The Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Durham County Council met on Friday 2 October 2026 to review performance, discuss fuel poverty, and consider the committee's work programme. The meeting also included an update on the financial outturn for the previous financial year and the first quarter of the current year.

Fuel Poverty Update

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to an update on fuel poverty in County Durham. The report highlighted that the most effective long-term solutions to tackle fuel poverty involve energy efficiency measures such as home insulation, efficient heating systems, accessing competitive energy tariffs, and providing advice on energy saving. The Warm Homes Team within the Housing, Communities and Leisure service coordinates various schemes, including the Warm Homes Local Grant (WHLG) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, and offers advice on reducing energy bills. The council's Poverty Strategy and Action Plan (2022) and Housing Strategy (2025) align with the work being undertaken. Latest government figures indicated a reduction in households experiencing fuel poverty in County Durham, from 15.5% in 2019 to 10.0% in 2024, although this figure remains above the North East Combined Mayoral Authority area average of 9.3%. The report also detailed the causes of fuel poverty, including low household income, poor energy efficiency, and high energy costs, and outlined the significant health impacts, both physical and mental, associated with living in cold, damp homes. Various current schemes and support mechanisms were presented, including the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), Warm Homes Discount, Winter Fuel Payments, and the Warm Homes Local Grant. Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for the private rented sector were also discussed, with proposals to achieve a minimum energy efficiency rating of Band C by 2030. Support services such as Groundworks North East, Citizens Advice, and the Heating Oil Crisis Payment were also mentioned, alongside the promotion of community energy schemes and the role of libraries as warm spaces. The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority's initiatives, such as Switch Together NE Solar, were also noted. The committee was recommended to receive and comment on the report and presentation, and to include a further update on fuel poverty in the 2027/2028 work programme.

Quarter 4 Final Revenue and Capital Outturn 2025/26

The committee received a joint report from the Corporate Director of Resources and the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Environment detailing the final outturn against the budget for the 2025/26 financial year. For the Neighbourhoods service, there was an underspend of £4.220 million against a revised budget of £112.477 million. The Culture, Sport & Tourism service reported an underspend of £0.397 million against a revised budget of £17.966 million. The report provided an analysis of the reasons for variances, including underspends in Environmental Services, largely due to the use of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Grant to offset core spending and funds set aside for future recycling initiatives. Highways reported an overspend, primarily due to increased highway maintenance work. Community Protection showed an underspend attributed to staff vacancies. The capital programme for Neighbourhoods and Environment had a revised budget of £74.677 million with expenditure of £64.754 million, resulting in an underspend of £9.913 million. The Culture, Sport & Tourism capital programme had a revised budget of £23.458 million with expenditure of £20.306 million, an underspend of £3.151 million. The report detailed specific variances within each service area, including reprofiling of budgets for various capital schemes due to timing and approval delays.

Quarter One 2026/27 Performance Management

An update was provided on the council's progress towards achieving the strategic ambitions and objectives set out in the Council Plan 2025-30. The report presented Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) using dashboards to show trends, comparisons with other councils, and performance against targets. For the Building Better Communities ambition, reports of fly-tipping remained low, environmental cleanliness was high, and the target for repairing highway defects was met. Significant progress was noted in broadband connectivity, with over 91% of properties able to access gigabit-capable broadband. Under A Practical Environmental Stewardship, almost 97% of municipal waste was diverted from landfill, exceeding the target. However, the recycling, re-use, or composting rate and the contamination rate had slightly deteriorated, with expectations of improvement following government reforms. The report also highlighted areas requiring attention, such as bus punctuality, which remained below the regional target, and leisure centre visits, which were slightly below target due to lower gym attendance and reduced demand for 3G pitches at Consett. The committee was recommended to note the overall position and direction of travel during the first quarter, including actions being taken to address challenges.

Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2026/27

The committee reviewed its draft Work Programme for 2026/27. The programme is informed by key strategic documents, including the County Durham Vision 2035 and the Council Plan 2025-2030. The report emphasised the need for flexibility to respond to emerging issues. A proposal was made to hold a special joint meeting with the Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider potential sites for the new County Durham Plan. Discussions also touched upon the Play Strategy and the need for a dedicated meeting to scrutinise it in detail. The committee was invited to review and agree the Work Programme, considering any amendments required to accommodate new priorities.