Reform leader Andrew Husband outlines ambitions for Durham Council

Andrew Husband has played down a warning from Mr Farage that council staff working on diversity or climate change initiatives should seek “alternative careers”, saying abolishing such departments immediately would be “naive” and staff should not be concerned. 

The new councillor set to be tasked with running the local authority has outlined how his party intends to govern, deal with rising budget pressures, and responded to criticism of Reform’s approach. 

He added: “We have got to be more open-minded and patient, looking at everything objectively. We don’t want people throwing constructive dismissal accusations at us before we have even started work. 

“Nigel is a fantastic public speaker and a really good forecaster; ultimately, what he says does happen eventually. But we could be talking four years before we shut down x number of net zero projects.”

Nigel Farage celebrated the party’s victory at the County Durham local elections in Newton Aycliffe on May 2. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

The member for Chester-le-Street North says he wants to provide better value for money and suggested the council will review whether certain roles are needed and whether they can be redeployed.

Cllr Husband added: “That’s not an unfair way of looking at things over the next four years, which is basically what he said. What Nigel says can be true, but he delivered it in a more dramatic way.”

In his first interview ahead of next week’s crucial annual council meeting, where Reform’s considerable overall majority of 65 councillors will be on show, Cllr Husband told The Northern Echo that his party has a clear list of objectives it wants to achieve while in power. 

That means reviewing existing spending, investment and masterplans, he says, as well as looking at whether the council is up to scratch on the basics. 

The Chester-le-Street native said: “It is our ambition not to have another council tax increase next year, it’s something to strive for. If we set that mandate with the CEO and work together, we need to look at the waste to start giving locals a bit of encouragement.”

He told of restoring pride in communities by creating better opportunities for young people and reducing crime. 

But Cllr Husband dismissed suggestions that Reform will make immediate, drastic changes to council jobs and policies. 

“We are not coming in all guns blazing, and instead are reassuring staff that we are nice people and will take our time,” he added. “We will look at everything in the right way. 

“It’s not all about the theatre and drama with the messages we put out there in soundbites. Things that are said boldly nationally don’t necessarily mean they have to take place, and we have to achieve them next week. It’s a four-year plan, so when people are talking about losing jobs, it’s not what it’s about.”

What’s more important, he says, is tackling the £22 million shortfall and more than £400 million of debt weighing heavily on the local authority. 

“There is obviously some low-hanging fruit we can look at, which has nothing to do with people losing their jobs,” he said. “It’s about analysing and looking at what money we have committed around the budget, and do we need to spend it?”

He is under no illusions and admits his immediate surprise at the intense workload expected of a councillor, let alone party and future council leader.

His inbox has already become inundated with messages from residents, admitting he and his colleagues have been thrown in the deep end but are embracing the challenge.

“I’m buoyed by the idea that we can come in and do some good,” he said.  

In just two weeks since the election, the 47-year-old says it’s been “all hands on deck” and likened walking into County Hall to a speed dating exercise, constantly meeting new people and learning new processes. Much of the work so far has been conducted off the cuff, with impromptu meetings held in “cubby holes and cleaning cupboards”. 

Durham’s top political job has now been held by three different political parties following the last three local elections. And with County Durham – a key Reform battleground – becoming one of the first regions to put its faith in the party, observers will be closely watching to see how its members can control a council. 

What that will entail is still unknown, but Cllr Husband says members will be taking a “slowly slowly” approach.

He said: “We have made some good concessions already, getting the council’s support. Ultimately, we need the officers’ buy-in to what we want to do, and then it’s a win-win. We would rather achieve what we want to together without undermining anybody in the council.”

As a married father with a young family, he stresses the importance of maintaining the “hearts and minds” of everyone connected to the council, from cleaners to grass cutters. 

Councillors from rival political parties have waded in recently to criticise Reform’s policies and ability to rule. But Cllr Husband said members won’t be cowed.

“I’m not really interested in what they say,” he said. 

“We have got a healthy majority, and that gives us a mandate to get on with our jobs. My advice would be to look at how much of an impact we have had by resonating with what the locals want. We are here because they want us here; they voted for us.”

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Despite the criticism, Cllr Husband is keen to work collaboratively if required, leaning on the experience of previous key players within the council. Reform welcomed former Independent councillor Paul Sexton into the party this week after he bemoaned “broken promises” from the main political parties. 

“I wouldn’t be against having an expert in a senior position alongside us if it were to contribute to the greater good,” Cllr Husband added. 

“Residents are at the heart of everything we do as a council. There will be complete transparency with our progress and what we are achieving.”