Social Value Ideas for Durham County Council

Solar Farm Application Refused - Planning Decision

Application DH7 ODT for 27MW ground-mounted solar farm at Wagtail Lane, Craghead was REFUSED by Planning Committee on grounds of unacceptable impact on recreational immunity (footpaths, public rights …

“motion is to refuse the application. Uh all those in favor that's five. Thank you. All those against two. So motion carried.”

Hordon Housing Application Approved - Planning Decision

Hybrid planning application for 105 dwellings at Hordon Third/Fifth Streets approved by Planning Committee 7-0 (with 1 abstention by Councillor Heavyside). Committee voted in favour following discussi…

“So the application is approved. Yes...the application is approved and the meeting regarding this application is is finished.”

Cox Housing Application Approved - Planning Decision

Planning application for 99 dwellings at Cox west of Gladston Terrace approved unanimously by Planning Committee (7-0 vote) following officer clarifications on education contributions and highway safe…

“All those in favor of the application, please raise your hand. Unanimous. Application approved.”

Solar Farm Development - Landscape and Cumulative Impact Pressures

Application for 27MW solar farm at Wagtail Lane, Craghead DH7 ODT generating significant local opposition regarding landscape impact, rural character harm, visual effects, and cumulative impacts with …

“The British Horse Society is the UK leading ecquine charity...the solar array will render my essential grazing and riding fields unsafe and unusable. …”

Children's social care overspend

Cabinet acknowledged a material and enduring overspend in children and young people’s services, particularly in children’s social care and the wider SEND system. The pressure is driving additional soc…

“In total, our service group ends underspent by a combined 3,100,000 in year. However, this position includes significant overspend in children and you…”

Children's social care overspend

The quarter four performance report identified persistent demand pressure in children’s social care, including nearly 1,500 referrals in the quarter and a £5 million overspend on placement budgets las…

“Within children's social care, demand remains persistently high with almost 1,500 referrals in quarter four alone. Assessment timeliness, however, rem…”

Children's Social Care Demand and Cost Pressures

Cabinet noted critical and escalating cost pressures in children's social care, particularly for looked-after children placements and home-to-school transport. Growth pressures total £19.4m in 2026-27…

“The financial pressures in children's social care have been extensively covered in the budget reports previously... a significant financial challenge …”

Q2 2025/26 General Fund Outturn Forecast

General fund forecasted underspend of £4.758m to year-end (revised down £3.307m from Q1 forecast). General reserve forecast to be £35.916m at year-end (5.76% of net budget requirement), within policy …

“The general fund under spend to the year end is now forecast to be 4.758 million which is 3307 million pound less than what was forecast at quarter 1 …”

General Revenue Budget Position Q3 2023-24

Cash limit general reserves forecast at £30.3m at 31 March 2024 (5.8% of net budget requirement). Position within target parameters of 5-7.5% (£28.2m-£42.4m for 2024-25). Net cash limit overspend acro…

“the general Reserve at the end of this year will be 5.8% of the council's net budget requirement and therefore within the parameters of maintaining th…”

Unavoidable Inflationary and Pay Cost Pressures

Budget pressures total £52.2m in 2026-27 and £141m across MTFP period driven by pay inflation (4.1% national living wage increase), adult social care cost increases linked to care market pressures, ch…

“The report sets out in some detail the financial pressures we are facing and the growth that is needed uh next year to address unavoidable uh spending…”