Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the Executive meeting held on 8 March 2022 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The Mayor and the Chief Executive submitted a report for the Executive’s consideration. The purpose of the report was to present a revised Strategic Plan workplan, which would address issues identified in the recent budget consultation, including infrastructure within the town.  The report planned to seek approval of the proposed revisions to the Strategic Plan workplan for the 2022-2024 period, to demonstrate progress towards and achievement of Council approved Strategic Plan outcomes.

Appendix 1 of the submitted report set out the proposed revised Strategic Plan workplan 2022-24.

In conjunction with the refresh of the Strategic Plan workplan for the 2022-24 period, Directorate Priorities had also been refreshed for the period 2022/23. That demonstrated a whole-Council approach to support delivery of the Council’s strategic aims and priorities. As operational matters and for noting, Directorate Priorities for 2022-23 were detailed at Appendix 3 of the submitted report.

OPTIONS

It was imperative that the Council effectively articulated and communicated an overarching plan, which directed activity across Directorates towards the achievement of its strategic priorities. As such, no other options had been considered.

ORDERED

1.     That the proposed Strategic Plan workplan activities be approved to assure achievement of the Council’s strategic aims and priorities for the 2022-25 period.

2.     That the delegation of approval for minor amendments to in-quarter timescales to the Chief Executive be agreed and that any significant variation to approach or deliverables be reported via the quarterly corporate performance results reports to Executive for approval.

3.     That the Directorate Priorities for 2022/23 be noted, which together with the Strategic Plan workplan, comprised an overall strategic delivery plan.

REASON

To provide the necessary detail to demonstrate robust delivery plans of the Council’s strategic priorities and assurance of the associated governance.

The Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Children’s Services and the Director of Education and Partnerships submitted a report for the Executive’s consideration. The purpose of the report was to seek approval of schemes to be added to the Schools Capital Programme, for delivery to commence in the academic years 2021/22 and 2022/23.

The report set out Middlesbrough Council’s responsibilities to maintain school buildings and ensure there was sufficient school places to meet demand. The report outlined a programme of capital works to address school maintenance priorities and increase provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The report also identified the proposed financing from the Department for Education (DfE) capital grants.

Appendix 1 of the submitted report set out new schemes proposed to be added to the programme for delivery during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years and beyond. It included schemes aimed at improving the condition of schools - roof works, improvements to heating systems, and drainage works.

OPTIONS

The Executive could have chosen not to approve the schemes for inclusion in the Schools Capital Programme. In the short term, that could have led to elements of the buildings identified failing, resulting in lost teaching and learning time, inappropriate learning environments, health and safety risks, and a shortage of school places for some of the town’s most vulnerable learners.

In the longer-term, such an approach would have led to the gradual decline of the condition of the schools, children being out of school unnecessarily and escalating costs for both the schools and the Council.

ORDERED

That the new schemes included in Appendix 1, and discussed in the report, be approved and added to the Schools Capital Programme for delivery to commence in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 academic years.

REASON

To ensure that the grant funding available was spent in a timely manner on improving teaching and learning environments and outcomes for young people.

To deliver the Council’s statutory obligation to ensure there were sufficient school places to meet demand, in particular for children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN), and to meet suitability and condition requirements.

There was no obligation for the Council to consult over the schemes. Schools named in the programme had been engaged on a tentative basis to ensure that, where a school contribution to the cost of schemes was required, that could be agreed.

The Executive Member for Regeneration and the Director of Regeneration and Culture submitted a report for the Executive’s consideration. The purpose of the report was to seek approval for the proposals to re-allocate road space along the Linthorpe Road corridor (between and Ayresome Street and Devonshire/Cumberland Road) to create protected cycle lanes in both directions.

The proposals planned to extend the provision created as part of phase 1 (Borough Road to Ayresome Street); connecting Linthorpe Village with the town centre. The proposals would see reduced on-street car parking; potentially impacting upon businesses and adjacent residential areas. There were also proposed side road closures, which could be perceived to reduce direct accessibility to parking, loading and bus stop consolidation proposals. The proposed plans were contained in Appendix 3 and were summarised at paragraph 8 of the report.

Consultation had been undertaken on the proposals with all stakeholders, including affected councillors, residents, businesses, bus operators and emergency services. The results of the consultation were largely supportive (see paragraph 12 of the submitted report). A full consultation questionnaire summary was contained at Appendix 6 of the submitted report.

OPTIONS

The other potential decisions that had not been recommended included:

1.     Doing nothing - that was not recommended, as it would not have allowed the Council to realise the benefits outlined within the report. That would have had an impact upon the Council’s Town Centre Strategy, Green Strategy and other strategic objectives such as the recently approved Cycling in Middlesbrough; Investment and Future Infrastructure Opportunities report.

2.     Re-assessing the corridor proposals - that was not recommended, as the proposals had been designed using internal and external expertise, identifying the most economic and safe utilisation of space.  Any changes to the provision would have had significant implications for delivery, as each element was symbiotically balanced against one another. Any alterations would have deviated away from the Department for Transport’s (DfT) cycle standards and would not have achieved the goals.

ORDERED

That the ambitious, re-allocation of road space to deliver cycle infrastructure improvements along the Linthorpe Road corridor, as per plans contained in the appendix, be approved.

REASON

The proposals planned to extend the approved provision as part of phase 1 (between Borough Road and Ayresome Street). That would create an increased seamless cycleway link between Linthorpe Village and the town centre.

The proposals were being recommended as they aligned with a number of Council objectives, namely:

·         improving safety along the corridor for all road users, and reducing accidents;

·         making the corridor more pedestrian friendly, particularly for those with mobility issues;

·         supporting the local economy; improving accessibility to local retail, leisure and services by improving facilities for short journeys to be made;

·         reducing congestion along a busy corridor to improve air quality, reduce noise and help to improve the local environment;

·         better use of the available space to improve the public realm; giving the space back to people as opposed to vehicles to help the area to look and feel amazing;

·         improving public health by reducing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21/118

The Executive Member for Environment and Finance & Governance and the Director of Finance submitted a report for the Executive’s consideration. The purpose of the report was to seek approval of the Middlesbrough Council Tender Pipeline for 2022/23, including the delegation of responsibility for award to the relevant Director in consultation with the appropriate Executive Member.

The Tender Pipeline would be a live record, maintained by the Commissioning and Procurement Team and was available for the supplier market to view on the Council’s website.

The Tender Pipeline for 2022/23 was contained at Appendix A of the submitted report.

ORDERED

That the tender pipeline for 2022/23, including the delegation of responsibility for award to the relevant Director in consultation with the appropriate Executive Member, be approved.

REASON

To continue to demonstrate strong governance arrangement for procurement activity undertaken by the Council.