Agenda and minutes

The Worshipful the Mayor welcomed everyone and outlined arrangements for the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the last meetings held on 19 March 2025 and 2 April 2025.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 19 March 2025 and 2 April 2025 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Public Question submitted by Sarah Moreland for response by the Leader of the Council (Cllr Lisa Evans):

“How many additional staff have SBC employed over the last 8 years and what percentage are working from home?”

On behalf of the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources and Transport responded with:

““Thank you for the question.

From 2017 to 2025, the Council’s workforce—excluding maintained schools—increased by 111 people, from 3,183 to 3,294. That’s a rise of around 3.5%.

However, this modest increase follows a more significant reduction earlier in the decade. In 2011, the Council employed over 4,260 people. That number fell sharply in the years following austerity, and while we’ve seen gradual stabilisation since around 2018, the overall workforce remains nearly 1,000 people smaller than it was in 2011.

This is part of a wider national picture. According to the Local Government Association, more than 90% of councils are now facing recruitment and retention difficulties, and that includes us—particularly in areas such as social care.

On homeworking, we don’t hold live, centralised data on how many staff are working remotely at any one time, as working patterns are managed at service level to suit operational needs. That said, approximately 50% of roles are eligible for some form of flexible or remote working. Among those, most staff do work flexibly to some degree.

These arrangements are supported by our Smarter Working Policy, which is a key part of our Colleagues Powering Our Future mission. That mission is about empowering our workforce to do the best they can for our communities, using their skills and knowledge to meet the changing needs of the Borough.

Smarter working also allows us to be more efficient—it has enabled us to rationalise our office estate, reducing costs for residents and helping us modernise the way we work. It also makes the Council more inclusive, giving opportunities to people with different availability, such as those with caring or parental responsibilities, who want to stay active in the workforce.

We are committed to being an employer of choice, with a diverse, talented and empowered workforce that’s fit to meet the future demands of the Borough and deliver our ambitious plans for our residents.

We are passionate about ensuring we have a passionate and productive workforce. Our working policies enable us to appeal to a wide range of potential employees and provide flexibility within reason for our existing workforce. The labour market is constantly adapting, particularly post covid, and we must ensure that we continue to be an attractive employer against strong private and public sector competition.”

Sarah Moreland asked the following supplementary question:

“With regard to those staff who work from home, is there a limit on the number of days they may do so?”

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources and Transport responded with:

“There is no specific limit, instead working patterns are decided on a team-by-team basis under a hybrid model with officers attending the office when required.”  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU/29/25

Consideration was given to a report presenting a petition calling for the reinstatement of one hour’s free parking on Yarm High Street. The petition had been confirmed to contain 3,400 valid signatures and read:

“Stockton Council to keep free parking on Yarm High Street.

Free Parking is crucial for supporting local businesses, encouraging footfall, and helping Yarm’s economy thrive. The Council’s changes to eliminate 1 hour free parking risks harming small businesses and deterring shoppers.”

The petition met the threshold for debate under the Council’s Petition Scheme and the report outlined the various options available to the Council in responding to the petition.

A local businessman, Paddy Morton, presented the petition on behalf of the Lead Petitioner, Matt Vickers MP citing what he believed had been the detrimental impact on business of the charge and lack of consultation.

It was moved by Councillor Niall Innes and seconded by Councillor Jack Miller:

“Council notes that:

There is vast public and business support for scrapping the new parking charges imposed by this Council and a return to the first 1-hour free model.

Council resolves:

That given the strength of feeling and lack of support for these new parking charges, that the matter is referred to Cabinet to reconsider this matter. Cabinet is requested to consult fully with local businesses on the parking charges to understand the full implication of the parking charge policy on our high street.

Following this engagement, the recommendation to Cabinet is to reverse the new policy and revert back to the original first 1-hour free model.”

Councillor Paul Rowling moved, seconded by Councillor Jim Beall, that the motion be amended to read as follows:

“Council notes that:

There is vast public and business support for scrapping the new parking charges imposed by the Council and a return to the first 1-hour free model.

Council resolves:

That given the strength of feeling for these new parking charges, that the matter is referred to Cabinet to reconsider this matter. Cabinet is requested to consult fully with local businesses on the parking charges to understand the full implication of the parking charge policy on our high street.”

The amendment was put to the vote and not carried (21 for the amendment; 27 against the amendment).

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.65, it was requested that a recorded vote be taken on the substantive motion, which was supported by at least a quarter of the Members present.

Members in favour of the motion: Cllr Stefan Barnes, Cllr Jim Beall, Cllr Pauline Beall, Cllr Michelle Bendelow, Cllr Clare Besford, Cllr Marc Besford, Cllr Carol Clark, Cllr Diane Clarke OBE, Cllr Nigel Cooke, Cllr Robert Cook, Cllr John Coulson, Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Cllr Richard Eglington, Cllr Lisa Evans, Cllr Kevin Faulks, Cllr Jason French, Cllr Nathan Gale, Cllr John Gardner, Cllr Ray Godwin, Cllr Lynn Hall, Cllr Elsi Hampton, Cllr Stefan Houghton, Cllr Shakeel Hussain, Cllr Barbara Inman, Cllr Niall Innes, Cllr Eileen Johnson, Cllr Mohammed Mazi, Cllr Mrs Ann McCoy, Cllr Jack  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU/30/25

Consideration was given to a report presenting nominations to vacant seats on committees and panels, outside bodies and Chairs’ positions.

