Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest.

WELCOME AND EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Chair welcomed those present and advised that as there were no scheduled tests, should the fire alarm sound, attendees should evacuate the building via the nearest fire exit and assemble at the Bottle of Notes opposite MIMA.

The Minutes of the previous meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 25 September 2024 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board Call-in meeting held on 30 September 2024 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

** SUSPENSION OF COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES - ORDER OF BUSINESS

ORDERED: that in accordance with section 4.57 of the Council Procedure Rules, the Committee agreed to vary the order of business to consider agenda item 8), as the next item of business.

The Chair introduced the item 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.

A Board Member requested an advanced briefing in relation to the item on Cemetery Provision due to be considered by the Executive on 8 January 2025.  The Director of Regeneration confirmed that he would circulate a briefing note on the issue, via Democratic Services.

AGREED that the Director of Regeneration would circulate a briefing note to the Board, in relation to ‘Cemetery Provision’, due to be considered by the Executive on 8 January 2025.

The Deputy Mayor & Executive Member for Education and Culture will be in attendance to provide an update in their capacity as portfolio holder for Education and Culture.

Councillor Storey, Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Education and Culture, accompanied by the Director of Regeneration and the Director of Education and Partnerships, was in attendance at the meeting to provide the Board with an update regarding her portfolio in relation to Education and Culture.

As part of the Executive Member’s portfolio in relation to Culture, the Board heard that this included strengthening the town’s cultural sector through strong sector leadership with the Cultural partnership, liaising with the Regional Arts Council and funding bids.

There was a range of venues and museums within the cultural remit including Middlesbrough Town Hall, Middlesbrough Theatre, Newham Grange Leisure Farm and associated partnerships, Dorman Museum and Captain Cook Museum.

In addition, events such as the Orange Pip Market sat within the Culture remit, together with storage preservation and engagement delivered by Teesside Archives and a wide range of arts and music projects within arts development.

The Executive Member’s priorities in relation to her culture portfolio were:-

·        To extend the uses for the Town Hall.

·        Extend Cultural ambassadors programme.

·        Support music partnerships to achieve long term outcomes.

·        Support Middlesbrough Art Week and NPO (National Portfolio Organisations) Partners.

·        To make Middlesbrough the heart of artistic and community creativity.

During discussion, the following issues were raised:-

·        In response to a query, the Board was advised that Teesside Archives was located within the Dorman Museum and services could be accessed by the public, however, it was generally best to book an appointment in advance if looking for specific documents.

·        In response to a request for an update in relation to Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, it was stated that a report was awaited in relation to proposals put forward from a private investor.

·        Reference was made to the Executive Member’s priority to extend the use of the Town Hall and it was queried whether examples could be provided.  The Executive Member replied that she would like to see it being more widely used by commercial ventures and by community groups.

·        Reference was made to the Orange Pip Market and it was queried whether there were any plans to extend it to Baker/Bedford Street, rather than holding it in just one of the streets as it could become crowded.  The Executive Member advised that originally both streets were used for Orange Pip and also Centre Square, or the Town Hall during inclement weather.  When it was held in just one of the streets that was usually due to there not being enough stalls to take up both streets.

·        Further information was requested around the Cultural Ambassador’s Programme and the Board was informed that the Council launched the programme to create a fund to help the creative sector continue to plan and deliver outstanding events across the town.  This year partners from Holiday Inn Express, Leonardo Hotel, Teesside University and Stagecoach North East, had provided funding which organisations could tap into.

·        A Member of the Board queried whether there were any plans to deliver bigger-scale cultural events with the Tees  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/32

Councillor Branson, Chair of the Place Scrutiny Panel, presented the Final Report on Waste Management.  The review was undertaken by the former Environment Scrutiny Panel between September 2023 and March 2024, of which he was Vice Chair at the time, and the topic now fell within the remit of the Place Scrutiny Panel.  The draft final report was considered by the Place Scrutiny Panel at an additional meeting on 23 September 2024.  Members of the former Environment Scrutiny Panel were also invited to attend that meeting and, collectively, Members formulated conclusions and recommendations for inclusion in the report.

The purpose of the review was to examine waste management practices, focusing on how to increase recycling rates to meet targets whilst minimising the cost of waste disposal in Middlesbrough.

