The County Council of County Durham held its Annual Meeting on Wednesday 20 May 2026, electing a Chair and Vice-Chair and reviewing its Constitution. Key decisions included the approval of significant changes to the Council's Constitution, the appointment of council bodies and allocation of seats to political groups, and the establishment of two political assistant roles.

Annual Review of the Constitution

The Council undertook its annual review of the Constitution, proposing several amendments to ensure compliance with legislation and reflect current governance arrangements. These changes included clarifying that only the Director of Legal and Democratic Services is authorised to institute legal proceedings, and introducing a financial threshold of £2 million for defining a key decision. The terms of reference for various committees, including the Standards Committee, Highways Committee, and Chief Officer Appointments Committee, were revised. Financial Procedure Rules were updated to include thresholds for revenue and capital budget transfers, and Contract Procedure Rules were amended for clarity. A new Code of Practice for Members and Officers dealing with Licensing Matters was also proposed. The Council agreed to these proposed changes, which took immediate effect.

Appointment of Council Bodies and Allocation of Seats to Political Groups

The Council appointed its committees and determined the allocation of seats to political groups in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. This process ensures political proportionality across all committees. The report detailed the number of seats allocated to each political group, including those members not aligned to any group, and sought approval for these allocations. The Council agreed to the recommendations for appointing committees and allocating seats.

Appointment of Political Assistants

The Council considered the establishment of two Political Assistant posts, in accordance with Section 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. These roles are designed to provide research and administrative support to political groups. The report outlined the legal requirements, financial implications, and necessary amendments to the Council's Constitution. The Council approved the principle of establishing these posts, the constitutional amendments, and the creation of two full-time positions for the eligible political groups.

Questions from Members

Councillor Richard Bell asked about the potential impact of government proposals for regional police forces on County Durham, specifically regarding police resources and accountability. Councillor Genna, replying on behalf of the Cabinet, shared these concerns, emphasizing the importance of local policing and accountability. The Council's preference is for a return to something akin to the former police authority model. The Leader of the Council had written to the Home Secretary to express these expectations.

Councillor Nicola Lyons raised concerns about the revised governance arrangements for local networks, specifically the reduction in the mandatory requirement to include community members on stakeholder panels and the concentration of decision-making power in the hands of elected member boards. Councillor Greer, responding, stated that refreshed engagement programmes would be established through ward-level community forums, which would be open to all residents and would serve as a consultative forum for developing local network action plans. These plans would guide locality work and form the basis for coordinating council and partnership activity, aiming for broader representation and fairer distribution of funds.

Dates of Ordinary Council Meetings

The Council confirmed the dates for ordinary Council meetings for the 2026-2027 municipal year.

Other Matters

The meeting also included the election of a Chair and Vice-Chair for the ensuing year, a presentation to the retiring Chair, and the confirmation of previous minutes. The Leader of the Council made announcements regarding Deputy Leader and Cabinet Members.