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Durham County Council Information Service
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Overview of the Council

What is Durham County Council?

Durham County Council is made up of an elected assembly of 126 councillors accountable to almost 500,000 people in County Durham. The council is responsible for providing a wide range of public services to the people of the County.

The council also represents and promotes the interests of County Durham when dealing with regional, national and international affairs. Through effective local government, Durham County Council allows local people to look after their own affairs and to decide how and where money is best spent in their area.

The council's powers and responsibilities are determined by Parliament with county council elections held every four years. The most recent election was held in May 2008 and the next one expected to be held in 2013.

Constitution and Structure

Durham County Council is part of a ‘two-tier’ system of local government, with the other tier being made up of seven district and borough councils. The responsibilities for providing services within County Durham are shared between Durham County Council and the district councils.

The county council’s decision making structure consists of a Cabinet of ten councillors which sits on a fortnightly basis to make decisions to implement the council’s policies and budgets. An Overview and Scrutiny Committee examines Cabinet’s decisions while the full council of 126 councillors ratifies Cabinet’s decisions.

Major issues to be discussed are published in Cabinet’s forward plan which describes the decisions to be made, who is responsible for making them and when.

By law, Cabinet is not allowed to make some decisions. So in addition to Cabinet we have six Regulatory Committees to make decisions on issues such as planning and highways.

The decision making structure is designed to make the council's processes more transparent with meetings of the council and Cabinet being open to the public. Members of the public can also ask questions to the Council which will be answered at full Council meetings. We have also created Member Area Panels and a Citizen’s Panel and participate in Local Strategic Partnerships throughout County Durham, to allow various public, voluntary and community organisations as well as individuals, to communicate issues of local concern to the county council.

Services

By value, Durham County Council is responsible for providing 86% of local authority services to County Durham. They are provided to all parts of the county to meet the needs of our residents and help everyone in County Durham to achieve their ambitions.

Durham County Council is made up of seven service areas which are responsible for providing a wide range of services.

Where did we come from?

Throughout history, County Durham has been strategically important to settlers ranging from the Romans to the Angles, Saxons and Normans. Northumbria became the leading centre of the Christian church in Britain with the foundation of Durham Cathedral in 1093 acting as a lasting reminder of the County’s legacy to Christian worship in Britain.

Following the Norman Conquests, William the Conqueror invested the Bishops of Durham with combined secular and spiritual powers to control the modern counties of Cleveland, Durham and Tyne and Wear. The Prince Bishops levied taxes, raised armies, minted money, controlled the courts and were effectively ‘kings’ of North East England until their powers were dramatically diminished by Henry VIII in 1536.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, County Durham became a world leader in the Industrial Revolution, with the county’s development based upon coal and iron production. The area’s influence on the world was demonstrated by the development of the world’s first passenger steam railway at Stockton and Darlington in 1825.

Durham County Council as we know it today was established, along with other county councils in England and Wales, in 1888 and started life with a small Conservative majority, unlike its present and long-standing Labour majority.

Where are we now?

Arising from its background of historical importance and a rich cultural heritage, Durham County Council’s mission statement is: "To make County Durham the best place in which to live, work and bring up a family" Within the statement, there are five corporate aims:
  • To promote strong, healthy and safe communities.
  • To build a strong economy.
  • To look after the environment.
  • To develop lifelong learning.
  • To ensure effective corporate leadership.

These aims inform and direct all of the council’s activities and ensure that all those working for Durham County Council are focussed on providing an excellent service to the people of the county.

County Durham has over 486,000 people living in 219,000 households. The county covers an area of 223,260 Hectares with 12 major centres of population including Durham City, Chester-le-Street, Newton Aycliffe, Consett and Peterlee.

Continued investment and the arrival of a range of new hi-tech businesses including telecommunications, advanced electronics and pharmaceutical and bio-tech companies have helped industry to diversify and grow in the county. Businesses in County Durham are adding to the success of the economy not only within the county but also in the North East of England and the rest of the country.

Durham County Council in Numbers

(as of October 2004)
  • 19,000 people work for Durham County Council.
  • The council disposes of 280,000 tonnes of household waste.
  • There are 310 schools in the County.
  • There are 38 branch libraries.
  • 3 museums.
  • 190 ancient monuments.
  • There are 126 county councillors.
  • 53 Labour councillors.
  • 5 Liberal Democrat councillors.
  • 2 Conservative councillors.
  • 3 Independent councillors.
  • Durham County Council spends around £500million on services.

County Durham in Numbers

(as of October 2004)
  • 493,500 people live in County Durham.
  • 38,000 people live in the City of Durham.
  • There are 219,000 households in the county.
  • The County covers an area of 223,260 Hectares.
  • There are 12 major centres of population (over 5,000 people).
  • The average age of people in County Durham is between 35 and 39 years old.
  • 85 kilometres of motorway run through the county.
  • Durham City is 265 miles from London and 125 miles from Edinburgh.
  • 142,000 Hectares of the county is agricultural land.
  • 25% of working people are employed in manufacturing in County Durham.
  • 67% are employed in the service sector.