• A Corporate Peer Challenge by the Local Government Association has found that Durham County Council is delivering high performance and is financially stable.
  • During the challenge, which took place in October, a panel of eight experienced senior officers and members from other local authorities conducted more than 50 meetings and interviews with well over 100 people, including partner representatives, councillors, officers and staff.
  • Key findings included a strong and unified culture; motivated workforce; a new administration with fresh perspectives; strong strategic direction and stability; strong partnership working; a commitment to community engagement.
  • The final report also provides a set of high-level key recommendations, as well as recommendations based on the core assessment areas.
  • The council is now required to develop and publish an action plan.

“A financially stable organisation, delivering high performing services and outcomes, with trusted relationships being built between officers and members” – that’s how Durham County Council has been described in an independent review.

A Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) carried out by the Local Government Association (LGA) last October also recognised the council’s dedication to continuous improvement and transformation and its commitment to fully engaging with stakeholders and the broader community.

Cllr Andrew Husband, Leader of Durham County Council, said: “We are very pleased with the findings of the peer review team. They are an excellent reflection of the hard work that takes place across the council on a daily basis and the commitment of staff to delivering excellent services for our communities.

“It is particularly pleasing that the feedback has come from peers who understand the challenges and complexities faced by local authorities.

“Of course, one of the key drivers of participating in a peer challenge is to identify areas where there may be room for improvement or where there is scope for us to build on our successes.

“We welcome the recommendations included in the report and our resulting action plan is already well underway. We look forward to the team returning later in the year to see the progress we have made.”

Local authorities are expected to undertake a CPC Challenge at least every five years, with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities stating that this is required to ensure councils “secure continuous improvement in the way in which functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness.”

During a three-day visit to County Durham, a panel of eight officers and members from other local authorities around the country conducted more than 50 meetings and interviews with well over 100 people.

As well as speaking to elected members, officers and staff, the panel also met with a range of external stakeholders, including representatives from partner organisations, the voluntary sector, businesses and community groups.

They assessed the council according to five core areas set out by the LGA: local priorities and outcomes; organisational and place leadership; governance and culture; financial planning and management; and capacity for improvement.

The authority also asked the review team to look at how it can accelerate its transformation journey using ICT, digital tools, Artificial Intelligence and other emerging technologies.

The key findings of the review included:

  • Durham County Council remains a financially stable organisation with a strong, unified culture and a motivated workforce delivering high performing services.
  • The May 2025 elections introduced a new majority administration with fresh perspectives and ambitions to reshape governance and policy.
  • The corporate leadership team, led by an experienced chief executive, provides strategic direction and stability.
  • A strong record of partnership working.
  • A commitment to community engagement and involvement in decision-making.

The final report also provides a set of high-level key recommendations, which have been prioritised on the grounds of urgency and importance. These include:

  • Embed changes to the council plan into the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP)
  • Continue to build a successful relationship between officers, Cabinet members and the broader councillor membership
  • Establish a comprehensive transformation programme to address the MTFP gap and drive sustainable change.
  • Develop a refreshed council-wide digital strategy.
  • Further develop the council’s place leadership as part of the North East Combined Authority and County Durham Vision 2035 refresh.
  • Recognise and demonstrate the council’s leadership role in promoting social cohesion across the entire community.

Additional recommendations based on the core assessment areas are also included.

The council is now required to develop and publish an action plan, based on the recommendations and including timelines and milestones, within five months of the peer team having been on site.

A progress review will then take place 10 months after the peer challenge to assess the council’s implementation of the recommendations, with the findings of this review being published by September.

Members of the authority’s Cabinet will discuss the report when they meet on Wednesday, 21 January.