The Cabinet of Durham County Council met on Wednesday 6 May 2026 to discuss key decisions regarding children's services, fostering, and private rented accommodation. The meeting saw the approval of a £3.9 million investment to acquire properties for young people in care and the establishment of a new supported accommodation service. Additionally, the council agreed to participate in the expansion of a regional fostering hub and a bid to become a national pathfinder for a regional care cooperative. A proposal to consult on the renewal of the selective licensing scheme for private rented properties was also approved.

Acquisition of Properties for Children and Young People's Services and Creation of a Regulated Supporting Accommodation Service

The Cabinet approved a £3.938 million self-financing capital loan to acquire 25 housing units across County Durham. These properties will be used for temporary places of safety and to establish an in-house regulated supported accommodation service for 16 and 17-year-olds with intensive support needs. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on high-cost private rentals, improve placement stability for young people, and provide better value for money. The new in-house model is projected to cost significantly less per placement than current unregistered provision. Councillor Cathy Hunt, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People's Services, moved the report, highlighting the proposal's alignment with statutory duties and its potential to shift from short-term crisis response to planned provision. Councillor Joe Quinn, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning, Investments and Assets, seconded the report, emphasizing its strategic and proactive approach to addressing pressures within the system and its alignment with council ambitions to improve life chances for vulnerable young residents.

Foster with North East Expansion and Development of a Regional Care Cooperative

The Cabinet approved Durham's participation in the expansion of the North East Regional Fostering Hub and supported a regional bid to become a Wave 2 Regional Care Cooperative national pathfinder. This move is driven by the need to secure more local, high-quality foster care and address national shortages. The expansion of the fostering hub will move to an end-to-end approach, encompassing all aspects of the fostering process. The regional care cooperative bid, if successful, will bring an additional £1.5 million in funding to the North East. Councillor Cathy Hunt moved the report, stressing the benefits of a regional approach in increasing access to stable, high-quality local foster homes and reducing reliance on costly external placements. Councillor Karen Allison, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Tourism, High Street and Regeneration, seconded the report, noting its collaborative and well-evidenced approach to addressing placement sufficiency, a critical challenge for councils.

Selective Licensing Scheme

The Cabinet approved the proposal to consult on the renewal of the selective licensing scheme for privately rented properties in County Durham. The current scheme, which began in April 2022, requires landlords in designated areas to obtain a licence for their properties. The proposed renewal would cover approximately 20,000 properties across 27% of County Durham. The scheme aims to improve housing conditions, address low demand, antisocial behaviour, and deprivation in targeted areas. Councillor Joe Quinn moved the report, stating that the scheme contributes to the wider strategy of improving housing conditions and access to quality housing, and has strong links to regulating Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and the county-wide Article 4 Direction. Councillor Howard Brown, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Adult and Health Services, seconded the report, confirming that the corporate director and Councillor Quinn had covered all necessary points. A statutory 10-week consultation will now take place, with a further report to be presented in October 2026 to consider feedback and finalise proposals.