Warning over cuts to key County Durham council services

Growing financial pressure on the council means it is becoming “increasingly difficult” to avoid cuts in key areas, a senior councillor warned. 

The local authority says around £22 million in cuts are needed for 2025/26 to help balance the budget next year and beyond. 

Councillor Richard Bell, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, warned of cuts to council services if the local authority does not receive increased funding from the government. 

“Every year it is increasingly difficult to balance our budgets with the funding received from the government and the income we are allowed to raise locally, which is primarily through council tax.

“We’ve always endeavoured to maximise savings in management and administration services to protect front-line services. But that too, is becoming increasingly difficult.

Overall, the council is currently £64.1 million short over the next four years - a higher amount than previously forecast due to growing unfunded budget pressures, primarily in children’s social care and home-to-school transport.

Cllr Bell added: “Without extra funding, front-line services are inevitably going to be impacted going forward. We continue to lobby government for a fairer funding settlement that gives us some certainty over a number of years, unlike the current one-year settlements.”

Councillor Richard Bell pleaded for extra government funding to support the local authority (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Meanwhile, a council tax discount scheme that supports thousands of vulnerable County Durham residents is set to be extended. 

People on low incomes, unemployed, or retired are currently eligible for Durham County Council’s reduction scheme. 

Council figures show more than 53,800 residents are benefiting, with more than 41,000 paying no council tax at all. Next week, cabinet members are due to vote on continuing the incentive for another year. 

Recommended reading: 

• Council criticised after admitting defeat in bid to build 500 new homes by 2026

• MP slams 'short-sighted' plan for parking charges at another County Durham beach

• County Durham school could close and merge with other site due to low pupil numbers

Subscribe to The Northern Echo now.

Cllr Richard Bell, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, said: “We are the only council in the region to have retained entitlement for this support at the levels they were at when councils first introduced discount schemes 10 years ago.

“We continue to prioritise protecting our most vulnerable residents through very difficult times of huge pressure on household budgets.”

A final vote on the scheme will take place at a full council meeting on September 25.