Decisions

The Mayor considered a report regarding the Impact Assessment Policy. The purpose of the report was set out revisions to the Impact Assessment Policy.

ORDERED that the Mayor:

1.    APPROVES the revised Impact Assessment Policy.

The purpose of the report was to seek approval of the minor amendments to the Out of Hours Registrars offer to reflect the needs of the community and to continue to deliver best value.

ORDERED that the Mayor

1.    APPROVES the changes to the Out of Hours Registrars offer as set out in the Registration & Bereavement Services Charter, namely to remove the offer of an on call service on Sundays and to provide clarification around the introduction of the Medical Examiner process.

The purpose of the report was to set out the proposed direction of travel in relation to the Council’s Recover, Reset, Deliver transformation programme.

ORDERED that Executive:

1.    APPROVES the proposed changes to the structure of transformation themes as outlined below.

2.    APPROVES the realignment of transformation themes with the Council Plan 2024-27.

3.    APPROVES the recruitment of a Head of Transformation.

4.    APPROVES the establishment of Continuous Improvement Team.

AGREED that the Executive:

1. NOTES that the transformation of Council services remained critical to achieving service improvements from a lower cost base to stabilise the Council’s financial position and achieve financial sustainability over the medium to long term.

The purpose of the report was to seek approval of the Council’s involvement with Thrive at Five as detailed in the report. The decision required an Executive decision in line with the constitution at section 6.38.1 (b).

ORDERED that Executive:

1.    APPROVES the amendment to recommendation three of the report from an annual update to a bi-annual update.

2.    APPROVES the investment into the partnership model with Thrive at Five.

3.    APPROVES in principle, to enter into the five-year Partnership Agreement with Thrive at Five subject to legal and finance review and approval.

4.    APPROVES, in accordance with the agreed amendment; to receive a bi-annual update of progress.

The former Environment Scrutiny Panel had undertaken a review entitled Waste Management. A copy of the full report was attached. The Scrutiny Panel had made six recommendations upon which a response was sought from the relevant service area.

ORDERED that Executive:

1.    APPROVES the amendments to the action plan (Appendix two) to include an update on relevant legislative changes and timescales on the forthcoming waste transfer station. Such updates would also be communicated to the relevant Scrutiny Panel.

2.    NOTES the content of the Environment Scrutiny Panel’s final report on Waste Management (Appendix one).

3.    APPROVES The action plan, as amended, developed in response to the Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations.

The purpose of the report was to propose the governance arrangements for the use of the £4.367m Middlesbrough Priorities Fund. The fund was created as part of the Budget for 2025/26 which was approved by Full Council on 19 February 2025 in the 2025/26 Revenue Budget, Medium Term Financial Plan, and Council Tax setting report.

ORDERED that Executive:

1.     APPROVES the governance arrangements for the £4.367m Middlesbrough Priorities Fund

2.     APPROVES the proposed allocation of the Middlesbrough Priorities Fund between an allocation for elected Ward Councillors (£0.235m) with the remaining amount for initiatives proposed by the Mayor (£4.132m)

3.     APPROVES the following initial list of initiatives proposed by the Mayor totalling £0.680m with details being provided in paragraphs 4.16 to 4.27 of the report, namely Childhood Enrichment Team (£0.250m); Youth Group seed funding (£0.100m); Shop fronts improvements scheme (£0.180m) and Grass verges replacement (£0.150m).

4.     APPROVES the process for identification and approval of future initiatives proposed by the Mayor, including the requirement for the Executive to approve budget allocations for future initiatives from the Middlesbrough Priorities Fund.

The purpose of the report was to seek approval for the introduction of a Neighbourhood Model as a key part of the Council’s core operating model and to agree the funding to support its introduction.

ORDERED that Executive:

1.     APPROVES the introduction of the Neighbourhood Model within Middlesbrough.

2.     APPROVES the Transformation Programme funding from the flexible use of capital receipts to fund the following posts for a 2 year period at a cost of £1.021m per annum:

a.     8 Neighbourhood Navigators to take on a caseload (2 in each of the 4 areas) - Grade K

b.     8 Community Development workers to build community capital and engage with the community, schools, voluntary and community sector and local businesses (2 in each of the 4 areas) - Grade J o Community Safety Co-ordinator - Grade K

c.     4 Neighbourhood link workers to be embedded on rotation within partner organisations such as schools and hospitals.

3.     APPROVES a capital allocation of up to £5m for improvements to the neighbourhood focused community hubs funded by Transformation Programme funding from the flexible use of capital receipts.

4.     APPROVES that an analysis of IT requirements takes place in respect of both infrastructure and reporting/ management programmes and that this is fed into the IT refresh requirements.

5.     APPROVES that annual reports are submitted to Executive to inform them of its achievements and any further development requirements.

The purpose of the report was to seek Executive’s approval to support Children’s Services change in its approach to one which focused on prevention and that the remaining capital funding of £3.253m identified for 2026/27 would no longer be required.

ORDERED that Executive:

1.    APPROVES a change in approach to focus on prevention

2.    APPROVES that Capital of £3.253m in 2026/27 is no longer required.

The purpose of the report was to approve the Interim Funding Arrangement Policy which would enable the Council to secure repayment of the short-term loan provided in respect of residential care fees, whilst providing assurances to the resident that their care home fees were being fully covered.

ORDERED that Executive:

1.    APPROVES the Interim Funding Arrangement Policy to take effect from 7 May 2025.

2.    APPROVES the delegated authority to the Director of Adult Social Care and Director of Finance and Transformation in consultation with the Executive Member of Adult Social Care and Executive Member for Finance to make any future minor revisions / modifications to reflect the financial / economic climate and / or statutory guidance changes.