Agenda and decisions

1.

Title of Item/Report

Stockton-on-Tees Plan - Progress 2025

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on the Stockton-on-Tees Plan.

Following Council agreement of the Stockton-on-Tees Plan in 2024, it was agreed that Cabinet would receive annual performance updates.

The indicators attached to the report provided Cabinet with an update on the Council’s progress against the high-level outcomes identified in the Stockton-on-Tees Plan.

The Stockton-on-Tees Plan (2024) set a Vision for the future of the Borough, developed with communities, for communities:

Our Vision: Stockton-on-Tees is home. It's a warm and friendly place where we welcome others and come together as a single community. We are a diverse and inspiring Borough, culturally rich and with confidence in a future that we can all share and be proud of. At the economic heart of the Tees Valley, we are a dynamic, safe and healthy place where everyone can grow and succeed. We will continue to work together to reduce inequalities and barriers to opportunity.

The wider plan was developed to reflect the drivers and priorities that can turn the Vision into reality, and included a picture of success, underpinned by key outcome measures (What success looks like - Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council).

Outcomes centre around the priority areas of:

•         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

The appendix to the report provided the first years’ progress report against key outcome measures.

This included:

- Areas where the Council performs above the national average, and demonstrated strong performance trends aligned to the Council ambitions:

% of households in fuel poverty

% of children having a good level of development at foundation stage

Gross Value Added (GVA) per hour worked

- Areas where the Council shows strong performance relative to national averages, however there was a need to manage local trends to improve outcomes:

Average Attainment 8 score

- Areas where the Council demonstrates strong performance trends aligned to the Council ambitions:

Total recorded offences

Employment rate

- Known areas of challenge, which form the basis of targeted activity to improve outcomes:

% of 16 and 17 year olds who were not in education, employment or training

Healthy life expectancy

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

1.       To Ensure Transparency and Accountability:

Regular reporting against the Stockton-on-Tees Plan enables Cabinet and stakeholders to monitor progress, assess the effectiveness of service delivery, and ensure that the Council remains accountable to residents and partners.

2.       To Support Evidence-Based Decision-Making:

The report provides an overview of outcomes, highlighting both achievements and areas requiring improvement. This evidence base supports informed decision-making and prioritisation of resources.

3.       To Drive Continuous Improvement:

Identifying areas for improvement allows for timely intervention and the implementation of corrective actions. This promotes a culture of continuous improvement across services  ...  view the full decision text for item 5.

1.

Title of Item/Report

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Public Report following Investigation Reference 24 013 122

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman Public Report following Investigation Reference 24 013 122.

On 24 July 2025, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) issued a Public Interest Report concerning Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s handling of a young person’s Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan. The Ombudsman determined that this case merited a public report because of its seriousness and the wider implications for service delivery and statutory compliance.

The Ombudsman found that the Council failed to secure the special educational provision set out in the young person’s Plan and did not carry out the required annual review, despite sending correspondence to the family stating that a review had taken place. This resulted in the young person missing significant education and caused distress and uncertainty for the family. The investigation also revealed that this was not an isolated error: ninety-nine other families had been sent similar letters stating that annual reviews had been completed when no meeting or consultation had in fact taken place.

The report brought the Ombudsman’s findings before Cabinet, as required by law, and sets out both the remedies directed by the Ombudsman and the action already taken by the Council.

The Ombudsman’s investigation concerned a young person, referred to as Y, who had an Education, Health and Care Plan. The Council failed to secure the provision specified in that Plan and failed to carry out the required annual review. Nevertheless, correspondence was issued to Y’s parent, Ms X, stating that a review had taken place.

As a consequence of these failings, Y missed four and a half terms of education between May 2023 and July 2024. The Ombudsman concluded that this amounted to maladministration causing injustice. The family experienced distress, frustration and uncertainty, and the young person was denied the support to which they were legally entitled.

