Agenda and decisions

1.

Title of Item/Report

Minutes of Various Bodies

2.

Record of the Decision

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution or previous practice the minutes of the meeting of the bodies indicated below were submitted to members for consideration:-

Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board – 11 September 2024

Safer Stockton Partnership – 2 October 2024

RESOLVED that the minutes be received.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

Minutes for information.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

N/A

1.

Title of Item/Report

Regeneration Powering our Future

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that set out proposals to refresh the Council’s Regeneration Mission, with a focus on ‘Place Making’ that aligns with our Stockton-on-Tees Plan priorities for:

•         A great place to live, work and visit

•         An inclusive economy.

The Regeneration Mission would provide a core foundation for the Council to achieve our place-based ambitions and will act as a framework for future delivery.  

In January 2024, Cabinet agreed a draft Mission Statement and underpinning Missions for the Powering Our Future Programme, which set out a picture of success for the future of the Council. This included a Regeneration Mission, focused on driving economic growth to improve community prosperity and wellbeing.

Since that time, work had taken place to refine each of the Missions, to ensure they provide a foundation to deliver ambitions and priorities set out in the Stockton-on-Tees Plan (agreed by Council in November 2024). There had also been national policy changes and developments in major programmes of work, which were relevant to consider in relation to the Regeneration Mission.

It was therefore considered timely to review and re-set the Regeneration Mission, to position it with an increased focus on Place Making and achievement of Stockton-on-Tees Plan priorities. Achieving this Mission would incorporate significant, large-scale project and programme activity, which would be brought to Cabinet for decision making.

The Regeneration Mission was detailed within the report.

Success would be measured through a set of indicators that formed part of performance reporting for the Stockton-on-Tees Plan. This would include an emphasis on employment, skills and population rates, business growth and diversification of housing.

RESOLVED that:-

1. The proposals for the Regeneration Mission, set out in sections 4-7 of the report be agreed.

2. Future update reports be received as appropriate for major projects and programmes of work, and as part of Powering Our Future progress reporting.

3. Performance is reported through the Stockton-on-Tees Plan Performance Management Framework.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

Cabinet approval of the recommendations can ensure that we are well positioned to achieve ambitions set out in the Stockton-on-Tees Plan, with a clear focus on value adding, regeneration activity that can deliver meaningful impact for people in the Borough.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Midnight Monday 27 January 2025

1.

Title of Item/Report

Levelling Up Fund Preston Park Museum and Grounds

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that provided an update on progress improvements to Preston Park Museum and Grounds (PPMG) funded through Levelling Up Fund  grant (LUF) ) and sought a decision  to address financial pressures arising from mandatory unforeseen drainage works.

The programme of works as reported to Cabinet in March 2023 consisted of:-

a.       An extension exhibition and open store space at Preston Park Museum

b.       Improvement to the café and toilets (including demolition of current block)

c.        Enhancements to car parking

d.       Opportunities for an alternate use for the Aviary

e.       The creation of a new feature adjacent to the main entrance to celebrate and highlight the Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR) heritage and the original route through the Park

Following the most recent report to Cabinet on this matter in March 2023, work began on the Museum extension, exhibition space and open store along with increase to parking capacity in early 2024.  The scheme was progressing on site with the car park works largely complete and completion and commissioning of the main build due in Spring 2025.

Work was also underway on the refurbishment of the existing café building which would see new toilets and changing places facility along with the demolition of the current toilet block complete by June 2025.

Initial design work had been undertaken on the reuse of the Aviary, opening it up at surface level, with new planting and seating to create a new space and point of interest. Designs had been developed for the demolition (subject to planning permission) of the dilapidated 1920’s South Lodge gatehouse and replace it with a feature to celebrate and highlight the route of the former Stockton & Darlington Railway (S&DR). Enhancements to the central area (adjacent to and between the café and car park) would improve accessibility and movement of vehicles and pedestrians. This work had progressed at a slower pace in cognisance of the emerging budget issues described within the report.

As work had progressed on the Museum extension, it became apparent that the historic drainage infrastructure which serves the current museum building and to which the new build would connect, did not meet current environmental standards and legal requirements.

This discovery prompted a period of assessment and exploration of mitigating actions in regard to both temporary and permanent solutions along with discussion with Northumbrian Water Limited.

Given the legal requirement to be fully compliant with modern environmental regulations, it quickly became apparent that in order for the facility to be operable both in its current form and following the addition of the extension and exhibition space,  an attenuation tank and the addition of a significant length of new drainage as well as a new connection into the nearby network was required and this work was added to the current construction contract.

The cost of  ...  view the full decision text for item 7.

1.

Title of Item/Report

ARP Schools - Outcome of EMS Consultation

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on Additionally Resourced Provision (ARP) in mainstream schools and the outcome of Enhanced Mainstream Schools (EMS) consultation.

In September 2024, a report was considered by Cabinet, for information only, on the consultation relating to increasing capacity in mainstream schools within Stockton-on-Tees, by transferring current Enhanced Mainstream Schools to Additionally Resourced Provision and SEN Units.

The Council had successfully submitted a revised Delivering Better Value (DBV) plan to DfE on 19 February 2024. This plan was formally agreed by Government and required the Council to fully mitigate the aggregated Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit by 2027/28, because if left unmitigated the number of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) was forecast to reach 2,564 by January 2027 (2,280 at time of submission) which would result in an unmitigated aggregated deficit of £34.8m by the end of 2027/28 compared with a current (end of 2023/2024) deficit of £3.8m.

