The Cabinet of County Durham Council met on Wednesday 10 June 2026, approving the publication of the County Durham Plan scoping report for public consultation and endorsing the application to introduce a Lane Rental Scheme across the county. The Cabinet also noted the Health Protection Assurance Annual Report for June 2026, which detailed health protection arrangements and activities over the past year.

County Durham Plan Scoping Report

The Cabinet approved the publication of the scoping report for public consultation, which marks the first formal stage in preparing a new County Durham Plan (CDP). This consultation, running from 22 June to 17 August 2026, aims to gather views from residents, businesses, and stakeholders to shape the emerging direction of the plan. The new CDP will be prepared under the revised plan-making system introduced by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, focusing on locally specific issues rather than repeating national policy. Key themes to be addressed include housing, economic development, infrastructure, environmental protection, and place-based priorities. The Cabinet also delegated authority to relevant officers to agree and implement any amendments arising from the consultation.

Highway Network Management Section Road and Street Works – Lane Rental Update

The Cabinet endorsed the application to the Secretary of State to introduce a Lane Rental Scheme across County Durham. This scheme, underpinned by the Transport Act 2000, aims to reduce congestion and disruption caused by roadworks by charging statutory undertakers for occupying traffic-sensitive areas of the road network during peak times. The scheme will complement the existing Street Works Permit Scheme and is expected to generate significant income, estimated at circa £2.3 million annually, which will be reinvested into highway network improvements. Cabinet also delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Rural, Farming and Transport, to implement the scheme should the Secretary of State approve Durham County Council's submission during Summer 2026.

Quarter Four, 2025/26 Performance Management Report

The Cabinet noted the Quarter Four Performance Management Report, which provided an update on progress towards the strategic ambitions and objectives set out in the Council Plan for 2025-2030. The report highlighted areas of success, such as strong business support, job creation, improved planning application timeliness, and high levels of gigabit-capable broadband availability. It also identified areas for improvement, including managing sickness absence, addressing demand pressures in children's social care, and processing times for housing benefit and council tax reduction claims.

Health Protection Assurance Annual Report June 2026

The Cabinet endorsed the Health Protection Assurance Annual Report for June 2026. The report detailed the robust health protection assurance arrangements and activities undertaken in County Durham over the past year. Key achievements included work to improve vaccination uptake, development of behavioural insights to increase screening programme uptake, and participation in national pandemic preparedness exercises. The report also identified areas for improvement in screening and infection prevention control, emergency planning, communicable disease management, and air quality. The Cabinet acknowledged the strong collaborative working arrangements in place to fulfil the Council's statutory public health duties relating to health protection.

The meeting also included a public question regarding the Horton Master Plan, to which Councillor Joe Quinn, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning, Investments and Assets, responded. Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Tim McGuinness and Councillor Kyle Genner. The minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting held on 6 May 2026 were confirmed as a correct record. There were no declarations of interest made.