Agenda item

The Leader informed the Council that a major public consultation exercise had commenced to seek views on how the Council should make savings of £100m, which was approximately 25% of the Council’s budget, by 2017.  All Members had been provided with the opportunity to preview the budget activity and positive feedback had been received.  The Leader urged all to attend AAP meetings and participatory budget exercises to take part in this important consultation.

The Leader placed on record his congratulations to Durham County Cricket Club on winning their third County Championship and also to the winners of the County Durham Environmental Awards and the Best Bar None awards.  The Leader also praised the success of the Durham Book Festival, which had run throughout October.

Finally, the Leader reminded the Council that the third Lumiere festival was to take place in Durham between 14 and 17 November 2013.