Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

1.

Title of Item/Report

Scrutiny Review of Affordable Housing - Final Report of Place Select Committee

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that presented the outcomes of the Place Select Committee’s review of Affordable Housing.

Affordable Housing were homes for those whose housing needs were not met by the private market. This included affordable rent, social rent, rent to buy schemes, shared ownership schemes and discounts for market sale / first homes.

The demand for affordable and social rented housing in the Borough was increasing across all needs groups e.g. families, singles and couples, those with health needs, and those seeking supported housing to enable independent living, as well as all housing bands.  However, the number of properties being advertised per week had reduced. The number of people on the register therefore outstripped number of affordable homes currently available and being built and is projected to do so going forward. The aim of the review was to identify potential options for how the Council could increase the supply of affordable rented housing in the Borough and therefore address the housing need.

The Committee had taken evidence from several relevant SBC services and stakeholder organisations, including Planning Services, Lettings & Nominations Team, three Registered Providers: Beyond Housing, North Star and Thirteen, and three private developers: Keepmoat, Storey and Taylor Whimpey North Yorkshire. To ascertain how other LA’s were meeting their housing needs best practice was sought from Northern Housing Consortium and LGA who shared a variety of projects being carried out across the country. A report by a local resident group, Housing Action Teesside, was also reflected upon.  

RESOLVED that:-

1. The outcomes of the Affordable Housing Option Appraisal to date are supported, and officers be requested to carry out further investigation into a hybrid model to address the borough’s affordable housing need, which should include:

•         Enabling (which may include for example the Council seeking an increased requirement for the provision of affordable housing on sites the Council owns i.e. above our minimum planning requirement)

•         Partnerships with Registered Providers and Developers – partnerships may be a single partner or several partners and can come from a variety of sectors

•         Direct delivery (model to be determined)

2. Correspondence is sent to Central Government to ask that the regulations for returning empty homes back into use are reviewed to ensure a more streamlined and strengthened process.

3. Given the current demand for social/affordable housing, the Council (via its website and other means as appropriate) provide regular updates to applicants regarding general property availability and demand (for example with information on the average number of properties advertised per month/the average number of bids made on each property per month), in an attempt to manage applicant expectations.

4. Following Cabinet approval, and six months after the implementation of the revised Common Allocation Policy, an update be provided back to the Committee on the impact of banding  ...  view the full decision text for item CAB/4/25

1.

Title of Item/Report

Common Allocation Policy (Tees Valley Lettings Partnership)

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on the Common Allocation Policy (Tees Valley Lettings Partnership).

The members of the Tees Valley Lettings Partnership included Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees borough councils, Beyond Housing and North Star.  The partners work collaboratively to let social and affordable rent properties in accordance with an agreed Common Allocation Policy (CAP).  The CAP detailed how people register and bid for homes through the Partnership’s choice-based lettings platform (Tees Valley Home Finder).

Faced with rising demand for social/affordable rented housing, it was essential that the CAP remains relevant, adheres to national policy and, vitally, meets our local housing needs.  To ensure the Council had a policy that was fair, clear and helps those who need social/affordable housing most, the Partnership had recently undertaken a review of the current CAP.  The review was informed by consultation with applicants registered on Tees Valley Home Finder, key partners and stakeholders.  Following the conclusion of the CAP consultation exercise, Members are asked to approve the proposed new CAP at Appendix A of the report. 

RESOLVED that the recent consultation exercise recently undertaken to inform an updated Tees Valley Common Allocation Policy (as detailed in paragraphs 4-6 of this report) be noted and the proposed new Common Allocation Policy (Appendix A of the report) be approved.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

Whilst the Council is not a stock-holding local authority, we are required to operate an Allocation Policy and a housing register.  In Stockton-on-Tees, we operate a CAP and housing register in partnership with Middlesbrough Council, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Beyond Housing North Star (the Tees Valley Lettings Partnership members).  All members of the Partnership are committed to working collaboratively to ensure a fair and transparent Common Allocation Policy.  The recent CAP review was undertaken to ensure that the housing needs of residents across the boroughs of Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees are met.

