Agenda and minutes

In the event the fire alarm sounds attendees will be advised to evacuate the building via the nearest fire exit and assemble at the Bottle of Notes opposite MIMA.

 

 

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained the Fire Evacuation Procedure.

To receive any declarations of interest.

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

The minutes of the Place Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 17 July 2025 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

 

The Head of Growth and Assets and the Strategic Town Centre Manager will be in attendance to provide an overview on Barriers to Regeneration.

 

Recommendation: that the Panel determines what further information will be required for this scrutiny investigation.

The Head of Growth and the Town Centre Manager were in attendance and provided a presentation on Barriers to Regeneration.

 

From December 2024 to February 2025, a consultation had been carried out whereby a simple and open questionnaire had been sent to stakeholders and partners to highlight matters which were of critical importance to their organisation and how Middlesbrough could collectively work towards addressing those issues and boost Middlesbrough’s economic prospects.

 

It was noted that the top five challenges which were holding Middlesbrough back from fulfilling its potential were as follows:

 

1.     ASB & Crime – general feeling even if not backed up with statistics.

2.     Empty properties / over supply – structural condition. Middlesbrough was the hub in Tees Valley previously. Shopping centres were very different now due to out-of-town shopping and online shopping. Multiple shopping centres – retail space needed to be reduced. Remove properties / reduce supply / or diversify - public services/cultural uses/office space.

3.     Reduced funding from central government – had improved over last five years with capital funding

4.     Poor perception

5.     Footfall / work patterns – working from home had an impact.

 

In addition, the top five things which needed to change for Middlesbrough to improve were as follows:

 

1.     Safer environment – additional lighting/policing. Street security proposals – successfully funded

2.     Improve physical environment

3.     High profile and consistent policing

4.     Animation and events was key. People needed a reason to be in Middlesbrough in their free time.

5.     Diversify / repurpose vacant units and ‘Blight Sites’. Many units had been left for many years – incentives were not working.

 

Finally, the top five things that Middlesbrough needed to collectively concentrate investment in or apply for funding for were as follows:

 

1. Make the town centre feel safe and increase police presence – security presence

2. Attractions and events (focused in the heart of the town centre)

3. Rebalance / diversify Middlesbrough’s economy

4. Improve physical environment – elevating the space. The town was not as busy as   previous years so things were noticeable.

5. Residential – driver for footfall. Professionals/young professionals/young   professional families

 

General barriers to regeneration in Middlesbrough were also discussed which included the following:

 

•           Infrastructure capacity – acute atm. Power supplies. £20m additional power supply needed

•           Funding availability – need to wait for budget/spending review

•           Disposable income – consumer economy – 800,000 people within 30 min drive

•           Skill gaps, employment and opportunities. Lose talent

•           Perceptions internally and externally

•           Takes time to grow. Tech sector

•           Immature professional sectors

•           Fragility to shocks – deprivation areas – much more fragile. If one sector falls – distortive impact

•           Confused legislative environment (business rates, incentives, taxes)

•           Competition wider-region / alternative methods – can’t do Teesworks – no room for this. Concentrate on events etc

•           Aligning multiple stakeholders – starting to improve

•           Cost / value equation – all sectors. Not worth it – commercial sector particularly

•           Fragmented vision (major area of work now)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25/18

Recommendation: that Panel Members consider, discuss and agree the Terms of Reference for the scrutiny review of Barriers to Regeneration.

By way of a starting point and to facilitate discussion, the Democratic Services Officers presented some potential Terms of Reference for the Barriers to Regeneration scrutiny review. The Chair invited Members to discuss the proposals and to consider any revisions or additions.

 

Following discussion, the panel agreed the terms of reference as follows:

 

1.     To establish what the Barriers to Regeneration are

2.     To identify good practice from other local authorities in relation to attracting businesses to the area

3.     To investigate what measures are in place to make people feel safer in our town centre and neighbourhoods

4.     To gain an understanding of current legislation available to local authorities to tackle anti-social behaviour

 

 

The Chair will provide a verbal update on matters considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board 30^th July 2025 & 17^th September 2025.

The Chair provided an update on items discussed at the recent Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 30 July 2025 which included:

 

·        Executive Member Update – The Mayor

·        Delivery against the Continuous Improvement Plan - Progress update

·        Overview and Scrutiny Board - Work Programme 2025/26

·        Scrutiny - Work Planning 2025/26

·        Pre-Decision Scrutiny Protocol

 

The Chair also advised that there had been a further meeting held on 17 September 2025 which he was unable to attend but the Board had received updates on the following:

 

·        Executive Member Update - Education and Culture

·        Executive Forward Work Programme

·        Forward Plan Actions Progress

·        Draft Terms of Reference - Poverty, its impact, and efforts to tackle it.

·        Scrutiny Chairs Update

27 October 2025 at 1:30pm.

The next meeting of the Place Scrutiny Panel was scheduled for Monday 27 October 2025 at 1.30 pm.

Any other urgent items which in the opinion of the Chair, may be considered.

None.