Agenda and minutes

Executive Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday 19th November, 2024 2.00 pm

Venue: Jim Cooke Conference Suite, Stockton Central Library, Church Road, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1TU

Contact: Democratic Services Manager, Judy Trainer 

Items
No. Item

ESC/28/24

Evacuation Procedure pdf icon PDF 9 KB

Minutes:

The Committee noted the evacuation procedure.

ESC/29/24

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

ESC/30/24

Minutes pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 17 September 2024.

Minutes:

AGREED That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 September 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

ESC/31/24

The Stockton on Tees Plan 2024 - 2028 Consultation pdf icon PDF 130 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report inviting comments on the Stockton-on-Tees Plan 2024-2028, ahead of it going to Full Council for approval in November.

 

The draft Stockton-on-Tees Plan had been approved by Cabinet in October. This Plan marked a new direction setting out a vision for the future of the Borough, developed with the voice of Stockton-on-Tees communities.

 

The Stockton-on-Tees Plan had been developed to reflect the drivers and priorities for the Council, its partners and most importantly communities and had five priority areas:

 

·         The best start in life to achieve big ambitions

·         Healthy and Resilient Communities

·         A Great Place to Live, Work and Visit

·         An Inclusive Economy

·         A Sustainable Council

 

It was also proposed that Executive Scrutiny Committee receive regular updates on progress.

 

Key issues highlighted and discussed were as follows:

 

·         Any proposals to stop providing services or change the way they were provided would be subject to approval by Members through the usual decision-making channels

·         Parish Councils had not been consulted directly on the Plan, however, had the opportunity to contribute through wider engagement

·         Key economic statistics – Members queried the graphics for “The Council has consistently delivered a balanced budget”. It was agreed that the graphics would be reviewed to ensure that they were up to date and reflected the content of the latest Mazars report at the time of publication

·         Some of the white text on colour was hard to read. Officers agreed to take back the concerns to the design team and ensure that the document met accessibility guidelines

·         Members welcomed Executive Scrutiny Committee and thematic Select Committees receiving quarterly updates on performance against Council Plan priorities, both quantitative and qualitative.

 

AGREED

 

1.    That the draft Plan be endorsed, subject to the comments set out above.

 

2.    That Executive Scrutiny Committee and the thematic Select Committees receive quarterly performance updates against delivery of the Plan.

ESC/32/24

Final Report of the Children and Young People Select Committee - Scrutiny Review of Narrowing the Gap in Educational Attainment (Executive Summary for Information) pdf icon PDF 250 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Executive Summary from the Children and Young People Select Committee’s final report following the review of Narrowing the Gap in Educational Attainment.

 

The Committee’s final report was considered by Cabinet in October 2024 who accepted all the recommendations. 

 

The benefit of the AI approach had been in the awareness raising of the issues. It had also brought all stakeholders together at events and secured support for agreed objectives and future action.

 

The review culminated in a report setting out 17 shared objectives.

 

Given the breadth of the work, a recommendation lead had been identified for each objective and it was the intention that progress updates would be provided at each future Select Committee meeting on particular recommendations with the relevant recommendation lead attending each meeting. 

 

AGREED That the Executive Summary be noted.

ESC/33/24

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Minutes:

AGREED That the Forward Plan be noted.

ESC/34/24

Chairs' Updates pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members were provided with updates from the Chairs of each Select Committee. Discussion included:

 

Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee

 

Members noted the update from the Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee.

 

Children and Young People Select Committee

 

With regard to the Select Committee’s next review of the HAF programme, Members asked that the review consider the extent to which non eligible children could attend the programme.

 

Community Safety Select Committee

 

Members noted the update from the Community Safety Select Committee.

 

People Select Committee

 

Members noted the update from the People Select Committee.

 

Place Select Committee

 

With regards to the Select Committee’s review of Affordable Housing, it was highlighted that Home England funding might be coming through the TVCA.

 

AGREED That the updates be noted.

ESC/35/24

Chair's Update and Executive Scrutiny Work Programme pdf icon PDF 107 KB

Minutes:

AGREED That the Work Programme be noted.