Prior to the commencement of the meeting the Chairman of the Council with great sadness formally reported the following deaths:
· Alderman, former Durham City Councillor Irene Lupton who represented the Belmont Ward on Durham City Council from 1979 to 2003;
· Former Durham County Councillor Alan Scott who represented the Barnard Castle West Electoral Division on the County Council from 1997 to 2005.
The Council stood for a moments silence as a mark of respect to former Councillors Lupton and Scott.