Agenda item

The Chair invited Members to raise items for general discussion arising from the Information Booklet of Executive Member reports which detailed activities carried out 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).

The Chair advised that as 22 questions on Executive Member reports had been received, he would invite Councillors to put their questions until the allocated time for Executive Member questions had expired. Any remaining questions could be emailed by the member to the appropriate Executive Member.

 

Questions to the Deputy Mayor and Lead Member for Children's Social Care

Councillor Thompson regarding Youth Service In Middlesbrough.

 

Councillor Thompson stated that Linx was an excellent youth service that covered the areas of Hemlington, Coulby Newham, Breckon Hill, Netherfields, Ayresome, Newport and Central Wards. Councillor Thompson pointed out that only one East Middlesbrough Ward was covered by this provision. Councillor Thompson requested that any additional youth service provision be extended to cover the Brambles and Thorntree Ward.

 

The Executive Member stated that he would like to see the youth service covering every Ward. The programme that was being considered at the moment covered transition work, targeted and universal provision. The Executive Member had managed to secure 250k for the additional youth provision. The aim was for the service to be spread across the town fairly and evenly as possible. The Executive Member stated that there were a number of other good organisations providing youth services across the town. The Council was waiting for providers to come forward and it was anticipated that the best and appropriate providers would be selected. The Executive Member stated that he would continue to champion young people at every opportunity.

 

Councillor Mawston regarding Youth Service in Middlesbrough

 

Councillor Mawston stated that the only youth service in Marton for the past 19 years was a voluntary service provided by Councillor Davison He queried with regard to what response had been received from potential providers.

 

The Executive Member thanked the Marton West Ward Councillors and all of the voluntary organisations for their work in providing a youth service. He stated that the Council had received submissions from various providers across the town across all the different elements of the contract. The closing date for tenders was 23 November 2020. The services would be active from 1 April 2021. The Executive Member thanked the Council staff who had worked on the tendering process.

 

Councillor Uddin regarding Social Work Teams

 

Councillor Uddin referred to the use of agency workers and queried whether the Council could employ agency workers on a long term basis for up to a year to two years. 

 

The Executive Member advised that the reality was, that legally, the local authority were not allowed to take on agency staff on a long term basis as there were contractual arrangements in place that prevented this. The use of agency staff in children's services was a national problem. The level of agency staff employed by the Council was 21% which was quite low compared to other authorities in the same position as this Council. The Council would like to use as little agency staff as possible but they needed to be realistic to the current circumstances that the Council faced. The Council used managed services which was when they employed a full team of agency staff to carry out bespoke targeted work. The Council was launching a Strategic Workforce Programme in the near future which would have key work streams around recruitment and retention.

 

 Questions to the Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health

 

Councillor Hellaoui regarding Local Authority Asylum Support Liaison Officers (LAASLOS) queried whether advice and communications to asylum seekers could be written in simple English.

 

The Executive Member clarified that a number of individuals were still waiting for a decision with regard to whether they would be allowed to stay in the country. Once the decision had been made, they would be provided with any necessary assistance required.

 

Councillor Higgins regarding Domestic Abuse/Sexual Violence

 

Councillor Higgins referred to the fact that the Government had provided guidance to Councils about providing safe accommodation to children. Councillor Higgins stated that it was an opportunity for Middlesbrough to join up with the IRIS Programme (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety). This could reduce the impact on the criminal justice system. Councillor Higgins queried whether the Council was prepared to match fund My Sisters Place.

 

The Executive Member advised that an update had been provided at paragraphs 9 and 10 of her Executive Member report. In terms of funding, the Executive Member advised that she was unable to provide any detail on proposed funding at this time, but she would provide the detail at a later date.  

 

Councillor Branson regarding Walking and Cycling - Part of Covid-19 Health and Wellbeing Recovery

 

Councillor Branson stated that the Government had recently announced the Gear Change Programme. He queried with regard to what improvements the Council was making to cycle ways.

 

The Executive Member advised that she would forward a copy of the details received from the Government with regard to the Gear Change Programme. She stated that as it was a relatively new initiative, no decisions had yet been made. She stated that a meeting had been held earlier in the day and he stated that he would pass any relevant information on to the member concerned. 

 

Councillor Mawston regarding Eco Shops Supporting Vulnerable People during the Pandemic

 

Councillor Mawston queried with regard to how successful the Eco Shops had been and what the figures for take-up were.

 

The Executive Member provided information with regard to the background to the Eco Shops and the services they had provided to date.

 

Questions to the Executive Member for Communities and Education

 

Councillor Cooke regarding Events

 

Councillor Cooke stated that he was pleased to see so much community activity taking place in the town.  He queried whether there was any scope to hold meetings to discuss what people wanted in the individual Wards.

 

The Executive Member acknowledged the work that Councillor Cooke and Councillor P Storey had done in encouraging community involvement. The Executive Member stated that she would like to meet with the member regarding the Winter Wonderland Trail.

 

Questions to the Executive Member for Environment

 

Councillor Dodds regarding Wildflowers

 

Councillor Dodds queried with regard to where the wildflowers would be planted?

 

The Executive Member advised that the Council were looking to programme the sowing down of 30,000m2 of flowers by spring 2021. He stated that he would send the member a full list of the areas to be planted.

 

Councillor M Storey regarding LOBNR

 

Councillor Storey stated that he was pleased to see that the new nature reserve to the Junction of North Ormesby/Shepherdson Way and the A66 was being taken forward. He queried whether the Ward Councillors for the area could be involved in any future meetings.

 

The Executive Member advised that the area would be removed from the Council's Asset Register. A report was due to be submitted to Executive with regard to the proposal. The Executive Member confirmed that the Ward Councillors would be advised of any progress and invited to any future meetings.

 

Questions to the Executive Member for Finance and Governance

 

Councillor J Walker regarding Decisions (MTFP and Budget Savings Proposals 2021/2022) and Housing Benefit Performance

 

Councillor Walker queried whether more detail could be included in future Executive Member reports with regard to each decision taken. Councillor Walker stated that she also wanted to thank the Housing Benefits Team for all of their hard work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The Executive Member advised that she would include more detail, in future reports, with regard to each decision taken. The Executive Member stated that she was delighted about the way in which the Revenues and Benefits Team had worked during the pandemic, managing to facilitate grants and benefits in a very short timescale. The Executive Member stated that she wanted to congratulate the staff for managing to maintain their day-to-day job, alongside the additional work required as a result of the new grants.

 

Questions to the Executive Member for Regeneration

 

Councillor Furness regarding Infrastructure

 

Councillor Furness stated that he was pleased that his ward had secured a zebra crossing through the Members Small Scheme Allocation Fund. He queried whether the Council could roll out a programme for better crossings rather than having to bid for them through the above scheme.

 

The Executive Member stated that he would look into the above to see if it could be done in another way. 

 

Councillor Branson regarding Infrastructure

 

Councillor Branson thanked the Executive for approving a crossing on Newham Way. He queried whether any action could be taken on HGVs using Newham Way.

 

The Executive Member stated that a meeting could be arranged with Councillor Branson and the Highways Department to discuss the issue.