The Environment and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss district heating and heat networks, the minutes from previous meetings, and the County Durham Environment Partnership. The committee was also set to review performance management reports and financial outturns.

District Heating/Heat Networks

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing district heating and heat networks. The report outlined the concept of heat networks, which transfer heat from a single source to multiple buildings via a network of pipes, often utilising waste heat. The government's aim to reduce reliance on imported fuels and improve energy security was highlighted, with heat networks expected to meet a substantial portion of the UK's heat demand by 2050.

Durham County Council's involvement in several heat network projects was detailed. Work had been completed on a district heat network at Seaham Garden Village, which utilises minewater heat from the Dawdon site to supply 750 homes. The council supported this project by securing government grants and would receive an indexed fee for administering the agreement.

The Horden Mine Water Project was also discussed, a community-owned energy network being developed by the East Durham Trust and Durham County Council. This project aims to reinvest profits back into the village and is exploring various methods to power its energy centre, with feasibility studies focusing on utilising heat for industrial purposes to create jobs.

Investigations into a heat network for Durham City had previously been found to be financially unviable. However, current work with experts in the deep geothermal industry suggested that making Durham a hub for deep geothermal energy could lead to a viable heat network, with heat as a significant by-product. This work is being funded by the Heat Network Delivery Unit (HNDU).

The report also covered the UK government's developing heat network zoning methodology, designed to identify areas where heat networks are the most cost-effective option for decarbonising heating. This framework could grant heat network developers powers to mandate connections for certain buildings. The government's Warm Homes Plan was mentioned, which sets targets for heat networks to supply a significant percentage of the UK's heat demand by 2050 and includes funding for the adoption, planning, building, and upgrading of existing networks.

The report detailed the advantages of heat networks, including price stability, the capture of waste heat, action against fuel poverty, job creation, energy security, and carbon savings. Challenges identified included the complexity of development, high capital costs, and the need for skilled expertise and mature supply chains.

County Durham Environment Partnership Board Minutes

The committee was scheduled to review the minutes from the County Durham Environment Partnership Board meeting held on 9 October 2025. These minutes covered updates on waste management, including the rollout of food waste collection, battery and vape collection trials, and recruitment for additional staff. The partnership's workstreams, including Place, Health and Communities, Climate Emergency, and Ecological Emergency, were also detailed. Discussions included the development of a new Environmental Plan to replace the former Climate Emergency Response Plan, the progress of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), and the importance of aligning messaging and maximising regional connections.

Performance Management and Financial Outturn

The committee was also scheduled to consider the Quarter Two 2025/2026 Forecast of Revenue and Capital Outturn, which would provide details of the forecast outturn budget for the service area and highlight major variances. Additionally, the Quarter Two 2025/26 Performance Management Report was to be reviewed, outlining progress towards the strategic aims and objectives detailed in the Council Plan 2025-2030. This report would highlight areas performing well, such as environmental cleanliness and waste diversion from landfill, as well as areas requiring attention, such as public transport punctuality and household waste recycling rates.