Agenda and draft minutes

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on Wednesday 20^th March 2024 & Wednesday 3^rd April 2024

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meetings held on 20 March and 3 April 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March and 3 April 2024 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The following question had been submitted by John McDermottroe for response by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing (Cllr Nigel Cooke):-

“Is there a danger the £20M levelling up funding for Billingham Town Centre will be lost if part of it is to be used for housing that was not part of the plan?”

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing responded with:-

“Officers are in close liaison with civil servants in the Department for Levelling Up Homes and Communities (DLUHC) in regard to the detailed elements of the Levelling Up Fund award and expenditure items within that programme.  There is no suggestion that a residential led redevelopment in Billingham town centre would jeopardise or affect the award of funding throughout conversations and correspondence with DLUHC.”

John McDermottroe asked the following supplementary question:-

“Whenever I ask any questions about the consultation, I’m asked to refer to the consultation from 2020 and I quote from that ‘there is very little desire for housing’ in that consultation so why are you going against the wishes of the people of Billingham?”

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing responded with:-

“Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has a strong track record for delivering regeneration schemes across the Borough and I’m delighted we are in a position where we can help and take control to lead the shape of Billingham’s future. In this ambitious plan the oversupply of retail space will be brought into line with demand and the continuation of changes that have been made over recent years to make the town centre the place that people want to visit, to live, to work and to do business. This is very much in-line with the masterplan that has been developed following that conversation a number of years ago.”

The following question had been submitted by Chris Lipthorpe for response by the Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture (Cllr Steve Nelson):-

“The Department for Health and Social Care have opened a consultation ending on 17th June proposing the mass fluoridation of 1.6 million North East people including the residents Stockton-on-Tees. There reasoning includes that the compulsory medication of our drinking water will reduce the gap in oral health between the most and least deprived regions.

Unlike other public health measures, such as vaccination, where individuals can opt-out, fluoridation allows no such choice. It affects everyone who relies on tap water for drinking, cooking, and daily hygiene. This one-size-fits-all approach disregards individual consent and medical history, where fluoride may not be advised for everyone.

Secondly, the potential health risks include dental fluorosis in children, bone problems, thyroid function, diabetes II. It is a neurotoxin and enzyme disruptor.

In light of these concerns, I urge the council to consider the precautionary principle. Let us not introduce a substance into our water supply when there is reasonable doubt about its safety and necessity.

Instead, let us invest in targeted dental health programs that educate and empower individuals to take charge of their dental health without compromising their right  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU/121/24

The Council had previously approved appointments to its Committees, Panels and Joint/Outside Bodies for 2023/27.

A request had been received from a political group to amend one of its positions on the Cleveland Police and Crime Panel, as follows:

Remove - Councillor Pauline Beall Add - Councillor Paul Rowling

RESOLVED that the amendment be approved.

The Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023/24 was brought to Cabinet for consideration.

Under the Health and Social Care Act (2012), the Director of Public Health has a duty to prepare an independent annual report. The report followed the Director of Public Health report presented in November 2023 which reviewed the public health response to Covid-19 in Stockton-on-Tees.

The Director of Public Health Annual Report 2023/24 highlighted the challenge of persistent health inequalities experienced by people in Stockton-on-Tees. Health inequalities and poor health and wellbeing had a significant impact on people’s lives, were unjust and largely preventable.

The report highlighted existing examples of good practice and strong partnerships with other organisations and the voluntary and community sector but was clear that a holistic and systematic approach was required to go further and faster in addressing inequalities.

The proposed approach with interventions in civic society, community and services based on a self-assessment complements the Council’s Powering our Future policy. 

With regard to consultation and engagement the report described some of the key work undertaken with partners and communities to address health inequalities. Working collaboratively with communities, partners and councillors was essential in addressing health inequalities.

With regard to the next steps embedding learning and monitoring of public health activity would continue to be overseen and reported through the Lead Member, Corporate Management Team and Health and Wellbeing Board as part of core business.

RESOLVED that:-

1. The report be noted.

2. The Population Intervention Triangle model be adopted across the Council and it's work with partners as set out in the DPH Report 2023/4.

The following motion had been submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.40, moved by Councillor Ted Strike, seconded by Councillor Tony Riordan:-

Whilst we recognise the need to update the regulations on the "Consent Street Trading Policy" the current rules are penalising craft stalls, Farmers markets and community events, something I am sure was never intended.

