Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any declarations of interest.

There were no Declarations of Interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the Culture and Communities Scrutiny Panel held on 19 May 2022 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

Richard Horniman, Director of Regeneration and Culture and Geoff Field, Director of Environment and Community Services will be in attendance to provide the panel with an overview of their service areas and to discuss the key priorities for 2022/23.

The Chair welcome to the panel to the first meeting of the municipal year and advised that as per normal procedures, the panel would be provided with an overview from the Directors regarding their service areas.

The Chair firstly welcomed the Director of Regeneration and Culture, who providing the following information:

●     The Director was responsible for the Regeneration and Culture Directorate.

●     In terms of Regeneration, this comprised of Economic growth, Infrastructure, Planning, Capital Projects, Design Services and Housing, community learning, and Culture. Culture was within regeneration as a lot of its aims was improving the towns image, helping the economy to grow etc.

●     In terms of what the Culture service comprises; Middlesbrough runs a number of venues - encompassing the Town Hall, Middlesbrough Theatre and Newham Grange Leisure Farm, which act on a commercial basis. Museums, namely the Dorman and the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum and Open Spaces including Stewart and Albert Parks. The next focus is developing the Dorman museum, where there is a capital programme being undertaken.

●     Cultural Services also covering a range of events including the Orange Pip Market and Christmas events such as the Reindeer Parade. The Director also advised that there would be a number of new events next year. It also contributed to events such as the Mela and Discover Middlesbrough.

●     The service also oversees the delivery of the contract with Sports and Leisure Management (trading as Everyone Active) as well as playing field provision.

●     The Service was also responsible for Teesside Archives, which operates from the old county Cleveland partners, which has recently moved to its new home at the Dorman museum.

●     Lastly, within Cultural Services, they operate Arts Development, consisting of arts and music projects and this is where the service find it easiest to secure external funding.

In terms of 2022/23 priorities, the Director outlined that there were a number of targets for culture to achieve.

Within the Strategic plan, the priorities were as follows:

•          Every child playing a musical instrument- programme being expanded at present

•          Improve Thorntree and Pallister Parks (through the Town’s fund)

•          Increased ticket sales and attendances of events (all ticket sales are tracked)

•          Complete improvements to Teesaurus Park (to be completed as soon as possible)

•          Create three new annual events in 2022 (being scoped and will be launched in due course)

•          All children to get an experience of live theatre (funding pending)

•          Increase attendance at existing Council events

•          Increase visitor numbers to museums and attractions

•          Increase tickets sales for Town Hall performances

The Director finally provided some examples of cultural activities, including events in Teesaurus Park, Middlesbrough Cultural capital investment prospectus and he also advised that Middlesbrough has secured £4.2million through the Cultural development fund that will enable a number of cultural developments to be progressed, including the redevelopment of central library, to be more focused on children’s literature.

Following the presentation, the panel made a number of comments, especially in relation to the Cleveland Show being reinstated.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22/3

The Panel is asked to discuss and decide on the work programme for 2022/23.

The Chair introduced the Democratic Services officer to present the report, the purpose of which was to assist Members of the Panel to consider and agree its work programme for the 2021-2022 Municipal Year.

A list of topical issues and the suggestions received in respect of the scrutiny panel's remit were contained in the submitted report. It was suggested that the Scrutiny Panel should select two topics for full review along with several updates.

Members discussed the topics suggested in the report.

Following the discussion, Panel Members agreed the following topics for review:

Main Topics:

1.     Scrambling bikes, illegal quad bikes and e-scooters- what enforcement is in place/ has operation kickstart been rolled out to other areas of Cleveland?

2.     The impact of private rented properties on areas of owner occupied properties-what can be done to mitigate negative effects.

The following updates would also be provided:

1.     Future High street fund

2.     Surveillance Policy

3.     Preventing Terrorism

4.     Community Safety Partnership

5.     Cohesion/ Asylum Seekers and support for Ukraine families.

6.     Previous scrutiny review – Cultural events

The panel also expressed an interest to visiting the new Art School as part of the wider Cultural programme..

AGREED that:

1.       The information provided was received and noted.

2.       The topics and reviews listed above, would be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Board for approval.

A proposed schedule of meeting dates for the Culture and Communities Scrutiny Panel for the 2022-2023 Municipal Year was submitted for the Panel's consideration.

AGREED that the proposed meeting dates for 2022-2023 were approved.

The Chair will provide a verbal update in realtion to the issues raised at the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 22 June 2022.

The Chair provided a verbal update on the discussion raised at the Overview and Scrutiny Board on 22 June 2022.

AGREED- That the update be noted.