store and cycle rack.

8 Goodyear Crescent, Sherburn Road Estate, Durham

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for a change of use from dwellinghouse (Use Class C3) to a small house in multiple occupation HMO (Use Class C4) at 38 Goodyear Crescent, Sherburn Road Estate, Durham, including extension of driveway, cycle parking and bin storage.

Land to the East of 36 Hallgarth Street, Durham

The committee was scheduled to discuss a retrospective application for change of use from open space to parking area at land to the east of 36 Hallgarth Street, Durham.

Cabinet - Wednesday 09 April 2025

The Cabinet approved a new Community Asset Transfer Policy, and the Corporate Asset Management Plan 2025-2030. The Cabinet also reviewed the Quarter Three Performance Management Report and the Poverty Issues Annual Report.

The Community Asset Transfer Policy codifies current operating practices and processes for community asset transfers, building on the community building strategy adopted in 2012. The policy outlines a four-stage process: expression of interest, outline business case, full business case, and legal transfer.

The Corporate Asset Management Plan (CAMP) covers the council's property portfolio and estate. The updated CAMP sets out improvements in property management and affirms the commitment to ensuring the estate delivers for the council as a whole.

Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Pension Board Committee - Wednesday 09 April 2025

The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Pension Board Committee met to discuss a number of items relating to the Fire Authority's pension scheme, including a pensions update, risk register, and correspondence log. The meeting also included a discussion of ill health retirements, injury awards and internal disputes. No video was provided.

Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Audit and Finance Committee - Thursday 10 April 2025

The Combined Fire Authority for County Durham and Darlington Audit and Finance Committee met and approved the Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024. They also discussed the Audit Progress Report, the Internal Audit Progress Report, the Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26, and the Corporate Risk Register.

The committee reviewed the Corporate Risk Register, which identifies high-level risks facing the Fire and Rescue Service. Six risks are currently listed on the register, including the risk of a heightened terrorist threat, industrial action, and insufficient government funding.

The Audit and Finance Committee were asked to agree the Internal Audit Plan for 2025/26, which was based on the Service Level Agreement between Durham County Council and the Fire Authority, and will deliver 86 productive audit days.

Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee - Thursday 10 April 2025

The Statutory Licensing Sub-Committee met to consider an application by Durham Constabulary to review the premises licence for The White Horse pub in Ferryhill.

The application for review was made under Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003, which allows the police to apply for an urgent review of a premises licence where they consider the premises to be associated with serious crime and/or serious disorder.

On 20 March 2025, the Licensing Statutory Sub-Committee decided to remove the designated premises supervisor, Mr Bradd Parfitt, and suspend the premises licence with immediate effect, pending the full review.

The application for review relates to the following licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the protection of children from harm.

The application for a summary licence review from Sergeant Caroline Dickenson of Durham Constabulary stated that police were called to The Greyhound pub in Ferryhill on 16 March 2025 after reports of a male being stabbed. CCTV footage showed a group of males leaving The White Horse pub in Ferryhill prior to the incident. Police officers who attended The White Horse on 17 March 2025 saw that the group of underage males were within the venue from 17:00hrs until closing time, buying and consuming numerous drinks from the bar without being challenged by staff.

The Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership supported the review application, raising concerns regarding the ability to promote the licensing objectives, in particular the protection of children from harm, the prevention of crime and disorder, and the protection of public safety.

Corporate Parenting Panel - Friday 11 April 2025

The Corporate Parenting Panel met to discuss the number of children in care, Ofsted updates, and the annual update on children with disabilities.

The panel was scheduled to receive a report and presentation from Rachel Farnham, Head of Children’s Social Care, on the annual update for children with disabilities. As of 13 January 2025, the team was working with 306 children, 28 of whom were in care.

The report noted that a forum had been established to ensure that the Navigation Team is made aware of children and young people aged 14 and over at an earlier stage.

The report highlighted several key areas of focus for the CwD team, including preparation for adulthood, social care advice, communication, short breaks, and specialist homes.