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 Evactuation 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 November 2025 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

The Assistant Director for Inclusive Growth and Development from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council will be in attendance to provide a presentation on current regeneration in Stockton-on-Tees.

Recommendation: that the Scrutiny Panel considers whether any further information is required for the scrutiny investigation.

The Assistant Director for Inclusive Growth and Development from Stockton on Tees Borough Council (SBC) was in attendance and provided Members with an overview of the work that was being undertaken to regenerate areas of Stockton on Tees.

SBC was undertaking a large-scale initiative to regenerate Stockton town centre and surrounding areas.  Much like Middlesbrough, SBC had identified that retail space in Stockton town centre was too vast and no longer sustainable in the modern landscape of online shopping and retail parks such as Teesside Park.  The Council had created a more compact retail core by demolishing the Castlegate Shopping Centre with most retail shops now being located in Wellington Square and the northern part of the High Street.

Members heard that the layout of the town centre was no longer in keeping with SBC’s vision and the river once heavily industrial in the 1960’s when the shopping centre was first built, had since been cleaned up.  An urban riverside park was now being developed which would connect the waterfront with the High Street.

Members were advised that the urban park would not generate any money, however SBC were trying to create an environment for growth and investment.  The park would have an amphitheatre which would host events and animate the river.

A priority for SBC was the re-establishment of the residential market, with ‘city centre living’ becoming increasingly popular, incorporating cafes, gyms and riverside settings.  Graduates were moving away from the area as they preferred ‘city centre living’ so by re-establishing the residential market it was hoped to retain graduates in the town.

A key focus for SBC was the organisation of events held in the town centre to drive footfall; Members were advised that SBC had installed anchor points and underground power supplies across the town to support events.  It was advised that shared spaces including carparks in the town could double up as events spaces.

The Globe Theatre, originally built on 1935 was key to drawing visitors to the town.  The theatre had been majorly refurbished and reopened as a live venue in 2021 maintaining its cultural heritage while adapting to modern times.  The town also benefited from two smaller venues The Arc and Georgian Theatre.

Stockton town centre had benefited from a regular market since 1310, the market continued to take place twice a week, the market was a very important park of the town and history.  As part of the regeneration, it was vital to make provision and space to continue the market.  Members heard that the fountains on the High Street prevented the space from looking barren when the market was not on.

Members heard about the Stockton Flyer, situated behind the town hall, the Stockton Flyer was a fantastic automated mechanical sculpture that appeared every day at 1.03pm it rises from within the giant stone plinth that houses it, clanging, hooting, steaming and chuffing for a full 15 minutes, this sculpture draws crowds daily including visiting school children.

Diversification was also important to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25/40

Representatives from Middlesbrough Town Centre Strategic Partnership will be in attendance to provide an update on the group’s work.

Recommendation: that the Scrutiny Panel considers whether any further information is required for the scrutiny investigation.

Representatives from the Middlesbrough Town Centre Strategic Partnership (MTCSP) were in attendance to provide the panel with information on the work that was being carried out in the town.

The MTCSP was made up of partners including Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire Brigade, South Tees Public Health, Northeast Ambulance Service, Cipher Medical, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) and various departments of Middlesbrough Council which included Licensing/Trading Standards, Housing, Children’s Services, Alcohol Care Teams and Regeneration.  Voluntary sector organisations such as Boro Angels, Women Street Watch and Safer Communities were also represented on the partnership.  

The MTCSP also engaged with licensed premises, retail premises and other businesses through forums such as Pubwatch.

Members heard that the purpose of the MTCSP was to:

·        Work together to share information/intelligence around Crime and Anti-social Behaviour (ASB) including alcohol related matters that impacted the daytime and night-time economy in a designated area of the town.

·        To set short-term actions in line with the priorities identified.

·        To tackle and reduce the impact of crime and ASB and the levels of harm caused to individuals, families, communities and businesses.

·        Ensuring that all visitors can enjoy all aspects of Middlesbrough town centre safely and responsibly.

Members were advised that the MTCSP aimed to overcome some of the barriers in terms of the public’s perception of Middlesbrough town centre, daytime or night-time, to identify the issues, making it a safer place and to support current businesses and further development.

The MTCSP partners worked together to deliver local and national strategies to improve safety in the daytime and night-time economy and strived to improve public perception of crime and disorder and ASB. 

The aims and objectives of the MTCSP were:

·        To improve public safety across the town centre and provide public reassurance and confidence.

·        To promote resilience and growth for local hospitality, leisure and businesses including licensed premises ensuring that social and leisure activities could be enjoyed safely and responsibly whilst developing a balanced and diversified daytime and night-time economy.

·        Maximising efficiencies in service delivery across all partners, exploring funding opportunities and providing oversight of any allocated funding.

The MTCSP will achieve this by:

·        Sharing information between relevant partners to identify priority issues within the town centre.

·        Developing and monitoring the delivery of partner actions.

·        Monitor and refer community tension issues.

·        Identify and develop engagement opportunities.

·        Agree collaborative actions to achieve partnership objectives.

·        Deploy relevant resources to address identified issues.

The MTCSP had developed a Problem Solving Plan for the daytime economy and a plan was being developed for the night-time economy.  Members were advised that the timing for the daytime economy ran from 06.00-19.59 and the night-time economy from 20.00-05.59.

Multiple data sources were used to develop the daytime Problem Solving Plan to capture the daytime economy issues across the town centre including police recorded incidents of crime, police recorded incidents of ASB, council service requests for issues on begging/homelessness and rough sleeping and service user/client level information to map out service demand for substance treatment.  Referrals  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25/41

The Chair will provide a verbal update on matters considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 19 November & 18 December 2025.

The Chair provided a verbal update on matters considered at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board on 19 November and 18 December 2025.

·        Scrutiny Chairs Update

·        Executive Forward Work Programme

·        Forward Plan Actions Update

·        Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan

26 January 2026 at 1:30pm

The next meeting of the Place Scrutiny Panel will take place on 26 January 2026 at 1.30pm.

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