The plan to reduce the deficit and provide long-term stability was based on eight mitigations, the most significant of which (in terms of deficit reduction and long-term sustainability) was to increase capacity in local mainstream primary and secondary schools thereby reducing the need for significantly more expensive independent special school and out of area special school placements.

There was a need to improve outcomes for children with special educational needs across the Borough and respond to the increasing demand for specialist support at the earliest opportunity. This fits with the Council’s vision of providing earlier intervention to reduce demand for expensive placements which were often out of Borough and aligned with the overarching strategy of SEND locally and the priority areas in the Delivering Better Value Action Plan.

The Council had a statutory duty to ensure there was sufficient and suitable educational provision to meet the need of all its children and young people. Stockton-on-Tees had a significant shortfall in provision relating to pupils with Special Educational Needs. There was a need for a Cabinet decision to commit funding to increase the number of placements for children with SEND in the Borough.

The proposal to introduce a model of Additional Resourced Provisions and SEND Units would align with the Department for Education Guidance and allow for clear registration of the provision with benefits to schools and families. It would allow parents to request these schools in line with the duties in the Children and Families Act 2014 and would give parents additional choice of school placements, as opposed to current options of mainstream or special schools.

As a result of the pressure on places, more children were being allocated specialist places within the private sector, including the use of independent and alternative provision to support children not able to access a local special school place. This resulted in lengthy journeys for vulnerable children and pressure on families, whose children were  ...  view the full decision text for item 8.

1.

Title of Item/Report

Review of the Statement of Principles for Gambling Premises in Stockton-on-Tees

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on the Review of the Statement of Principles for Gambling Premises in Stockton-on-Tees.

The Authority was required, by the Gambling Act 2005, to publish a Statement of Principles (policy) that it proposed to apply when exercising its functions under the Act. This policy must be published every three years.

Gambling was regulated in two ways, the Gambling Commission regulated the individuals who provide gambling, carrying out a fit and proper test on licensed operators. The Local Authority issue premise licences to those operators ensuring the premises where gambling was carried out meets legislation and guidance.

Gambling had changed in recent years, traditional methods such as betting shops were being replaced with online gambling. The Gambling Commission regulated online gambling. The number of betting shop premises had reduced by 17 over the past 9 years. The main source of statistical data on gambling was from the Gambling Commission website, further information was attached to the report.

As well as the Gambling Act 2005, the Gambling Commission Guidance for Local Authorities detailed how the local authority should exercise its functions when licensing premises for gambling.

There had been no legislative changes since 2022, as such there had been no material changes to the current policy. The policy has had a refresh regarding look, ease of use and updated information about the Borough, gambling participation and gambling harms, and a copy of the draft was made available to Members.

The draft policy was published for a four-week public consultation. The consultation included stakeholders such as the Gambling Commission, trade associations, licensees, children’s services, local residents’ groups, responsible authorities including police and public health, and all members. The consultation was also published on the Council website and a public notice was placed on the notice boards of all public libraries. No comments on the draft policy were received.

The Statutory Licensing Committee considered the draft policy at a hearing on 24 September 2024, no additional comments were received.

RESOLVED that the revised Statement of Principles for Gambling Premises in Stockton-on-Tees be agreed and come into effect on the 31 January 2025.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

The Council’s current policy came into effect on 31 January 2022 and is now due for review.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Midnight Monday 27 January 2025

1.

Title of Item/Report

2024 Event Summary and 2025 Memorial Lighting Calendar

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that provides an overview of the Council’s 2024 Events Programme, including commercial and community led events which had been delivered by third parties, including events on Council land. The report also provided details of the delivery of the Council’s biggest event, Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) which received very positive feedback in the independent market research, with 92% rating the whole experience positively and 94% feel that SIRF was a good use of Council resources.

In addition, the report provided the suggested calendar for memorial lighting for 2025.

The Borough’s event programme continued to be popular with visitor numbers and satisfaction levels remained high over the past year. There had been a good mix of small, medium and large-scale events delivered across the six towns, and some new small scale town centre events included Yard Sessions, Sustainable Environment Fair and Going for Gold.

The Council’s resources continued to be deployed across the Borough to enable local event organisers to deliver their own community focussed events which, although supported, were delivered independently of the Council. Over 25 community and local events were delivered this year, many delivered on Council land and all receiving practical support from the Council, including specialist planning and safety advice, access to relevant Council services, and financial support for safety officers, road closures, signage and programming etc. This support was essential for communities to enable them to manage their own events and celebrations in a safe manner.

Part of our large-scale event programme continued to be temporarily impacted due to the ongoing major redevelopment work on Stockton’s Riverside and High Street locations. The suspension of these events which included Stockton’s Fireworks, Super Car Saturday and Stockton’s Cycling Festival had been planned and communicated to Members and our communities.

The Council’s Events Service was working with the Town Team, contributing to the design of the new riverside spaces and planning for the continued use of the existing riverside spaces, and developing a new large-scale programme of events in preparation for the opening of the site.

Internally, there continued to be a joined-up approach across Council teams in the delivery of our events programme and the effort and support provided from service teams including Enforcement, Highways, Legal, Communications, Media, CFYA and Design Services was acknowledged. The effectiveness of this joint working and ability to respond to unexpected challenges had been very evident this year, particularly in relation to the impact of adverse weather and changes to programme and overall delivery.

 RESOLVED that:-

1. The success of events programme during 2024/25.

2. The memorial lighting calendar for 2025/26 be approved.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

To update Cabinet and approve the memorial lighting calendar.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

None

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None  ...  view the full decision text for item 10.