The Economy and Enterprise Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting scheduled for Friday 24 April 2026 was set to cover a range of significant topics, including updates on the Council House Delivery Programme, funding streams such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and performance management reports. The committee was also scheduled to review financial outturns and consider minutes from previous meetings.

Council House Delivery Programme Update

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Council House Delivery Programme (CHDP), which aims to deliver 500 homes by 2029. The programme, which began in October 2020, has entered its construction phase with three schemes on site: Portland Avenue in Seaham, Greenwood Avenue in Burnhope, and Merrington View in Spennymoor. The report detailed the programme's objectives, including increasing the supply of affordable housing, addressing local housing needs, and providing suitable properties for older residents. It also outlined the financial approach, which relies on self-financed borrowing and external grant funding, and confirmed that the programme does not require additional capital investment from the council's general fund beyond land. The report also presented a wider delivery pipeline of identified sites and detailed the ongoing acquisitions programme, which supplements new builds by acquiring properties for temporary accommodation.

Funding Update including UK Shared Prosperity Fund

A report was scheduled to provide an update on local growth funding, with a particular focus on the delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). County Durham has been allocated over £47.5 million from the UKSPF and the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) for the period 2022/23 to 2025/26. The report was expected to detail the transition to new regional investment approaches, including funding through the Pride in Place Programme (PiPP), Local Growth Fund (LGF), and increased funding to combined authorities. The Funding and Programmes Team's role in securing external funding and acting as the accountable body for UKSPF was to be highlighted. The report was also to provide an update on the management of the UKSPF for the 2025/26 transition year and outline implications beyond March 2026, including secured funding for enterprise and business support activities in rural areas.

Quarter Three 2025/26 Performance Management Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on progress towards achieving the strategic ambitions and objectives set out in the Council Plan 2025-30. The report, based on data available as of 31 December 2025, was to cover activity and events from the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year (October to December). It was to be presented through easy to read dashboards focusing on trends, direction of travel, benchmarking, and performance against targets, framed within the wider national context. Key performance messages were to be aligned with the council's five strategic ambitions, highlighting areas that are going well and issues we are addressing. Specific areas of focus were expected to include business support and job creation, planning applications, investments, cultural events, and employability support programmes.

Quarter Three Forecast of Revenue and Capital Outturn 2025/26

A report was scheduled to provide details of the forecast outturn position for revenue and capital for the Regeneration, Economy and Growth (REG) service area as at 31 December 2025. This report complements those considered by Cabinet on a quarterly basis and was expected to analyse budgets and forecast outturns for service areas within the committee's remit. The report was to detail a forecast underspend of £0.819 million against a revised revenue budget of £43.918 million, and a revised service capital budget of £75.568 million with expenditure of £46.976 million as at 31 December 2025. Explanations for under and overspending against relevant budget heads were to be disclosed.

Minutes from the County Durham Economic Partnership Board

The committee was scheduled to review minutes from meetings of the County Durham Economic Partnership Board held on 19 November 2025 and 10 February 2026. These minutes would provide insight into discussions and decisions made by the partnership regarding economic development strategies, business support, and regional planning. Topics likely covered in these minutes include updates on the state of business in the region from organisations like the North East Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses, discussions on policy and opportunities, updates on regional plans from the North East Combined Authority (NECA), and reviews of the Inclusive Economic Strategy Delivery Plan and the Poverty Strategy Consultation. Housing and Voluntary and Community Sector updates were also likely to be included.