Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest.

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

To receive the Minutes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 17 September 2025 were submitted and approved as a correct record, subject to the following amendments:

Minute No 25/20 – Fourth paragraph, last sentence in relation to the date of the next meeting of the Place Scrutiny Panel should read “27 October” rather than “20 October”.

Minute No 25/21 – Nineth paragraph, third sentence after “ordinarily” add: “them”.

Further to a request from the Board for details of the total number of young people engaged in the Youth Justice System, the Democratic Services Manager stated there were approximately 90 children open to youth justice in Middlesbrough who were active cases.  Support was also provided to children in police custody and this figure did not include those children or the ones supported at Court.

To receive updates from Scrutiny Panel Chairs.

Scrutiny Panel Chairs were invited to provide their updates to OSB.

The Chair of the Place Scrutiny Panel advised the Board that the Final Report on Home to School Transport had recently been presented to the Executive.  The Place Scrutiny Panel would monitor the executive actions agreed going forward.  The Place Panel last met on 29 September and agreed the Terms of Reference for the scrutiny investigation into Barriers to Regeneration.  At the next meeting of the Executive on 12 November 2025, the Chair would be presenting the Panel’s Final Report on Empty Properties for consideration.

The Chair of the Children’s Scrutiny Panel informed the Board that the next meeting was scheduled for 27 October 2025.  The Panel would be continuing its investigation into Out of Area Specialist Provision, receiving further evidence in relation to Workforce Development Strategy (SEND and Inclusion) and how this had assisted in maintaining children in Middlesbrough education provision.  The Panel would also consider the Terms of Reference for the review.

The Chair of the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Panel advised OSB the Panel had last met on 20 October 2025.  The Panel had agreed their Terms of Reference for the review of Healthy Placemaking with a Focus on Childhood Obesity and had also received a presentation on Healthy Placemaking through Transport and Infrastructure.

NOTED

The Executive Member for Children’s Services will be in attendance to provide an update on activity within his portfolio.

The Chair welcomed the Executive Member for Children’s Services, who was accompanied by the Interim Executive Director. 

The Executive Member was invited to deliver his presentation.  The Chair reminded Members not to discuss individual casework and to ask any questions they had at the end of each slide.

The Executive Member had been in post for almost twelve months and the permanent Executive Director of Children’s Services had been in post for eight days.  There would be a handover period prior to the Interim Executive Director leaving the Authority.

Children’s Services Mission Statement was shared as follows:

•        Keep children and young people at the heart of our work.

•        Work together to get the best outcomes for our children, young people and families.

•        Learn from what we do to improve the experience for young people and families.

•        Work together with integrity trusting each other in an open and honest manner and exercising moral courage in all that we do.

•        Work in a way that is creative , developing new ideas to deliver a better future for children's young people and their families.

•        When safeguarding services are necessary and children need protecting,  we ensure they are cared for well as any good parent would do.

•        Our aim is to keep our children looked after in the community that they know best and where they have a sense of belonging.

Members were updated on key numbers in relation to children and families and the Executive Member highlighted that there had been a reduction in the number of children looked after from 504 since he last presented the data to the Overview and Scrutiny Board in January 2025. 

•        Number of families accessing Early Help – 658.

•        Number of child and family assessments being completed – 297.

•        Number of children subject to Child in Need Plans – 418.

•        Number of children subject to Child Protection Plans – 350.

•        Number of children looked after by Middlesbrough Council – 494.

In relation to the 494 children looked after by Middlesbrough Council, a breakdown was provided of their current situation.  This included for example, the numbers of those in foster care, living in residential homes both in and outside of Middlesbrough, in secure accommodation etc.  It was noted that there were currently 97 children in foster care and 112 with connected carers.   These figures had increased since January and this reflected some of the really important work that had taken place with carers.  There had also been a reduction in children living in residential homes that were outside of Middlesbrough and an increase in those within Middlesbrough.  The Council had recently re-opened Holly Lodge and had been able to bring children back from other placements.

It was noted that there were also private sector residential homes operating within the town.  Other local authorities who placed children into private homes were bound to inform Middlesbrough Council.  However, Middlesbrough Council did not have any responsibilities towards those children.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25/29

To consider forthcoming Executive Decisions.

The Chair introduced the report for the Board’s consideration.  A copy of the Work Programme was attached at Appendix A and Members were asked to raise any issues they had in relation to any of the items listed.

Members identified several entries on the Forward Plan which they felt required more information. Those items were:

·        Development of Middlehaven Proposals to commence preparatory work for the comprehensive redevelopment of Middlehaven – information was requested in terms of the consultation arrangements.

·        Investment in Homelessness Proposals for investment alongside a social investor to purchase properties to reduce the expenditure on temporary accommodation – clarification as to the £6 million grant funding.

·        Middlesbrough Street Security Approval to enter into a funding agreement with TVCA to deliver 3 year pilot – confirmation that this project was on track.

ORDERED that:

1.     The Democratic Services Manager would request further information from the relevant Service Areas relating to the following entries on the Forward Plan:

·        Development of Middlehaven Proposals to commence preparatory work for the comprehensive redevelopment of Middlehaven.

·        Investment in Homelessness Proposals for investment alongside a social investor to purchase properties to reduce the expenditure on temporary accommodation.

·        Middlesbrough Street Security Approval to enter into a funding agreement with TVCA to deliver 3 year pilot.

2.     The report was noted.

To receive updates on Forward Plan Actions.

The Democratic Services Manager informed the Board that there were no actions to update for this meeting.

None.