Council roles renamed as Reform takes charge
BBCReform UK has officially taken over control of Durham County Council, renaming several key departments to remove references to climate change and equality and inclusion.
The party, which has 65 councillors, swept to victory in the local elections to gain an overall majority.
New council leader Andrew Husband said he had had "positive" discussions with the most senior non-political managers about their plans for the local authority, which is one of England's largest councils.
It comes after Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said council staff working on diversity or climate change initiatives should look for "alternative careers".
"It may be that over the next four years, hopefully a lot sooner, we do look at random projects or irrelevant projects that don't fit in within our objectives," said Husband, who was officially elected leader in an uncontested vote.
"Naturally, if projects start getting closed down, the resources are less required, but I'm hoping for more of a case of redeployment than mass firing across departments."
He said the party had to "work with transparency" and wanted "to share as much information" as it could with the public "and do things differently".
Several departments and cabinet titles were renamed at a meeting earlier.
The previous neighbourhood and climate change position is now neighbourhoods and environment, while equality and inclusion has been changed to stronger communities and belonging.
Former council leader Amanda Hopgood, Liberal Democrat, warned that County Durham would be "the guinea pig for the experiment of the Reform Party".
Hopgood, who led the council as part of a coalition between 2021 and 2025, criticised the party for making several promises it is unable to deliver while in control of a local authority.
"It is a tragedy that County Durham will be the guinea pig for the experiment of the Reform Party leading one of the biggest councils in the country," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
"Their statements so far seem not to recognise their strong local inheritance from the administration I led for the past four years."
Labour councillor Rob Crute suggested the party will "hit a brick wall" when attempting to set a zero per cent council tax increase next year and repair potholes within 24 hours of being reported.
"I think they might find it quite uncomfortable," he said.
Reform's 65 new councillors also voted through new rules giving the party and its members greater autonomy over committee and scrutiny meetings, in a move political rivals likened to marking its homework.
New deputy leader Darren Grimes will combine his role with being the portfolio holder for finance, policy and communications.
Joe Quinn and Cathy Hunt, who both defected from the Conservative Party earlier this year, also landed key roles.
Ferryhill's Quinn will head up the council's resources, investments and assets portfolio, while Willington and Hunwick's Hunt will oversee the children and young people's services department.
Reform councillor for Crook Robbie Roddiss was elected as council chair, describing it as a "great honour". The role, which requires the occupant to be politically neutral, represents the council at community events and in neighbouring authorities and beyond.
Cross-party members paid tribute to outgoing chair Joan Nicholson, who lost her seat at the election, for her dedication to the role.