Agenda item

The Chair requested those Members who had submitted questions for The Mayor to email them to the Mayor direct.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Regeneration.

 

Councillor McCabe in relation to the housing allocation for Middlesbrough and unfinished housing developments.

 

The Executive Member agreed that target number of 589 new houses set by the Government was a high number and unlikely to be achievable.  Middlesbrough Council would be challenging that allocation.  Within the Local Plan all land that was allocated would be built on eventually.  The Executive Member agreed that when housing developments were finished, the roads and services should be completed in a timely manner but was unable to give any assurances that the work would be done until new estates were adopted by the Council.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Deputy Mayor and Executive Member for Education and Culture.

 

Councillor Morrish in relation to the Early Years Information Service.

 

The Executive Member agreed that the recent news that the Early Years Information Service had achieved 105% take up of 2-year-old nursery places was a fantastic achievement that should be applauded and publicised.  The Executive Member promised to ascertain why the Council had not issued a press release congratulating the team’s achievement.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Children’s Services.

 

Councillor J Platt in relation to the high number of agency staff in the Children’s and Disabilities Team, caseloads in the Children Looked After Team and a predicted overspend of £3.7 million in Children’s Services.

 

The Executive Member agreed to provide the requested information as soon as possible.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Community Safety.

 

Councillor Ewan in relation to the recent riots and the Riot Compensation Scheme.

 

The Executive Member confirmed that the Riot Compensation Scheme was administered by the Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) Office, who would assess all applications for compensation.  Clarification was awaited on how funds would be paid to eligible residents.  The details of the scheme and the application form were available on the PCC website and also included in the Executive Member’s report.  Anyone whose property was affected by the riots was encouraged to apply.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Environment.

 

Councillor McCabe in relation to the tonnage of green waste collected this year in comparison to the previous year and also how much fly tipping had occurred.

 

The Executive Member stated that he would provide the information requested the following day.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Finance and Governance.

 

Councillor Morrish in relation to the £3.7 million deficit and whether robust monthly monitoring was taking place.

 

The Executive Member referred Councillor Morrish to the opinion of the Improvement Board and Central Government in relation to management of the budget.   Both had recognised the improvements made by Middlesbrough Council over the last year.  The £3.7 million deficit was in fact projected overspend based on information provided at the budget challenge sessions.   Measures would be taken to control expenditure within approved budgets to bring down the projected deficit.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Regeneration.

 

Councillor McClintock in relation to the sale of land at Nunthorpe Grange.

 

The Executive Member responded that the land was always for sale.  There was a forward plan in place and the land would be sold over many years, piece by piece,  along with a masterplan being redeveloped.  As per the report, two offers had been received and due diligence had been completed on one of those offers.  The purchase money would be received by the Council in this financial year and this would de-risk  the Council from development not going ahead.  The Executive Member stated that he would not have made this proposal if he did not think it was a good deal for the Council and for Middlesbrough. 

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Children’s Services.

 

Councillor Henman in relation increasing support to foster carers and addressing the gap in pay to private sector agencies.

 

The Executive Member agreed that all foster carers did a fantastic job.  In February 2023 the Council had agreed a significant pay increase for foster carers to bring them at least in line with, private fostering agencies.  Middlesbrough foster carers also received additional payments to assist with providing birthday and Christmas presents, holidays, clothes and bedding.  All foster carers received monthly supervision and had access to support groups and comprehensive training as well as paid respite.   The Council was on track to approve 15 new foster carers this year.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Community Safety.

 

Councillor Grainge asked whether community action days and the provision of community skips would be rolled out across the town and how Councillors could apply to have them in their own wards.

 

The Executive Member replied that unfortunately at the present time, this initiative would not be rolled out across the town.  Funding had been provided by Safer Streets Five specifically for Beechwood and Longlands and Central Wards.  Those two Wards had been prioritised for the available funding based on data received from active intelligence in relation to issues such as fly tipping, crime and anti-social behaviour.  The Council had received five allocations of funding to date that had been awarded to Hemlington, Newport and Berwick Hills and Pallister Wards in addition to the two mentioned above.    

 

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Environment.

 

Councillor Jones to email the question direct to the Executive Member.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Environment.

 

Councillor Henman in relation to parking issues in Hall Drive, Acklam Ward.

 

The Executive Member agreed to meet with Councillor Henman, Officers and relevant organisations to seek a solution to the current issues.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Finance and Governance.

 

Councillor Kabuye in relation to the budget and the current forecasted reduction in overspend and improvement in reserves compared to the previous year.

 

The Executive Member commented that whilst the projected overspend was lower than the previous year, it was very important that there was no complacency.  There was more for the Council to do in order to set a balanced budget next year.  The Executive Member was encouraged that the Group Leaders had set aside political differences to form a  joint financial resilience working group to work together on the budget.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Regeneration.

 

Councillor Branson in relation to the restoration of the old Town Hall.

 

The Executive Member commented that the old Town hall stood alone in the area and previous attempts at regeneration had failed.  The ambition was that the restored Town Hall would be the focal point of the St Hilda’s area and the clock tower would be framed in a contemporary way.  The Council would work with the Middlesbrough Development Corporation to bring that area of the town back to life.

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Children’s Services.

 

Councillor Banks in relation to Children’s Services being removed from government intervention, progress made over the last year and also moving forward.

 

The Executive Member stated that in May 2023, all senior and middle managers and most social workers had been employed on temporary contracts.  Since then work had been undertaken to recruit permanent staff including two Directors, four Heads of Service and the number of agency social workers had been reduced from 58 to 40.  The removal of government intervention was testament to the hard work of the refreshed leadership of the labour administration and the passion and dedication of children’s services staff who had worked tirelessly to deliver the improvements for the benefit of children in care. 

 

Question in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Environment.

 

Councillor Grainge in relation to brown bins and green waste.

 

The Executive Member agreed there had been some confusion over a statement made that residents could put garden waste in the black bins.  It was clarified that there was no sanction that could be imposed if residents did this.  However, the Council strongly recommended against putting green waste in the black bin and encouraged the use of the garden waste collection service at an annual cost of £40 per household.  It was also suggested that residents could share the cost by sharing a brown bin.