The Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss serious violence within the county, receive an update on open water safety initiatives, and review the council's performance for the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. The meeting's agenda focused on understanding and addressing key community safety issues.

Serious Violence Duty

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Serious Violence Duty, a legislative requirement introduced under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. This duty mandates specified authorities, including the police, fire and rescue services, justice agencies, health services, and local authorities, to collaborate on preventing and reducing serious violence. The report outlined the partnership approach to tackling serious violence in County Durham, with a strategic vision to create a county where individuals and communities can thrive free from the fear of violence. The strategic priorities identified for this initiative include prevention and early intervention, focusing on children and young people at risk, and addressing alcohol-related violence. The criminal justice and enforcement priorities are centred on repeat and habitual offenders of serious violence and domestic abuse-related serious violence. A strategic needs assessment, refreshed in January 2026, was to inform the partnership's priorities until 2029, with a new strategy planned for publication in summer 2026. The committee was also to be updated on interventions planned for the 2026/27 financial year, which are being finalised with the Home Office.

Open Water Safety Update

An update on open water safety was scheduled, detailing the actions taken by Durham County Council and its partners. The report highlighted the ongoing work of the City Safety Group (CSG) and the county-wide Open Water Safety Group (OWSG), which meet regularly to review safety interventions and risk mitigation strategies. A proactive approach to education and awareness regarding open water safety was noted as a crucial intervention. Statistically, the report indicated a positive trend in reducing open water-related fatalities in Durham City Centre, with fatalities across County Durham remaining at similar levels to previous years. The report also emphasised the continued positive approach to partnership working and collaboration among safety groups, with new partners being identified and incorporated into activities. National guidance and best practices from organisations like RoSPA and the National Water Safety Forum have informed the council's open water safety policy and risk assessment methodology.

Quarter Three, 2025/26 Performance Management Report

The committee was set to review the council's progress towards its strategic ambitions and objectives as outlined in the Council Plan 2025-30. This report, covering the period from October to December 2025, provides an update on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and contextual information on activities undertaken during the third quarter of the financial year. The report was to be framed within the wider national context, acknowledging the influence of political, global, and economic factors. Key areas of focus included Building better communities, with specific attention to anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, road safety, and the selective licensing scheme. The report was to highlight areas that are going well and issues we are addressing. For instance, reports of anti-social behaviour were noted as being at their lowest recorded level for two years, and fly-tipping rates remained low. The selective licensing scheme was also progressing, with a significant percentage of privately rented properties either fully licensed or in the process of being licensed. However, the report was also to address an increase in road traffic collisions resulting in fatalities and serious injuries compared to the previous year.