Durham County Council met on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, for a meeting that included a report from the leader, questions from the public, and discussion of the Corporate Parenting Panel Annual Report. Councillors also voted against extending the time allocated to motions, and ultimately voted to rescind the Climate Emergency Declaration made in 2019, in favour of declaring a County Durham Care Emergency.

Declaration of a County Durham Care Emergency

Durham County Council voted to rescind the Climate Emergency Declaration made on 20 February 2019, and instead declared a County Durham Care Emergency. This decision was made following a motion from Councillor Darren Grimes, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Policy and Communications, seconded by Councillor Karen Allison.

Councillor Grimes argued that the 2019 climate emergency declaration was a Lib Dem feel good motion and that the council should instead focus on the real care emergency that is devouring our kids and coffers in tandem . He stated that while County Durham has cut emissions, international emissions remain a concern, and that residents are less well off for nothing .

Councillor Lindsay Fox, Cabinet Portfolio for Economy and Partnerships, supported the motion, stating that the council has been crippled by the significant and sharp increases in the cost of care for our most vulnerable children . She noted that over 60% of the council's net budget is spent on care, and that looked after children placement costs have increased by 285% over the last five years. She also stated that spending on special educational needs and disabilities has rocketed since 2018-19, and that the council needs to call on other councils to join them in calling for more funding from the government.

Councillor Andrew Husband, Leader of the County Council, also spoke in favour of the motion, stating that the council is now data driven and that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing again as per the previous administration and expecting different results . He also questioned whether councillors had invested in green technologies themselves.

Councillor Mark Wilkes moved an amendment to remove the first paragraph of the motion, which would have rescinded the Climate Emergency Declaration. He argued that the council's action on tackling climate change has helped save over £13 million in the last year alone, and that stopping work on tackling the climate emergency would risk the loss of external funding. He also read a statement from a young resident of Durham, named Poppy, who urged the council to uphold the climate emergency declaration. Councillor Jonathan Elmer seconded the amendment, stating that the motion conflates the climate emergency and the care emergency, and that both are clearly important but should be addressed separately.

Councillor Kenny Hope stated that the mining of materials for lithium batteries is rife with child slavery, and that he believed the councillors on the other side of the house must believe in adult and child slave labour because they have not taken that into consideration.

The amendment was defeated, and the original motion was carried.

Corporate Parenting Panel Annual Report 2024-2025

The council endorsed the Corporate Parenting Panel Annual Report 2024-2025. Councillor Saffron Sims-Brydon, Chair of the Corporate Parenting Panel, presented the report, highlighting the work undertaken to support young people and care leavers. She asked every councillor to use the report to recognise the hard work that's been happening every year, and to share it and advocate for the voices of our future.

The report included an introduction from the Chair and Vice Chair, an overview of corporate parenting, and information on the Children and Care Council. It also included a section on protected characteristics, as in January 2025, the council agreed to adopt care experiences of protected work to make sure that's integrated into decision-making.

Courtney Moore and Louis Archdeacon also spoke at the meeting, sharing their experiences as care leavers and members of the Corporate Parenting Panel.

Councillor Cathy Hunt, cabinet portfolio holder for the Children and Young Persons Services, thanked Louis and Courtney for their presentation, and asked everyone to continue to champion the children in our care and ask themselves three key questions:

One, if this was my child, would it be good enough for them? Two, if I were this child, would it be good enough for me? And three, what can we do better?

Treasury Management Final Outturn 2024-2025

The council noted the Treasury Management Final Outturn 2024-2025 report. Rob Davisworth, Head of Corporate Finance, presented the report, which provided an overview of the council's treasury management activity and arrangements for the financial year 2024-2025.

As of 31 March 2025, the council had a total debt outstanding position of £435 million and cash investments of £74 million, resulting in a net debt position of £361 million. New borrowing loans were taken out to the tune of £60 million, and the council refinanced about £58 million with Phoenix Bank, generating interest rate savings of £400,000 per annum.

Councillor Nick Brown, Chair of the Audit Committee, spoke regarding the report, noting that the Audit Committee scrutinised the report on 27 June, and that the council has fully complied with all the requirements of the Treasury management policy and strategy agreed in February 2024.

Annual Report of the Standards Committee 2024-2025

The council noted the Annual Report of the Standards Committee 2024-2025. Helen Bradley, Director of Legal and Democratic Services, presented the report, which provided an overview of the Standards Committee's activity for the period and demonstrated what the council has been doing to discharge its statutory duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct.

Councillor Kathryn Rooney spoke as the former chair of the Standards Committee for 2024-2025, noting that the most significant change since last year is the relation to the number of cases which were withdrawn or rejected. Councillor Kate Rowland, the current chair of the Standards Committee, also spoke, stating that the new administration reserves the right to review and potentially amend proposals in the week ahead.

Councillor John Shuttleworth raised a question about the number of complaints, and Councillor Bill Moist asked about the costs of dealing with Member Code of Conduct complaints.

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-2025

The council received the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-2025. Councillor Rob Crute, former chair of the corporate overview and scrutiny management board of 2024-2025, presented the report, which set out some of the work of the scrutiny committees and the scrutiny management board. He emphasised the importance of scrutiny and the impartial role that it plays in any well-run local authority.

Councillor John Cook, current chair of the corporate overview and scrutiny management board, also spoke, thanking the previous chair for his work and stating that the council sets its key performance objectives to align with the County Durham Plan.

Councillor Chris Lines expressed his disappointment that the approach of having the chair of scrutiny from the main opposition party has not been sustained under the new administration.

Other Business

• The council noted the Statement of the Returning Officer for the Benfieldside by-election.
• Councillor Michael Stead's motion regarding the Environment Agency's permit application for a hazardous waste incinerator and waste transfer stations at Heighington Lane in Aycliffe Business Park[^1] was not discussed due to time constraints. [^1]: Aycliffe Business Park is a business park in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
• Councillor Alex Neil asked Councillor Cathy Hunt if all children, including unaccompanied asylum seeking children, will be treated equitably. Councillor Hunt responded that the administration is committed to improving the lives of all children and young people in the county.