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 28 April 2025

1.

Title of Item/Report

Scrutiny Review of Welcoming and Safe Town Centres - Final Report of Community Safety Select Committee

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report that presented the outcomes of the Community Safety Select Committee’s review of Welcoming and Safe Town Centres.

For several years now, debate had ensued over the future purpose and provision of town centres across the UK, with Local Authorities and their numerous partners considering the ways in which they could make these locations as appealing as possible within the context of a tough financial landscape. In related matters, the issue of town centre safety had drawn more recent national attention, with significant concerns raised around reported increases in shoplifting, rising incidences of violence and abuse of shop staff, and police / community support officer numbers.

As Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) progressed with the redevelopment of its six town centres, fostering feelings of safety and creating welcoming spaces were crucial for several reasons. A safe environment encourages residents and visitors to engage in activities, boosting economic vitality through increased footfall and business opportunities. A welcoming town centre also promoted community cohesion and pride, attracting investment but also encouraging a sense of belonging amongst residents. Cultivating and developing a positive perception of the Borough’s town centres is an essential component of the Council’s regeneration strategy.

Over recent years, a significant amount of work had gone into supporting Stockton-on-Tees town centres, both from a regeneration investment perspective and a community safety standpoint. A substantial amount of investment had been made in community safety measures such as new CCTV cameras and the provision of additional Civic Enforcement Officers to patrol and work with key stakeholders to problem-solve issues. Furthermore, last year saw the introduction of the Council’s first Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle aggressive begging and street drinking in both Stockton Town Centre and Norton Village.

These measures, alongside additional support from SBCs strategic partners, had resulted in sustained reductions in key areas of crime and disorder. Despite this, however, some negative public perception of town centre safety persisted (noted particularly among some social media commentators), which could influence prospective visitors and also commercial investors.

The review provided an opportunity to scrutinise what was in place in terms of promoting safety in town centres and how effective the measures were in addressing crime and disorder, whilst also further exploring what more could be done to positively promote the Borough’s town centre spaces to address negative perceptions and improve feelings of safety.

The main aims for this review were to:

• Establish the key issues within each of the Borough’s six town centres with regards safety.

• Understand the measures already in place to address these issues and ascertain any gaps in future plans.

• Identify any potential learning from other parts of the UK.

The Committee took evidence from several SBC departments (Community Safety and Regulated Services; Town Centres  ...  view the full decision text for item CAB/6/25

1.

Title of Item/Report

Local Authority Governors on School Academy Governing Bodies

2.

Record of the Decision

In accordance with the procedure for the appointment of school/academy governors, approved as Minute CAB 27/13 of the Cabinet (13 June 2013), Cabinet is invited to consider the nominations to school/academy Governing Bodies listed in the Appendix to this report.

RESOLVED that the following appointments be made to the vacant Governorships in line with agreed procedures subject to a Personal Disclosure and DBS clearance:-

Mill Lane Primary School - Cllr Pauline Beall (School Nomination)

St John the Baptist Primary School - Geraldine Brown (School Nomination)

3.

Reasons for the Decision

As a result of the expiry of current Governors terms of office and a number of resignations, vacancies exist on the Governing Bodies detailed in the Appendix to this report. Under powers vested in them by paragraph 79 of the 1996 Education Act; Section 19 of the 2002 Education Act and Section 38 of the 2011 Education Act, the Local Authority has a duty to appoint representatives to serve as Governors on the Governing Bodies of all Schools maintained by them.

4.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

None

5.

Declared (Cabinet Member) Conflicts of Interest

With regard to agenda item 8 – Local Authority Governing Bodies Councillor Pauline Beall declared an Other Registrable Interest as she was listed as one of the nominees at Mill Lane Primary School. Councillor Pauline Beall did not vote on the item.

6.

Details of any Dispensations

None

7.

Date and Time by which Call In must be executed

Midnight Monday 28 April 2025

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 Cabinet for consideration:-

TVCA Cabinet – 31 January 2025

SSP – 22 January 2025

RESOLVED that the above minutes be received.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

To enable Cabinet to view the minutes of various bodies.

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 28 April 2025