That Council, at the earliest opportunity amend the current rules to exclude all community events and Farmers Markets from these charges. These include, but are not limited to:

Ingleby Barwick Family Fun Weekend

Ingleby Barwick Community Market

Ingleby Barwick Light Switch on

The Thornaby Show

The Billingham Show

The Festival of Thrift

Northern Dales Farmers Markets

Norton Green Market”

The Worshipful the Mayor informed the meeting that in-line with the Council Constitution the motion will be forwarded to the Licensing Committee for consideration without further debate. 

The following question had been submitted by Councillor Tony Riordan for response by the Leader of the Council (Councillor Bob Cook):-

“The staff in Democratic Services had kindly provided members and officers with the dates of the Full Council Meetings, for the Municipal Year 2024/25 entering them into the diary as long ago as May 2023. This was greatly appreciated by members and officers as they could plan their other commitments, holidays, work, etc, around those dates.

Prior to the publication of the agenda for the last Annual Council Meeting on the 3rd of April, the date of the subsequent meeting of Full Council was last week, the 22nd of May, and had been for over a year.

Once this agenda was published, it became apparent that last week’s diary date, the 22nd of May, had been changed to today, the 29th of May.

I am informed that the date of the meeting was changed on the instruction of the Council Leader.

Can the Leader of the Council please provide members with the reason(s) he instructed that the well-established diary date of the 22nd of May was changed to today?”

The Leader of the Council responded with:-

“Thank you, Cllr Riordan, for your question.

Firstly, it's important to clarify that setting the dates for Full Council meetings is not the responsibility of officers. The schedule of meetings is proposed at the Annual Meeting each year and voted on by all members. Any member can propose amendments during that meeting.

As Leader of the Council, whilst I can propose how our business is conducted, including proposals on meeting dates to be put to a meeting, the final decision is made democratically by all members at the Annual Meeting. The dates in the democracy diary before then are only indicative.

The change from the 22nd to the 29th of May was raised and agreed upon collectively at the Annual Meeting, not decided by me. If there were any objections, they could have been raised then.”

Councillor Tony Riordan asked the following supplementary question:-

“The proposed date was changed prior to the Annual Meeting on your instruction, can you clarify that?”

The Leader of the Council responded with:-

“The dates are set at the Annual Meeting and are not set by officers. The dates are voted upon and are an agenda item at the Annual Meeting. There were no objections to the dates and the change of date and I can clarify that the dates had not been set until the Annual Meeting.”

The following question had been submitted by Councillor Tony Riordan for response by the Leader of the Council (Councillor Bob Cook):-

“The Leader will be aware that on the 24th of January 2024, this Council debated a motion that, in part, related to Stockton Hotels Company Ltd (Hampton by Hilton).

The motion was carried and (in part) read,

1.         To request Stockton Hotels Company Limited to provide copies of its profit and loss accounts so that this Council can publish  ...  view the full minutes text for item COU/125/24

The Leader of the Council gave his Forward Plan and Leaders Statement.

Council last met on the 3 April for the Annual Meeting. Since then, Cabinet met on the 18 April and 16 May March and considered the following matters:

•           The Scrutiny Review of Cost of Living Response

•           A Programme Update for Powering Our Future

•           The Scrutiny Review of Outdoor Play Provision

•           A report on the Delivering Better Value Agreement with DfE

•           A Progress Update on Fairer Stockton on Tees

•           The implementation of Selective Licensing of Private Rented Accommodation

•           The Director of Public Health’s Annual Report 2023 to 2024

Cabinet would meet again on 17 June and consider:

•           A Scrutiny Review of Access to GPs and Primary Medical Care

•           A Scrutiny Review of Unauthorised Roadside Advertising

•           A Regeneration Update considering Thornaby Town Centre and Billingham Town Centre

•           A Council Plan Update

The next meeting of full Council would be on 24 July.

Members were reminded of the fact that a general election has been called for 4 July and the Council was now in the pre-election period. The monitoring officer had issued advice to members and officers in respect of this period.

Some highlights coming up soon will be the Eid Fuson Festival on 2 June, D-Day commemoration on 6 June and Armed Forces Day on Thursday 27 June.