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MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLANNING
Durham County Council are inviting residents to take part in a further phase of consultation as they continue to work towards finalising budget proposals for the year ahead and across the next four years as part of the Medium Term Financial Planning process.
To balance our budget, they are proposing to make £10.057 million of new savings, with £9.103 million of these falling in 2026/27.
These savings can be categorised as follows:
Savings from back office and making operational efficiencies
Raising additional income and considering our third-party contributions
Savings from changes in the way we deliver front line services
Have your say:
• complete our survey
• email your comments to letstalkcountydurham@durham.gov.uk
• come along to an online event happening on 1 and 4 December 2025.
For more details and to take part visit www.letstalkcountydurham.co.uk
Consultation closes: 11.59pm on Sunday 4 January 2026.
OPEN SPACE NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Durham County Council is working with Ethos Environmental Planning to update the Open Space Needs Assessment. The assessment will be used by the Council to provide an evidence base for the new Local Plan and help make decisions regarding the future of open spaces and recreation facilities, including helping to prioritise improvements.
The assessment is wide ranging and covers a wide range of open space related uses such as parks and recreation grounds; child and youth facilities; allotments; wildlife areas/nature reserves; natural green spaces; footpaths, bridleways etc; and amenity green spaces.
Your feedback is essential to help the Council to understand the needs and aspirations of your town/parish. It will help the Council and its partners, including yourselves, to plan for and deliver future provision based upon a robust and sound evidence base.
We want to hear your views on local provision and any plans you may have for future improvements. You can do this by completing the survey on the Let’s Talk Platform - https://letstalkcountydurham.co.uk/en-GB/projects/open-spaces-needs-assessment
Please provide your response by 2nd January 2026.
Budget Proposals for 2026/27 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2026/7-2029/30
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Exceptions to the Empty and Unfurnished Properties and Second Homes Council Tax Premium
The proposals for different rates of Council Tax increases from zero to 5% and the implications over the next 4 years for the council’s deficit and there is also a separate consultation to reduce the council tax exemption opportunities for empty and unfurnished properties and second homes which will have some impact on the savings needed.
You can find further details of both consultations on the letstalkcountydurham website which gives details on how to respond.
These are extremely important consultations and require some careful reading of the accompanying information.
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The Government expects DCC to raise council tax by the maximum permitted levels over the next three years ie 5% a year, whereas these proposals include increases less than this, or at zero.
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Consultation and Surveys
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Durham County Council are inviting residents to take part in two new and important consultations that will help shape the spending and future direction of the council.
Consultation 1: Budget Proposals for 2026/27 and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2026/27-2029/30
Following the local elections in May 2025, our new leadership is focusing on finding efficiencies with a clear focus on ensuring value for money. We’re facing a significant budget gap of up to £71.019 million over the next four years, and we need your input on how best to address this.
Consulting on:
Proposed savings across back-office functions, frontline services, and income generation for the next financial year 2026/27.
Options for Council Tax increases over the next four years, including scenarios ranging from no increase to a 5% annual rise.
Where and in what services we might make savings in future years - Your feedback will help us shape and finalise our budget proposals for 2026/27, as well as look longer term to make future savings. We expect to consult you on further savings proposals in November 2025.
Consultation closes: Friday 14 November 2025
Consultation 2: Exceptions to the Empty and Unfurnished Properties and Second Homes Council Tax Premium
We’re also reviewing our Section 13A policy, which provides discretionary exceptions to the Council Tax premium on empty and unfurnished properties and second homes. This is over and above what the Government provides. The discretionary relief we apply through the Section 13A policy is above that offered by other local councils, with the few councils that do provide relief, doing so for a limited time period. We’re considering the following options:
Option 1: Fully align the existing Section 13A policy with the Government’s regulations. This option would see the local discretion removed.
Option 2: Introduce a 12 month time limit cap to our Section 13A policy. This would see the current local discretion retained, but the Section 13A policy would limit the time the relief could be in place for.
Option 3: No changes to the current Section 13A policy. This would see the local discretion remaining as it is, with no cap on the amount of time it is available.
Changing the Section 13A policy could help bring more homes back into use and generate additional income to support council services.
Consultation closes: Friday 14 November 2025
Learn more and share your views at https://letstalkcountydurham.co.uk