Minutes:
The Mayor
stated that the streets were getting busier and it was encouraging that things
appeared to be getting back to normal.
Covid
The Covid
rate of infections had fallen and Middlesbrough was about 40th in
the country in terms of rates of infection. The Mayor stated that people should
enjoy the added freedom, but that they should not get too complacent and they
should continue to act responsibly. Infection rates compared to hospital
admissions were low.
Fly-tipping
The Council
was clamping down on fly-tipping. The new squad, as well as clearing the
fly-tipping away, were carrying out investigations to find out who the
perpetrators were, with the intention of prosecuting them.
Anti-social
behaviour
The Council
were closing down houses where drug dealing and other anti-social behaviour was
taking place. The Mayor urged residents to get in touch and report any
instances of anti-social behaviour.
Regeneration
The amount
of people shopping in the town was rising and business and investment in the
town was improving. The Northern School of Art had recently set up in the
centre of the town and developments like this had assisted in regenerating the
town, changing other peoples’ perception of the town and would assist in
creating jobs. More initiatives involving education were due to be announced.
The Mayor
stated that he wanted people to grow their own food and to get fit. A new
communal growing area had been established in Coulby Newham and Councillors Branson
and Smiles had attended the launch. The Mayor stated that initiatives like
these were good for mental and physical health and nutrition.
Welcome
– Councillor Grainge
The Mayor
welcomed Councillor Grainge to his first meeting of full Council and he made
reference to the work of the previous Ward Councillor - Councillor Goodchild.
He encouraged people to get involved in local politics and commiserated with
the candidates that had stood for election but did not get elected.
The Mayor
advised the members of the public that he and the rest of the Councillors were
there to help with any issues that they might have.
Hemlington
The Mayor
made reference to issues in Hemlington, including anti-social behavior and
crime and the practice of some people setting fires so that the Fire Brigade
would be called, then throwing bricks at the officers of the Fire Brigade. He
encouraged residents to report those responsible. More cameras were getting
installed in the area to enable the perpetrators to be identified, so that
appropriate action could be taken.
Councillor
M Storey reiterated the welcome to Councillor Grainge and advised that the
Council was a great place to work and he hoped that the new councillor would
enjoy it. Councillor Storey stated that he was proud of the diversity in the
town and this was reflected in the make-up of the Labour Group councillors.
Councillor
Storey stated that he was pleased that more action was being taken in respect
of fly-tipping and he queried with regard to the average waiting times to get
bulky items removed. He queried with regard to how many additional staff had
been employed and how many more might be hired.
Councillor
Storey queried with regard to the future plans for the House of Fraser store
and how long it would be for the plans to come to fruition. Councillor Storey
also made reference to the vacant Debenhams and Burtons stores and future use
for those buildings.
Councillor
Storey highlighted that in addition to Hemlington, other areas outside of the
town centre were also suffering from anti-social behaviour and crime, and care
needed to be taken to ensure resources to deal with these issues, were not
taken away from other areas outside the town centre.
The Mayor
stated that there was no excuse for fly-tipping. The Council offered a free
collection service, but if residents wanted their bulky waste collecting
earlier, they would be charged for the expedited service. Fly-tipping was a
challenge because if the Council removed the fly-tipped items, people were more
likely to fly-tip again. The new squad carried out investigations in respect of
any instances of fly-tipping but it was a time-consuming exercise. The staff
were working very hard to deal with the issue of fly-tipping.
The Mayor
advised that the House of Fraser store was bought by the Council for £1m around
16 months ago. There was a concern that Binns would leave the building and the
property would remain empty.
The Mayor
referred to The Crown and the fact that it had been left vacant for some time.
The Council had been trying to engage with the owner for some time to try and
ascertain what was happening with the building. The Council had also liaised
with the owners of the vacant Debenhams store with regard to future use of the
store, but the owners had not provided any update with regard to the future of
the vacant building. The Burtons store had been purchased by a private
investor, but to date, the Council had not received any information with regard
to the future use of the store. The Council was also intending to get in touch
with the owners of the Astoria building with regard to overgrown trees which
were affecting the guttering of the building.
Councillor
Cooke referred to the ‘Give a Coat a Home’ initiative. The Town Hall carriageway
would be open from 10am – 2.00pm on Saturday, 25 September 2021, to enable
members of the public to obtain a winter coat, free of charge.
In respect
of house closures, Councillor Cooke stated that he felt very strongly about
this issue and he tried to attend all of the house closures. The Councillor
stated that the issue was that only half of the Newport Ward was covered by the
Selective Landlord Licensing scheme. If the scheme was extended to the rest of
the ward, some of the issues leading to house closures, might be alleviated.
Councillor
McTigue stated that there appeared to be some confusion between fly-tipping and
unwanted household goods. Councillor McTigue advised that she had never waited
longer than a week for fly-tipping to be removed, but the timescale for removal
of bulky household items was usually twelve weeks.
Councillor
McTigue stated that she wanted to add to what Councillor Storey had mentioned
regarding diversity in the town. Councillor McTigue advised that when she had
requested clothing and toys for the Afghan people fleeing the Taliban, the
people of Middlesbrough had been very generous. A family in Harrogate had also
donated items after reading about the initiative in the press.
Councillor
Bell stated that he agreed with the Mayor’s comments about Hemlington. He
stated that he had seen fires in Hemlington, but he urged residents to report
any instances of anti-social behaviour, in order for something to be done about
the issue.
Councillor
Coupe stated that he wanted to thank the Mayor regarding the plans to renovate
the old Town Hall. Councillor Coupe stated that it was right to chase up owners
of derelict buildings to encourage them to repair or occupy the buildings.
Councillor
Coupe stated that fly-tipping was an issue in every ward and he was pleased
that fly-tippers were being targeted.
Councillor
Furness referred to Universal Credit cut and the rise in energy prices and the
rise in inflation and he requested the Mayor to do what he could to assist those
affected by these issues.
The Mayor
stated that the effect on the poorest people would be devastating. He stated
that he hoped the government would look at the cut in Universal Credit again.
He stated that the biggest losers would be the poorest and the government
needed to be reminded of that.