RESOLVED that the following amendments/ appointments be made for the Municipal Years 2025 – 27:

Appointments Panel

Add: Cllr Jim Beall and Cllr Bob Cook

Corporate Parenting Board:

Remove: Cllr Pauline Beall – Add: Cllr Clare Besford

Cleveland Fire Authority

Remove: Cllr Sufi Mubeen – Add: Cllr John Gardner

Tees Active Board

Remove: Cllr Ray Godwin – Add: Cllr Sylvia Walmsley

Tees Valley Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Remove: Cllr Steve Nelson and Cllr Pauline Beall (substitute) – Add: Cllr Jim Beall and Cllr Marc Besford (substitute)

Procurement Collaborative Committee (aka NEPO)

Remove: Leader – Add: Cabinet Member with responsibility for Resources

Local Government Association General Assembly

Remove: Cllr Bob Cook – Add: Cllr Paul Rowling

Community Safety Select Committee

Appoint: Cllr Ann McCoy as Chair

Place Select Committee

Appoint: Cllr Jim Beall as Chair

A motion had been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.40, moved by Cllr Ted Strike and seconded by Cllr Stephen Richardson.

In moving motion, Cllr Ted Stike agreed to incorporate some changes to the wording of the motion included within the agenda for the meeting.

On being put to the vote, the motion was carried and it was:

RESOLVED

Council notes that while it may grant a dispensation to a councillor under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972 where they are unable to attend meetings due to illness or other valid reason, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council does not currently have a formal policy setting out the process or duration for such dispensations.

Council further notes that many other local authorities operate policies which require councillors to reapply for a further dispensation if their absence continues beyond six months.

Council therefore resolves:

1.         To introduce a formal policy governing the process for granting dispensations under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972.

2.         That the policy shall include the following key provisions:

·         A councillor must apply for a dispensation before reaching six months of non-attendance at meetings.

·         The initial dispensation, if granted by Council, will last for a maximum of six months.

·         Should the councillor remain unable to resume attendance at Council meetings at the end of that period, they may submit a further application for consideration by Council.

Member Question submitted by Cllr Niall Innes for response by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture (Cllr Nigel Cooke):-

“To ask the Cabinet member for an update on the recent changes to Bin Collections and the introduction of Garden Waste Collections. Specifically:

·         Out of the total number of households in the borough, how many have signed up?

·         What was the reasons for the delays in people getting their bins?

·         What is the total amount raised so for through the introduction of the new £40 a year Bin and how has that impacted the amount it was hoped to raise?”

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture responded with:

“As of 16th May 2025, there has been a total of 19,400 subscriptions and 20,500 bins have been ordered since going live in January 2025.

We don’t believe there were any delays in residents receiving their new brown bin, if they ordered them before the cut-off date. Due to the logistics in delivering a large number of bins throughout the borough, it was regularly communicated to residents to ‘Make sure you sign up to the new garden waste collection service by 14 February to ensure you receive your bin for the first collection date in April’. Residents who signed up after this date would still receive their new brown bin but it would not be guaranteed for the first collection of the new service as the next phase of deliveries did not start until 24th March 2025.

From the subscriptions referenced above, the Council has received income of Circa £800,000. This compares to the £600,000 forecast for 25-26 that was referenced in the October Powering Our Futures Cabinet report. This income will be monitored through the ongoing budget monitoring processes and reported to members in line with this. I feel this is good value for money.”

Cllr Niall Innes asked the following supplementary question:

“Despite residents paying £40 per annum for a brown bin, we have been told that it is fine for people to put garden waste in their ordinary bin. If they asked for a refund would they get one?”

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture responded with:

“No, this is not the message are trying to communicate. We would prefer that residents who have regular green waste to dispose of, by using a brown bin.

For residents like myself with small gardens, who don’t generate a lot of garden waste, I would prefer that they either book a slot at the Haverton Hill Recycling Centre as I did last Sunday, or that they dispose of the waste in an environmentally friendly manner.”

Member Question submitted by Cllr Katie Weston for response by the Leader of the Council (Cllr Lisa Evans):-

“As the leader is aware, for the first time in over a decade the Clarences finally have a direct bus to Billingham, although limited and on a trial basis. This bus service is getting cancelled next week, as a private bus company cannot make  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU/33/25

The Leader of the Council gave her Forward Plan and Leader’s Statement:

“Thank you for attending a very productive full Council meeting. We do welcome your questions and motions.

Since our last meeting on 2 April, Cabinet has met twice on 17 April and again on 15 May, to discuss key areas that matter to our residents.

We have endorsed important scrutiny reviews, including:

·         Affordable Housing: We have backed a hybrid delivery model to build more quality homes

·         Holidays are Fun: We are strengthening our much loved programme of holiday clubs and meals for children

·         We have progressed our major regeneration plans for Billingham Town Centre and its new Sports Hub and look forward to seeing this progress

Cabinet will meet again on 12 June, with a strong focus on children’s services. We will be looking at:

·         A full Fostering Review to help us recruit, retain and support more local foster carers

·         A new approach to the Children’s Front Door, as we move towards a dedicated safeguarding hub for Stockton-on-Tees

·         Updates on Bright Minds Big Futures and the Powering our Future programme

Looking ahead, I would encourage everyone to support two upcoming events in the Borough.

We have our brilliant Environment Fair on 14 June and we then have the much loved Armed Forces Day on 21 June. A chance for us all to thank those who serve and have served and after the success of our VE day celebrations which sadly I could not attend as the new Armed Forces Champion due to surgery. I asked the Deputy Leader to attend in my absence.

The next meeting of Council is on 23 July and I look forward to seeing you then.”