Agenda item

ORDERED that Executive:

1.     APPROVE the acceptance of external grant funding of £3,114,939 that would enable the extension of the Changing Futures programme in Middlesbrough for a further three years from April 2026 to March 2029.

2.     APPROVE the principles and terms of the Memorandum of Understanding.

3.     DELEGATE to the Director of Public Health the authority to approve expenditure in accordance with the Changing Futures Delivery Plan, as directed by the Changing Futures Board, for the funding period April 2026 - March 2029.

The Mayor submitted a report for Executive consideration and was presented by the Deputy Mayor and Director of Public (South Tees) in the Mayor’s abesnce.

The purpose of the report sought approval to accept external grant funding that would enable the extension of the Changing Futures programme for a further three years from April 2026 to March 2029. 

Members were advised that Changing Futures was a programme that had ran across South Tees since 2021 following a successful bid to the National Lottery and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MCHLG) programme. South Tees was one of 15 local partnerships that had built strong evidence on how areas could provide a more effective response through flexible, coordinated support that worked with the whole person and drove lasting changes in how services worked together on multiple disadvantages.

It was noted the programme directly supported people experiencing multiple disadvantage (combinations of homelessness and rough sleeping, substance misuse, mental ill health, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system) and aimed to develop strong partnerships and understanding of system change required to better support people to lead more fulfilling lives.

One of the core principles of the programme was to work in partnership across local services, and the voluntary and community sectors, building strong cross-sector partnerships at a strategic and operational level. As such the Council needed to consider itself as the host and partner in the programme, rather than key decision-maker.

Members heard the MHCLG had announced phase two of the Changing Futures programme, with 18 areas of the country sharing over £50m to help the most deprived upper-tier local authority areas in England. This represented a new phase of the cross-government public service reform programme. Led by MHCLG, it would improve outcomes for people experiencing multiple disadvantages.

Middlesbrough had been selected as a Changing Futures phase 2 area and would receive a total of £3,114,939 - £1.038M each year over the next three years (2026/27 to 2028/29).

The targeted areas had been identified as high need, based on the ranking of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). Middlesbrough had been chosen as a target area as they were second in the IMD ranking. However, Redcar and Cleveland had not been chosen as its IMD ranking of 29th was outside the chosen areas. South Tees was not considered as a composite as MHCLG only looked at individual Council footprints.

Members heard this approach was part of Government’s move from bidding processes to an allocation process. Government consultation identified there was widespread frustration with the intensity and resources required for the bidding processes.

There were questions from Members.

OPTIONS

Do nothing and do not accept the funding. This would deny Middlesbrough the opportunity for investment in the continuity of existing Changing Futures projects and improvement into services for some of the area’s most complex and vulnerable residents.

ORDERED that Executive:

1.     APPROVE the acceptance of external grant funding of £3,114,939 that would enable the extension of the Changing Futures programme in Middlesbrough for a further three years from April 2026 to March 2029.

2.     APPROVE the principles and terms of the Memorandum of Understanding.

3.     DELEGATE to the Director of Public Health the authority to approve expenditure in accordance with the Changing Futures Delivery Plan, as directed by the Changing Futures Board, for the funding period April 2026 - March 2029.

REASONS

Accepting the funding would not only help those with multiple disadvantages, continued involvement in the Changing Futures programme would also give Middlesbrough a further opportunity for ongoing learning through the programme to improve its approaches across the partnership, build the reputation of the Council with key Government departments and increase the likelihood of further funding and support.

One of the core principles of the programme was to work in partnership across local services and the voluntary and community sector, building strong cross-sector partnerships at a strategic and operational level. As such the Council should consider itself as the host and partner in the programme, rather than key decision-maker. Delegating the allocation of monies and management of procurement processes to the Director of Public Health on behalf of the Middlesbrough Changing Futures Board supported the development of a true partnership approach which was an essential element of this programme.