The Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Durham County Council met on Monday 24 November 2025 to discuss waste management services, the Ecological Emergency Action Plan, and council land management. Key decisions included noting the progress on the Ecological Emergency Action Plan and the management of council land, and agreeing to write to the Cabinet requesting reconsideration of the deletion of a Ranger post.

Strategic Overview of Waste Management Services in County Durham

The committee received an update on the council's waste management services, with a particular focus on the introduction of countywide food waste collections from spring 2026. The report detailed the background to the service, ongoing projects such as WEEE and vape recycling, and upcoming reforms including Simpler Recycling, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS). The Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility (TV ERF) project was also discussed, with independent reviews concluding that it remains the most advantageous option for Durham County Council, aligning with environmental ambitions and providing a cost-effective solution for residual waste disposal. The committee noted the information provided and commented accordingly.

Ecological Emergency Action Plan Update

An update was provided on the Ecological Emergency, declared by Cabinet in April 2022. The report highlighted that the emergency was not allocated specific resources but has two key outputs: a thematic group for the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) and the Ecological Emergency Action Plan (EEAP). The EEAP, a cross-departmental document, supports the council's statutory obligation to report on biodiversity. The committee noted the progress made, particularly in developing the LNRS and the Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document, and acknowledged the ongoing work in land management, education, and policy development. The committee resolved to note the contents of the report and its appendices.

Council Land Management – Corporate Property and Land

The committee received an update on the management of council land from the Corporate Property and Land (CPaL) service. The presentation detailed the council's land holdings, the implementation of a corporate landlord model, and the ongoing work of the Strategic Property Management Team. Challenges related to attracting and retaining qualified staff were discussed, with strategies such as creating Technician roles being adopted. The committee noted the information presented, including the size and nature of land holdings, the roles and responsibilities of CPaL, ongoing data cleansing efforts, and current recruitment and retention challenges.

Management of Durham County Council Woodland, Parks and Amenity Land

An update was provided on the management of the council's portfolio of woodland, countryside estate, parks, and open spaces. The report outlined management approaches, legislative requirements, funding, and future plans. The committee heard about the interlinked work of the Clean and Green, Woodlands and Forestry, and Parks and Countryside teams. Challenges such as limited resources and the potential loss of a Ranger post were highlighted. The committee noted the detail of the council's land holdings, recognised the effective management of this portfolio, and acknowledged the impact of potential financial plan savings. Crucially, the committee agreed to write to the relevant Cabinet Portfolio Holder to request reconsideration of the proposal to delete a Ranger post as part of the MTFP 16 savings.