The previous election took place in 2008 in advance of the council becoming a unitary authority after the 2009 changes to local government.

Those who were temporarily away from their ordinary address (for example, away working, on holiday, in student accommodation or in hospital) were also entitled to vote in the local elections,[3] although those who had moved abroad and registered as overseas electors cannot vote in the local elections.

It is possible to register to vote at more than one address (such as a university student who had a term-time address and lives at home during holidays) at the discretion of the local Electoral Register Office, but it remains an offence to vote more than once in the same local government election.

The Liberal Democrats lost 18 seats compared to the 2008 results, with their representation on the new council limited to the city of Durham and the division of Consett North.

The Conservative Party lost six seats, winning only in the two Barnard Castle divisions.