The investigation also identified systemic failings. Between July 2024 and May 2025, the Council issued ninety-nine annual review letters recording reviews as complete when no meeting had been held. Although in most cases annual reviews were in fact carried out, this practice was misleading, risked masking gaps in provision, and undermined confidence in the Council’s processes.

To remedy the injustice, the Ombudsman required the Council to apologise formally to Y and Ms X, to make a payment of £5,700 to recognise the lost education and a further £200 for the distress caused by misleading correspondence, and to repeat its earlier offer of £1,800 for the period prior to May 2023. The total redress of £7,700 had been funded from the SEND budget. The Council issued the apology on 14 August 2025 and completed the payments on 18 August 2025.

The Ombudsman also required the Council to write to the ninety-nine affected families to explain the error,  ...  view the full decision text for item 6.

1.

Title of Item/Report

Powering our Future - Transformation Review: Therapeutic Residential Care for Children Experiencing Mental Health Challenges and Behavioural Distress

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on Powering our Future - Transformation Review: Therapeutic Residential Care for Children Experiencing Mental Health Challenges and Behavioural Distress.

The purpose of the report was to appraise Cabinet of the successful submission of a bid to the Department of Education’s Children’s Home Capital Programme 2025 to 2029. The bid would provide 50% capital funding to purchase two properties with a total of 3 places, for children experiencing mental health challenges and behavioural distress. The report outlined the proposal for the provision of two homes in Stockton-on-Tees following a comprehensive review, options appraisal and development of a business case. The objective was to address the need for specialist placements within Stockton-on-Tees for the most vulnerable children.

The proposal aimed to build sufficiency within the mainstream residential estate to avoid having to place children in external private provider care, which was often unregulated and costly, providing limited value for money. Providing residential care locally would support better outcomes for children in our care and help give them a better start in life.

The report was an important part of the approach to reducing inequality by prioritising support to enable more children to live within safe and inclusive communities.

The Council’s Mission Statement and wider Powering Our Future Programme, prioritised supporting more children to live in safe and inclusive communities that provide them with opportunities to thrive. This means working differently with communities, to harness the strengths that exist to build resilience and independence.  

In April 2024, Cabinet agreed to a review of Children in our Care as part of phase 1 of the Transformation Programme. This provided clarity on the scope and objectives for the review, in alignment with the Council’s Mission Statement.

The review led to a comprehensive understanding of challenges making use of research, data and intelligence. Findings and drivers for change along with options and proposals were summarised within the report.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council faced challenges with a high number of children in care (591 as at 24/09/25) of which there were 71 (as at 24/09/25) in external residential care. Of those children in external residential care, 16 were placed in high-cost placements (over £8,000 per week). The average cost was £11,300, with the highest being £16,000 per week. Most of these placements were unregulated. These were the most costly services and were often out of area.

Recent national, regional and local research undertaken by Newton Europe on behalf of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) validates the need for additional residential placements for children with complex needs. The average weekly cost for residential care had increased significantly between 2020 and 2024 from £4,000 per week to £6,000 per week. However, the cost of placements can increase significantly for those in unregulated  ...  view the full decision text for item 7.

1.

Title of Item/Report

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy 2025 – 2030

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and Alternative Provision (AP) Strategy 2025 – 2030.

The report provided an overview of the updated SEND and AP strategy for 2025-2030 for the local area partnership. The local area partnership brought together children, young people, parents, carers, education, health and social care services, all of whom share responsibility for the strategic commissioning, management, delivery and evaluation of

arrangements for children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 years and those who may require alternative provision in Stockton-on-Tees.

A 2024 report  commissioned by the Local Government Association and County Councils network highlighted the breadth of challenges that were facing the SEND system nationally. The report described the SEND system as reaching breaking point, driven by key factors including:

•         More children than ever before are being identified as having SEND, with the rise in the number of pupils in schools with Education, Health and Care plans far outstripping the overall rise of the school population.

•         More children and young people with SEND have needs that are not met in mainstream education and require specialist provision, with a corresponding substantial rise in placements in independent and non-maintained special schools of 132%.

