Leader
Councillor Simon Henig
The Leader of the Council is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the Council and has primary oversight of the Council’s budgetary and financial processes, organisational development and communications. The Leader is also responsible for ensuring the effective management of the transition to the new unitary council. The Leader has responsibility for strategic partnership relationships and represents the Council on a range of external national, regional and County Durham bodies and partnerships.
Corporate Plan Priority Outcomes for Improvement
- Maintaining the Council’s 4 star CPA rating
- Effective management of the transition to the new unitary authority
- Meeting the requirements of the local Government White Paper
Deputy Leader
Councillor Clive Robson
The Deputy Leader of the Council assists the Leader in setting the overall strategic direction of the Council, in the overview of the Council’s budgetary processes, organisational development and communications and in ensuring the effective management of the transition to the new unitary council. The Deputy Leader supports strategic partnership working and represents the Council at external bodies and partnerships and deputises for the Leader as appropriate. This portfolio also includes responsibility for risk management.
Corporate Plan Priority Outcomes for Improvement
- Maintaining the Council’s 4 star CPA rating
- Effective management of the transition to the new unitary authority
- Meeting the requirements of the local Government White Paper
Adult Services
Councillor Morris Nicholls
This portfolio holder is the lead member for adult care in County Durham, which includes responsibility for strategic commissioning and delivery of social care services and the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. The portfolio also includes responsibility for carers support and Supporting People.
Corporate Plan Priority Outcomes for Improvement
- More choice and control for vulnerable adults and older people
- More older people and vulnerable adults making a positive contribution
Corporate Resources
Councillor Michele Hodgson
This portfolio holder has responsibility for the effective use of the Council’s corporate resources, which includes value for money, financial management, IT services, procurement, property services, asset management, legal services, democratic services and members services. This portfolio also covers the development of customer services and access to services during the transition to the unitary council.
Corporate Plan Priority Outcomes for Improvement
- Managing our resources – revenue and capital spend, asset management and value for money
Children and Young People
Councillor Claire Vasey
This portfolio holder is the lead member for Children’s Services and has responsibility for children and young peoples’ services in County Durham including responsibility for the safeguarding of children. The portfolio includes Sure Start, early years education, school attainment and improvement, Building Schools for the Future, family learning, youth engagement service and young people’s transition into employment.
Corporate Plan Priority Outcomes for Improvement
- Reduction in childhood obesity
- Fewer teenage pregnancies
- Better emotional well being of children & young people
- Fewer children at risk
- Children and young people safe from bullying, crime and anti-social behaviour
- Better educational attainment
- More places to go and things to do for teenagers
- More young people having learning opportunities leading to jobs
Economic Regeneration
Councillor Neil Foster
This portfolio holder has responsibility for economic regeneration, which covers economic policy, regeneration, spatial planning and the Council’s contribution to the development of tourism in County Durham. The portfolio includes efforts to secure resources from external sources for the support of businesses and economic development in the County. The portfolio holder will also have a watching brief for housing strategy and management during the transition to the unitary council.
Corporate Plan Priority Outcomes for Improvement
- Reduction in the level of worklessness
- Increased entrepreneurial activity
- More people with the skills to meet current and future business needs
- More young people having learning opportunities leading to jobs
Environment
Councillor Bob Young
This portfolio holder is the lead member for the environment and has responsibility for the sustainability of the environment in County Durham and the maintenance and improvement of the County’s transport infrastructure. The portfolio includes environmental improvement, waste management, traffic management and transportation, highway maintenance, public transport, trading standards, scientific services, climate change, conservation and countryside management.
Corporate Plan Priority Outcomes for Improvement
- Sending less household waste to landfill
- Better accessibility and a halt in the decline in public transport
- Reduction in the County Council’s impact on climate change
- Improved road and footway condition
Healthier Communities
Councillor Eunice Huntington
This portfolio holder is the lead member for healthier communities and has responsibility for tackling health inequalities and health promotion activities, which includes joint working and partnership arrangements with health service providers and links to the Drug and Alcohol Action Team. The portfolio also has responsibility for the provision of culture, museums and libraries services, Traveller liaison, welfare rights and communities of interest.
Corporate Plan Priority Outcomes for Improvement
- Improving mortality rates for all circulatory diseases & cancers
- A reduction in childhood obesity
- Reduction in harm caused by alcohol and drugs
- Fewer teenage pregnancies
- Better emotional well being of children & young people
- Fewer people smoking
- A healthier County Council workforce with lower levels of sickness absence
Local Partnerships
Councillor Brian Stephens
This portfolio holder is responsible for local partnership relationships. The portfolio covers community engagement and empowerment and liaison with district councils, town and parish councils and local voluntary and community groups in relation to the development of locality partnership arrangements during the transition to the unitary council.
Corporate Plan Priority Outcomes for Improvement
- Meeting the requirements of the Local Government White Paper
Safer Communities
Councillor Lucy Hovvels
This portfolio holder is the lead member for safer communities and has responsibility for tackling issues relating to crime, community safety and anti-social behaviour. This includes linking with the work of local community safety partnerships and the Council’s youth engagement service.
Corporate Plan Priority Outcomes for Improvement
- People being safe and feeling safe
- Fewer children at risk
- Children and young people safe from bullying, crime and anti-social behaviour
- A reduction in the level of domestic abuse