Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest.

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

Recommendation: for noting.

The minutes of the Economic Development, Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 22 March 2023 were received and noted.

The Director of Regeneration will be in attendance to provide an overview of the service area.

Recommendation: Panel notes the information provided.

The Director of Regeneration provided an overview of the Directorate which was focussed on the economic health of the town and comprised Heads of Service for the following areas:  Economic Growth, Development, Planning, Marketing and Communications, Valuation and Estates, Creative Programmes and Partnerships, Community Learning and Employability, and Sport and Client Relationship.

Economic Growth focussed on enabling the town to grow sustainably, encompassing the town centre, economy and business.  This service area developed bids for project funding and worked with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.  Reports and presentations for Executive and Scrutiny also formed part of the remit.

Development concentrated on the front-end bidding and relationships with other organisations such as the Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park and Centre Square One and Two.  Development also worked on the preparation of housing sites for sale.  If the Council owned land that was an allocated site, Officers would be involved in the planning permission, masterplan and ensuring the land was developed properly.  Design Services were also part of that team.

The Planning Service dealt with planning applications, building control and the Local Plan.  Planning applications were assessed and either decided by Officers or taken to Committee for a decision.  Building Control was a statutory function of the Council, although residents generally used private companies. 

Culture managed various venues and developed the culture sector in Middlesbrough.  Venues included the Town Hall, Dorman Museum, Newham Hall Farm and the Little Theatre.    The service undertook outreach work with school and also liaised with the Arts Council.  A £5 million development of Central Library was currently underway.  At the present time, there was no Head of Service in post and the Head of Growth had taken responsibility.

Marketing and Communications promoted the Council and the Town via the Council website, press releases, internal staff communications and the Love Middlesbrough magazine.

Community Learning made provision for adults and children who were not in mainstream education settings and was based in the Multi Media Centre.   There were also bases at Lingfield Farm and the Acklam Green Centre. 

Valuation and Estates was the Council’s property function for buying and selling.  It was responsible for all Council owned buildings, including its commercial portfolio and their maintenance.  The Council had a long lease on Centre Square 1 and 2, and owned industrial units at Cannon Park, two shopping centres and Tees Amp.  The commercial properties generated income for the Council but some were in poor repair and this would be a challenge going forward.

Whilst the Council supported the business community to thrive it did not provide business support generally.  There were two officers with responsibility for the town centre to help businesses work together and provide support to key sectors including digital and advanced manufacturing.  One individual worked in Boho to help the digital cluster develop.

The Council also built new commercial space and managed existing buildings.  New building would likely be limited in future because the Mayoral Development Corporation would be taking on that responsibility.  The Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23/3

Recommendation: for approval.

A proposed schedule of meeting dates for the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel for the 2023-2024 Municipal Year was submitted for the Panel's consideration.

AGREED that the proposed meeting dates for 2023-2024 were approved.

None.