Overview

• The council approved the motion by 62 votes to seven with 17 abstentions, becoming the first UK authority to revoke a climate emergency declaration.
• A new “County Durham Care Emergency” pledge commits resources to children’s social services, including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities support.
• Deputy leader Darren Grimes denounced the original declaration as “expensive virtue signalling tripe” and urged a shift of focus to core resident needs.
• Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes warned that past climate efficiencies delivered £13 million in savings and cautioned that rescinding the pledge could endanger external funding.
• Protesters outside County Hall and opposition councillors have vowed to scrutinise the council’s policy change and monitor its restructured departments for accountability.