The terms of reference for the review were set out at paragraph three of the report together with the evidence gathered by the Panel during the course of the review.

The Panel’s conclusions, based on the evidence gathered during the review, were detailed at page 36, paragraph 231.  In summary the Panel found that Middlesbrough was not good at recycling and had one of the highest rates of residual waste collection per person - above the regional and national average.  This was due to a number of factors including a high number of terraced properties using communal bins and not generating green waste for recycling.  There were also issues with high levels of contaminated recycling.

The cost of residual waste disposal had continued to increase and was set to almost double by 2026.  In comparison, disposal of recyclable waste was much cheaper, therefore, it was essential to reduce the amount of residual waste being sent for disposal and to increase recycling rates, whilst reducing contaminated recycling.

The Panel had also looked at fly-tipping and found that whilst it was a problem in Middlesbrough, levels were lower than in many other comparator areas.  Middlesbrough had increased its enforcement activity in recent years. 

During the course of discussion, the following issues were raised:-

·         A Member of the Board welcomed the report and was happy to support the recommendations but noted that it largely related to residential waste and not public waste/waste bins.  The Chair of Place Scrutiny Panel advised that as waste management was such a broad topic, this had not been considered as part of the terms of reference on this occasion.

·         Reference was made to page 35 regarding the contractual arrangements for the new wheeled bins and in response to a query it was clarified that the £1,000 each micro-chip readers for the bins had been supplied free of charge as part of the contract.

·         In relation to the £40 annual charge for green waste collections, assurances were sought that the charge would not be increased.  It was confirmed that there were no plans to increase the charge and that the Mayor had confirmed at a recent Council meeting that there would be no increase for at least two years.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24/33

The Democratic Services Officer submitted a report seeking the Board’s formal approval of the People Scrutiny Panel’s Work Programme for 2024/25.

At its meeting on 16 September 2024, the People Scrutiny Panel agreed the following topics for inclusion in its Work Programme:-

In-depth reviews:

·         Children Missing from Education.

·         Homelessness.

·         Obesity.

Updates:

·         South Tees Safeguarding Children Partnership (STSCP).

·         Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board (TSAB).

·         Medium Term Financial Plan Refresh for Children’s Services and Environment and Adult Social Care and Health Integration Directorates.

Possible Updates:

·         Children's Mental Health.

·         Dental Recovery Progress.

·         Special Allocation Scheme.

·         Speech and Language CYP Services.

AGREED that the People Scrutiny Panel Work Programme for 2024/25, as set out above, be approved.

People Scrutiny Panel

The Chair of the People Scrutiny Panel updated the Board that the Panel had met on 14 October 2024 when it agreed the terms of reference for its current review, ‘Children Missing from Education’.  It was clarified that the Panel was looking at a specific cohort – those missing from the school roll.  The Panel also received a position update from the Director of Adult Social Care and Health Integration in relation to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection.

The Panel’s next meeting was scheduled for 11 November 2024 and would receive further evidence in relation to its current scrutiny topic.

Place Scrutiny Panel

The Chair of the Place Scrutiny Panel updated the Board that the Panel met on 7 October 2024 and had received evidence in relation to its scrutiny topic ‘Home to School Transport’ from the Independent Travel Trainor. The Panel also heard from the Head of Resident and Business Support in relation to its other scrutiny topic of ‘Empty Properties’.

Two Task and Finish Groups had been established to examine the scrutiny topics concurrently and terms of reference were being drafted for each.

The Panel’s next meeting was scheduled for 4 November 2024 and would receive further evidence in relation to Empty Properties, regarding ethical lettings, and further evidence in relation to Home to School Transport.

AGREED that the information provided be noted.

Community Cohesion Task and Finish Group

Councillor Branson updated the Board in relation to the Task and Finish Group established to look at Community Cohesion.

The Group had considered the Final Report in relation to the topic produced by the Culture and Communities Scrutiny Panel in 2021 and had subsequently met with the Head of Neighbourhoods to discuss the current position.

The Task and Finish Group was now looking to establish a meeting with the Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner and the MP for Middlesbrough to discuss the disorder that took place in the summer.  The Group would also look at the possibility of speaking to the Tees Valley Mayor.

NOTED