Help shape council services in County Durham

We are looking for volunteers to serve on our overview and scrutiny committees as non-statutory, non-voting co-optees.

Currently, we have four vacancies for co-optees on three of our five overview and scrutiny committees: safer and stronger communities; children and young people's; and environment and sustainable communities. The appointments will be until June 2026 when a full refresh of co-optees will be undertaken, with existing co-optees having the opportunity to reapply if they wish to do so.

Co-optees play a key role in developing new ways of working, reviewing existing policies and challenging the performance of us and our partners.

Meetings are held in the morning starting at 9.30am and concluding by 11.30am, at County Hall. In addition to formal meetings the various committees also hold informal information sessions, which take place via Microsoft Teams and therefore applicants would need access to a computer and the internet.

In addition to the six scheduled meetings of the committee each year, co-optees are invited to and can attend any special meetings, informal information sessions, workshops and visits, should they wish to do so. They can also take part in review activity covering a range of subjects, with recent examples including cybercrime, road safety, elective home education, free school meals, our allotment policy and the declaration of an ecological emergency for County Durham.

Application forms should be submitted by 9 August 2024 with successful applicants invited for formal interview.