Decisions

The purpose of the report was to seek approval to embed the consideration of deprivation evidence within Directorate Service Plans for 2026/27 and to establish a coordinated approach across the Council and its partners to address deprivation and inequality in Middlesbrough.

ORDERED that the Executive:

1.     Approve that Directorate Service Plans for 2026/7 explicitly set out the key evidence of need relevant to the Directorate’s responsibilities, including reference to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

2.     Approve that Directors identify and record specific commitments within their Directorate Service Plans which demonstrated how their activity would contribute to reducing inequality and addressing deprivation in Middlesbrough.

3.     Approve that Directorate commitments arising from this work would be drawn together into a single, consolidated report and brought back to Executive, setting out the Council’s collective and intentional approach to responding to deprivation and areas of greatest need.

4.     Approve that alongside the development of the Council’s consolidated position, a structured process would be established to engage key partners — including those involved in the Town Strategy and wider system leadership arrangements to:

•         set out their planned contributions to addressing the inequalities identified through the Indices of Multiple Deprivation; and

•         align these contributions with the Council’s own commitments in order to support a coordinated, place-based response.

AGREED that Executive

Note that a separate report setting out the Council’s formal response to the Overview and Scrutiny Board Short Review on Poverty would be brought to Executive in September 2026.

Increase Town Centre Safety and Perception of Safety through co located approach to nuisance behaviour, retail crime and additional need.

ORDERED that Executive:

1.     That the amendments proposed to Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

2.     Approve the acceptance of £1.3m Investment Zone funding together with associated match funding arrangements set out in the business case, subject to completion of the relevant Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) decision making processes and execution of funding agreements.

3.     Approve the implementation of the Making Middlesbrough Town Centre Safer for People & Business Project.

4.     Delegate authority to the Corporate Director responsible for Environment, Communities and Culture in consultation with the Executive Member to finalise operational delivery arrangements and agreements with partners.

AGREED that Executive note the three-year pilot nature of the project to March 2029.

The purpose of the report was to provide an update on the Council’s Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) and sought approval of the proposed budget development approach and timetable for developing the 2027/28 Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan to 2030/31.

ORDERED that Executive approve the budget development approach and timetable, set out in Appendix 1 of the report, for developing the 2027/28 Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) to 2030/31.

AGREED that the Executive note the update of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

The purpose of the report was to seek approval of the Council’s Data Protection Policy and Direct Marketing and Cookies Policy. It also requested that authority was delegated to the Council’s Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) to approve future substantive revisions, minor amendments and administrative updates to both policies.

ORDERED that Executive:

1.     Approve the Data Protection Policy

2.     Approve the Direct Marketing and Cookies Policy. 

3.     Delegates authority to the senior officer designated as the Council’s Senior Information Risk Owner to approve all future substantive revisions, minor amendments and administrative updates of the Data Protection Policy and Direct Marketing and Cookies Policy.  

The report sought approval of the Wholly and Partly Owned Council Companies (WPOCC) Policy 2026–29 and supporting Minimum Standard, which established the framework through which the Council would develop, operate and review wholly or partly owned council companies. 

ORDERED that Executive approve the Wholly and Partly Owned Council Companies Policy 2026-29 and supporting Minimum Standard.

2 Delegated Planning Functions

2.1 General Delegations
Subject to the exceptions set out in section 4, the following officers are authorised to discharge all functions of the Local Planning Authority relating to the functions detailed Below:
a) Planning Applications (with or without conditions and / or S106 Agreements) and application to modify the same, and associated appeals, including those forming part of EIA regulations.
b) Advertisement Consent applications (with or without conditions) and application to modify the same, and associated appeals,
c) Mineral and Waste Applications, (with or without conditions and / or S106 Agreements) and application to modify the same, and associated appeals,
d) Listed Building Consent (with or without conditions and / or S106 Agreement) and application to modify the same, and associated appeals,
e) Non-Material Amendments to applications
f) Prior Approval Applications
g) Applications for demolition of unlisted building in a conservation area
h) Applications for Demolition of Listed Buildings
i) Applications for Certificate of existing or proposed use of land or development,
j) Power to decline an application of any type (where that power exists)
k) Making of Tree Preservation Orders and provisional Tree Preservation Orders,
l) Determining applications for works to and removal of trees protected by a tree preservation order and applications for works to and removal of trees in conservation areas/
m) Providing Screening and Scoping opinions in relation to EIA regulations
n) Discharge of Conditions in relation to the above applications
o) Issuing Remedial Notice in respect of High Hedges
p) Issuing Notices in respect to Hedgerow Removal, Hedgerow retention and Hedgerow replacement
q) Power in relation Rights of Entry with or without warrant for all functions where those powers exist.
r) Serving Building Preservation Notice in relation to temporary listing of buildings and serving of Temporary stop Notice, Listed Building Enforcement Notices, Repairs Notice, Urgent Works Notice in relation to Listed Buildings and provision of Rights of Entry in association with Listed Building matters.
s) Enforcement Powers;
• Issuing Planning Contravention Notices
• Issuing Temporary Stop Notices and Stop Notices
• Issuing Enforcement Notices
• Issuing Breach of Condition Notices
• Issuing Injunctions
• Issuing Breach of Condition Notices
• Issuing S.215 Notices requiring proper maintenance of land
• Requiring replacement of Trees in Conservation Areas
• Issuing Notices for Control of Advertisements,

t) Issuing of penalties and undertaking cost recovery in relation to all enforcement functions held.

Delegations apply within approved planning policy, the adopted Development Plan, and material planning considerations.
2.2 Delegated Authority by Officer level

See table in attached form.

3 Matters Reserved for Escalation/Non-Delegated Cases
The following categories must be placed before the planning committee for determination.
3.1 Policy Departure / extraordinary cases

• Applications that represent a significant departure from the Development Plan
• Cases considered “extraordinary” when assessed against adopted planning policy, officer judgement, or material considerations

3.2 Major In-House Developments

• Council (Middlesbrough Council) Developments where gross floorspace exceeds 500m²
• Where officer recommendation is for approval, but the proposal constitutes a departure from the Development Plan
• Larger developments are permissible for delegation if they directly enable the Council to fulfil its statutory responsibilities.

3.3 Public objection Threshold

• Where there are three or more petitions / letters / emails (emanating from separate addresses and with distinct content) by way of response and, where the development is contrary to established policy guidelines
• Except where officer recommendation is to refuse permission

3.4 Member/Officer Interest or Sensitivity
Any application involving:
• Council-owned land or property interest
• Applicant being a member with a declared or perceived interest
• Applicant employed within Planning Services or closely related (including spouse/partner)
• Any conflict of interest under the Council’s Code of Conduct

3.5 Committee Chair/Vice Chair Referral
• Any case identified by the Chair or Vice Chair of Planning Committee as having sufficient merit for committee determination

4 Specific Reserved Functions
The following remain reserved for Committee determination:
• Planning Applications requiring referral to Planning Committee under the Constitution
• Applications subject to statutory direction or call-in by government bodies
• Strategic infrastructure proposals with significant impact on the borough

5 Enforcement and Legal Action as defined in section 3.1 above

See table in attached form

6 Section 106 and Planning Obligations

See table in attached form

7 Recording and Governance

• All delegations must be recorded in the Council’s decision register (retained by Democratic Services) within 14 days of the decision being made.
• The planning Delegation Register shall be maintained and reviewed annually (L1- L2)

8 Revocation

• All previous schemes relating to planning sub-delegation within Regeneration and Housing Services are revoked upon approval of this scheme.