Council chiefs in County Durham will be grilled over Reform UK’s decision to scrap plans for solar panels on buildings throughout the region, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar. 

Opposition councillors have criticised the “bonkers” decision made at September’s Cabinet meeting and called on Durham County Council leaders to reinstate the net zero scheme.

They have now mounted a ‘call-in’, which will see it debated at a public scrutiny committee on Wednesday (October 8).

In their request, Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Independent councillors said financial concerns and an “inadequate response” to requests for information inspired the review.

Reform UK said the scheme was not financially sustainable and instead pledged to divert the funding into cash-strapped social care departments. 

Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes has led the opposition’s campaign to keep the solar project after helping table it as part of the former Joint Administration in charge of the local authority. 

The former cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change said it would have saved the local authority £77,000 per year.

Cllr Wilkes said: “Some of the comments by cabinet members suggested that they did not understand the decision they were making, with the Deputy Leader making quite bonkers statements about pigeons burying under panels. 

“The people of County Durham deserve better than this nonsense.

“We agreed to this investment in April because it would save over £1.5m over the life of the project and likely to save even more.”  

“This project would not only save money, it would cut carbon emissions by 60 tonnes a year, and increase our energy security.”

Opposition councillors have also requested a breakdown of the potential financial impacts of pulling out of the scheme.

Councillor Kathryn Rooney said: “We cannot see any possible financial reason for scrapping this project. It is a no-brainer. Money has already been spent on preparing for this project and Reform are likely to have to pay compensation to the contractor too. 

“So not only are they willing to give up on £1.5m of savings they will be wasting tens of thousands of pounds more. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.”  

The project would have seen solar panels installed on eight council buildings: Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Spennymoor Education Centre, Green Lane Council Offices, Gala Theatre, Durham, Louisa Centre in Stanley, Heighington Lane WTS, Hardwick Park Visitor’s Centre and Peterlee Leisure Centre. 

The recent decision comes after Reform UK voted to scrap the council’s climate emergency pledge in July, which aimed to achieve net zero emissions by 2045.

But Reform leaders reiterated the party’s pledge to prioritise care services over net zero projects. 

Darren Grimes, deputy leader of Durham County Council, said: “This is classic Lib Dem politics: play dirty, peddle fantasy maths, and shout ‘bonkers’ when anyone dares to point it out. They’ve even roped in one lonely Conservative to give them cover.

“The reality is simple. Their solar scheme would have loaded risk onto residents for decades, for savings that disappear the moment you factor in debt repayments. That’s not financial sense — it’s a green gimmick dressed up as free money. We have placed special needs kids over solar panel profit margins. 

“Reform is being honest with residents: we won’t sign off half-baked vanity projects. We’ll put the full financial detail before scrutiny — the detail the Lib Dems never did — and let the public decide who’s protecting their wallets, and who’s flogging eco fairy tales.”

 The cabinet meeting on Wednesday at County Hall is available to watch online and is open for the public to attend.