Verbal Report

The Mayor made reference to the following as part of his Annual Report:

Squirrels Club

·        Visit to the regions first Squirrels Club, which was a branch of the Scouts/Cubs/Beavers group aimed at children aged 3 to 5 year olds. It was officially launched in Cambridge Baptist Church and there was a long waiting list of children waiting to join. The Mayor praised the volunteers, however, the group needed more volunteers in order to meet the demand for places. The Mayor urged anyone who would be interested in volunteering to assist, to contact the group.

Africa Day

·        The Mayor stated that he had attended ‘Africa Day’ at Middlesbrough College. It was a North East focused event in relation to people of African origin, acknowledging their achievements and raising confidence and awareness. He stated that he had met a number of different people at the event, including a professional boxer, a preacher, a professional writer, several entrepreneurs and John Kabuye, who did incredible things in the Gresham area. The Mayor thanked the African people for their contribution to the town.

The Boro Angels

·        The Mayor advised that he had visited the Boro Angels who were based on Borough Road. The group worked on a Saturday night in the town, rescuing people by providing rehydration, assisting people to get taxis, and helping people on the streets.

The Mayor referred to the war in Ukraine and the impact on the people in this country.

The Mayor stated that on a positive note, that there was some good things going on in the town. There was investment in the town and more job vacancies than unemployed people. The opportunities for the town were growing. The Council was developing a leisure zone in Captain Cook square which would attract people to the town. Office buildings were being built and were being occupied. Social housing was being created and other housing was being built.

The Mayoral Development Corporation

The Mayor stated that the launch of the Mayoral Development Corporation had been announced in conjunction with the Tees Valley Combined Authority Mayor, Ben Houchen. Middlesbrough would be able to tap in to any investment and funding realised through the Development Corporation and the Government.

The Mayor referred to the global down turn in people’s finances and he stated that this would get worse in October and in his view the Government should impose a windfall tax on the rich companies and distribute to those who needed it most.

The Mayor stated that if anybody was struggling, they should get in touch with their councillor or the Council itself as nobody should go hungry.

The Chair invited members to comment on the Mayor’s report.

Councillor M Storey referred to the Mayor’s comments on the number of job vacancies in the town. He stated that although there appeared to be a large number of vacancies, many of them were so poorly paid or on zero hours contracts, many people had to do three jobs to achieve a decent income. The town needed good quality, well paid, unionised jobs.

Councillor Storey acknowledged that there was investment in the town. In terms of the Mayor’s Development Corporation, the Council needed to look at how the Council interacted with the corporation, what the authority could gain from it and what benefits were available to the Council. The Council had already secured land in Middlehaven and properties around the town, built on Centre Square and he queried with regard to the impact of the Development Corporation on the Council’s future plans. He queried with regard to why a Mayoral Development Corporation was needed, at this point in time. Councillor Storey stated that Middlesbrough Council already had an excellent record of initiating and delivering on projects such as Northern School of Arts, the Dock Bridge, Boho X, Centre Square and Middlesbrough Railway Station. He stated that many of these projects had been or were currently being delivered, in collaboration with TVCA and Middlesbrough Council.

In terms of the Mayor’s comments on the windfall tax, Councillor Storey stated that this was something that should have been imposed some time ago. 

Councillor Storey stated that he was pleased that the Mayor was talking about poverty and hunger. He stated that many people in the town were going hungry but foodbanks and soup kitchens should not need to exist. Councillor Storey stated that poverty and hunger was not acceptable in this day and age.

The Mayor stated that it was fantastic that there was lots of jobs and more vacancies than unemployed people. Foodbanks were not a new thing. Poverty had always existed. He stated that foodbanks should be retained. Middlesbrough was making good progress in terms of investment and that was why they needed to work with the Mayoral Development Corporation. It was an exciting opportunity which involved a Government directive. He stated that the town would keep stocking the foodbanks.

Councillor McTigue queried whether personal attacks were allowed to be made on members. The Monitoring Officer clarified that personal comments were not allowed to be made.

Councillor McTigue commented on the number of people that had contributed towards the people of Ukraine.

Councillor Branson stated that foodbanks should not be required although he acknowledged that the people that operated them did a really good job.

The Mayor stated that a large number of people required foodbanks and as politicians, councillors should strive to reduce demand for them.

Councillor Cooke stated that making the town hunger free was misleading. He stated that he had spent the day with someone who had hardly eaten and the Council needed to do more to help. He commented on the number of Executive Member appointments. Councillor Cooke also referred to the comments on investment in the town but he queried with regard to when the Council’s Local Plan would be brought forward.

The Mayor stated that nobody in the town needed to go hungry. There was a telephone number that people could ring to obtain a food parcel. In terms of the cost of the Executive, the Mayor stated that since 2019, the Executive had cost less.

In terms of the Council’s Local Plan, the Mayor confirmed that the delivery of the Local Plan was back on track.

Councillor J Walker stated that she was concerned that the Mayor had misconstrued what was said about the operation of foodbanks. What was meant by the comments was that members wanted a better and fairer society where people did not have to rely on foodbanks. People, including those people who were working, were needing to use foodbanks more, because of the cost of living and the current economic climate.

Councillor Higgins stated that members did not want to get rid of foodbanks, they wanted the Government to do more so that people did not have to rely on them.

The Mayor thanked members for clarifying that they were not proposing to close foodbanks.

ORDERED that the Annual Report of the Mayor be noted.