•         More money than ever before is being invested in the SEND system, but this is not keeping pace with what is being spent (the high needs funding deficit), representing significant budget pressures for local authorities, education and health services.

•         Outcomes for children and young people with SEND overall have not improved.

A government schools’ white paper was expected to be published in the Autumn which would outline the detail of intended reforms to the SEND system. The SEND and AP strategy had been developed with a clear set of guiding priorities and commitments, with sufficient flexibility to be able to respond to the coming changes of the SEND landscape following the publishing of the white paper.

Over the last 12 months a process of self-evaluation, benchmarking, refresh of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and development of  local area inclusion plan had deepened the understanding of the needs of our children and young people with SEND and those who may require alternative provision, and the challenges facing the local system including:

•         The number of children and young people with SEND is projected to rise across all educational settings (mainstream, special and resourced provision) over the coming years.

•         Pupils with EHC and SEND support plans have consistently higher absence rates than those with no identified SEND.

•         There is an attainment gap between children and young people with SEND and their peers across every phase of education.

•         Our local system partners are reporting that needs for children are emerging earlier and becoming more complex.

•         There is a  ...  view the full decision text for item 8.

1.

Title of Item/Report

Strategy for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Outdoor Play Provision 2025 Part 2

2.

Record of the Decision

Consideration was given to a report on the Strategy for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Outdoor Play Provision 2025 Part 2.

Following approval of the recommendations contained within the initial report to Cabinet on the 17th July 2025, officers had enacted the agreed principles against the play estate and completed the final sections of the Strategy.

The resulting information contained in Section 7 of the Strategy (pages 21 to 30) are the officers’ recommendations for specific Council-owned play areas, utilising the data collected during the investigation phase of strategy development whilst understanding Cabinet’s recommendation to allocate a further £150k in next year’s MTFP.

This would result in a decreased play estate, which is sustainable and ensured a fair distribution of sites across the Borough when viewed in conjunction with play areas provided by third-parties such as parish/town councils and housing developers. 

The Strategy also recommended a series of cross-cutting actions regarding the development, design and management of play provision.  These are set out in Section 8 of the Strategy.

Cabinet was reminded that the Council’s approach to the management and development of outdoor play provision owned by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is to:

•         Maintain a range of good quality play areas and informal sport facilities

•         Achieve a fair and equitable distribution of outdoor play provision across the Borough

•         Deliver welcoming, accessible and inclusive play spaces, while acknowledging that not all sites can cater for all needs and abilities

•         Ensure the overall scale of provision is at a level which is sustainable in terms of Council resource.

The Borough had 57 play areas which were available for the public to use free of charge at all reasonable times:

•         40 are owned and managed by Stockton Borough Council,

•         9 are owned by town / parish councils but managed by the Borough Council, 

•         8 are owned and managed by housing developers / management companies.

There were plans for a further 12 play areas to be delivered over the next few years (3 to be provided by the Council and 9 to be provided by housing developers) although this was subject to change.

If approved this strategy would result in a total of 32 Council-owned sites, with 11 scheduled for phased decommissioning with the resulting land identified for alternative public use.  This provision was complemented by the 17 play areas already provided by third parties and the additional 9 which were planned as part of new housing developments.

RESOLVED that:-

1. The Strategy for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Outdoor Play Provision 2025 be approved.

2. The site-specific recommendations, subject to financial approvals of the additional £150,000 pa contained within the 2026/27 MTFP report to be presented in February 2026 be approved. This would enable 23 Council-owned play areas to be prioritised for retention, development or redevelopment, ensuring high maintenance  ...  view the full decision text for item 9.

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 for consideration:-

TVCA AGM – 27 June 2025

TVCA Cabinet – 27 June 2025

TVCA Cabinet – 25 July 2025

SSP – 23 July 2025

RESOLVED that That the minutes of the meetings detailed in the appendices be noted.

3.

Reasons for the Decision

For noting only.

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

Not applicable.