Durham County Council defends cuts and council tax rise

Durham County Council said the proposals are needed due to “unavoidable” cost pressures and increased demand for key services including adult and children’s social care and home-to-school transport. 

“We will always prioritise protecting the council taxpayer through driving efficiency and not shying away from difficult decisions,” deputy leader Darren Grimes said. 

The council’s final budget proposals suggest the authority faces a budget deficit of £9.546 million in the next year and an additional deficit of £42.448 million for the following three years.

If the 3.1% council tax rise is approved, which is below the maximum increase of five per cent and below the projected rate of inflation, council officials say it would help balance the budget for next year. 

A survey of around 1,700 residents found 69 per cent of respondents supported some level of council tax increase to avoid cuts to local services. 

Proposals to cut neighbourhood wardens, grass cutters and litter pickers have been tabled alongside potential changes to household waste recycling centres and waste charges. Car parking charges and permits are also due to increase across the county. Job vacancies are due to be removed. 

Cllr Grimes, also the cabinet member for finance, said: “This budget has been built on a commitment to making the council an effective, efficient servant of the people while ensuring taxpayers’ money is spent wisely and well.

“Over the last 15 years, this council has had to identify and deliver savings totalling £288 million. This has been necessary to meet the challenges of reduced funding and an inability to raise sufficient income locally through council tax and business rates, while facing unavoidable inflationary and increased demand for services.

“In this budget we have identified savings which have enabled us to avoid increasing council tax by the maximum next year. While we are facing an incredibly difficult financial position, we have done all that we can to avoid putting this burden onto the taxpayer, with any increases in council tax kept below inflation, and below what has been applied in County Durham before.”

Reform gained overall control of Durham County Council in May 2025 after the former Joint Administration, made up of Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, and Independents, led the authority for four years. 

In December, the local authority agreed to change its council tax discount scheme, meaning most residents will have to pay at least 10 per cent of their bills, to ensure all residents contribute to the cost of services provided by the council.

Since taking control of the council in May 2025, Reform has repeatedly pledged to “eliminate waste” and prioritise core services. 

Cllr Grimes added: “A key objective of this cabinet is to ensure we deliver value for money and efficiency savings to protect front-line services as much as possible, which I am confident this budget proposal delivers.

“We will always prioritise protecting the council taxpayer through driving efficiency and not shying away from difficult decisions. This budget gives us a strong platform on which to build, providing investment in areas that matter to local communities, and which deliver on local priorities.”

If approved by Cabinet on Wednesday (February 11), the council’s budget will go to full council for formal approval on February 18.