Agenda item

The Chair drew Members’ attention to Section 3 of the Executive Member Reports -  Decisions To Be Taken Up Until the Council Meeting - and highlighted that the Single Executive Meeting for the decision on Community Safety Enforcement Powers had not taken place on 16 July 2024 and would be re-scheduled.

 

The Chair invited Members to raise items for general discussion arising from the Information Booklet of Executive Member reports which detailed activities conducted within the respective Executive Member portfolios (Section 1), Executive decisions taken (Section 2) or to be taken where known, prior to and following the meeting (Sections 3 and 4).

 

Questions in relation to the Report of The Mayor and Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health.

 

Councillor Clynch in relation to the Council’s new policy on auto enrolment for free school meals.

 

The Mayor confirmed that the new policy would save families approximately £400 per child, per year.  One in ten young people nationally were not in receipt of free school meals, in Middlesbrough that statistic was one in six, which highlighted the need for the new policy.

 

Councillor L Young in relation to the Council’s new policy on auto enrolment for free school meals.

 

The Mayor advised it was estimated that as many as 700 children or more would benefit from this change.   As well as ensuring access to free school meals it would also unlock over £1 million for schools through the pupil premium.

 

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

 

Councillor Saunders in relation to residential, support accommodation, resource and care leavers.

 

The Executive Member for Children’s Services confirmed that there were 491 children and young people in placements in total, 73 of whom were currently placed out of area.

 

Questions in relation to the Report of the Executive Member for Environment

 

Councillor Livingstone in relation to the Green Waste Service.

 

The Executive Member for Environment stated that there was no plan to provide proportional refunds to any residents in respect of the green waste service.  The scheme was originally intended to run until the end of November but had now been extended until the end of December 2024.

 

Councillor Ewan in relation to Gullys.

 

The Executive Member for Environment explained that the Council was responsible for managing local flood risks and carried out a regular programme of work.  A management system had been introduced to check on silt levels and provide regular maintenance town-wide.  Gully cleaning was now carried out on an annual, biannual or three-yearly basis to minimise flood risk.

 

 

Councillor Saunders in relation to the Green Waste Service.

 

The Executive Member for Environment was not able to provide details of any additional costs incurred during the recent roll out of the Green Waste Service as he did not have that information to hand at the meeting.  However, the Executive Member agreed to provide a response Councillor Saunders by the end of the week.

 

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

 

Councillor L Young in relation to the Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC) Asset Transfer.

 

The Executive Member for Regeneration welcomed the investment that the MDC brought and commented that in fact the Council was well positioned to do that kind of investment itself.  Examples of sites throughout the town that had been developed by Middlesbrough Council in partnership with the Tees Valley Combined Authority and others included TeesAmp, Boho X and the Digital Sector.  The Executive Member was happy to work with the MDC on any proposals to enhance individual assets that had been transferred to them.  With a new Government now in place, it was anticipated that further discussions would take place in relation to the MDC and asset transfer.

 

Councillor Henman in relation to the Local Plan.

 

The Executive Member for Regeneration agreed that the Local Plan was very important to direct housing and commercial, retail and industrial buildings to the appropriate areas of the town.   It was a high priority for the current administration to have a new updated Local Plan in place and the planning team had worked hard on its development.   Any additional Government funding that was available for planning would be much welcomed by the Council.