Corporate Research and Information

As well as delivering a range of essential services, the County Council plays a leading role in a number of multi-agency partnerships and champions important initiatives that help to enhance the quality of life for the county's residents. It is therefore essential that the people engaged in formulating policy have access to comprehensive and up-to-date information.

The Research and Information service holds comprehensive information resources and we have our own in-house research capacity, enabling us to provide statistical advice and information to decision makers within the county council, as well as to other organisations and individuals. Providing a statistical basis for the county council's economic development policy work is a particular priority.

Our research capacity is needed to meet the consultation requirements arising from Best Value, as well as to co-ordinate and monitor the county council's targets against the national Best Value and Audit Commission performance indicators, (please refer to our Best Value section). As one of the ways in which the county council consults with communities, we are also responsible for designing and commissioning public opinion research.

There is increasing competition for funding from central government and the European Union. Our ability to demonstrate the need for funding through providing statistical information in support of bids is therefore extremely important. Other statistical work relates to matters such as population (including the 2001 Census), deprivation, employment (using sources such as the Annual Census of Employment) and unemployment. The most commonly used data is summarised in the 'Figures for County Durham' publication, which is available free of charge. To further enhance this statistical information an application called InstantAtlas is used which combine tables, graphs and maps to provide standalone interactive reports.

All of this information can be accessed through the County Council's main Statistical web page.

To contact the team please Email: Corporate Research and Information.