Find out about changes to our services and Christmas opening times on our Festive information page. To find out when your bin will be collected over the festive period, visit Changes to County Durham bin collections at Christmas.

Due to maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 11.45am on Tuesday 24 December until 8.00am on Thursday 2 January: our online Council Tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

About the Chair

The Chair of Durham County Council for 2024/25 is Cllr Joan Nicholson who represents the Annfield Plain electoral division.

Chosen charities

Cllr Nicholson's chosen charities are Tiny Lives Trust and Friends Together Crook.

Personal life

A former pupil of Annfield Plain Secondary Modern School, Cllr Nicholson worked in the Co-op and Taylor's Pharmacy in Annfield Plain, and as a childminder before re-training at Houghall College and opening her own business as a florist, which she ran for 20 years.

Cllr Nicholson was elected to Durham County Council in 2008 prior to local government reorganisation in 2009 and represents the Annfield Plain electoral division.

Her hobbies include home cooking, gardening, crafting, spending time with her grandson and speaking to her grandchildren in America.

If you would like to contact Cllr Nicholson, then please Contact Chairman of the Council.

Contact Chairman of the Council

Email chairmansoffice@durham.gov.uk
Telephone 03000 267 202

Related information

Constitution and protocol for the Chairman and Vice Chairman