Agenda and draft minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 30 October 2025.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Community Safety Select Committee meeting which was held on 30 October 2025 for approval and signature.  Attention was drawn to the following item:

·       Scrutiny Review of Children affected by Domestic Abuse: Members were reminded that responses from the NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (NENC ICB) and local Primary Care Networks (PCNs) relating to queries raised at the October 2025 meeting were relayed via email yesterday (26 November 2025).

AGREED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 30 October 2025 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Committee will receive a presentation on the recently adopted Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Air Quality Strategy 2025-2030.

The Committee received a presentation on the recently adopted Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Air Quality Strategy 2025-2030.

Following the introduction of The Environment Act 2021, Local Authorities were required to produce an air quality strategy.  In July 2025, a report was presented to SBC Cabinet recommending the adoption of the SBC Air Quality Strategy covering the 2025-2030 period.  Following Cabinet’s approval of this new strategy, the Council’s Environmental Health Service (which developed the document) was asked to provide a briefing on its content to the Committee.

The SBC Environmental Health Service Manager was in attendance and presented the following information (which was supplemented by the full SBC Air Quality Strategy 2025-2030 document itself):

·       Air Quality & Public Health: Local air quality was vital to public health as air pollution contributed to a wide range of serious health conditions.  Pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter could aggravate respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and were linked to heart disease, stroke, and even cancer.  Vulnerable groups (children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions) were especially at risk, including unborn babies in the womb.

Long-term exposure to poor air quality could reduce life expectancy and increase hospital admissions.  Improving local air quality helped create healthier communities, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance overall quality of life for residents.

·       Automatic Monitoring: There were two monitoring stations within the Borough (one in Eaglescliffe and one in Stockton (A1305)) which measured small particles in the atmosphere and provided continuous real-time information on air quality standards (with data logged every hour and available as public information).  The stations were calibrated every two-four weeks to ensure the equipment and data was accurate, and these formed part of a national monitoring network (mapped on a subsequent presentation slide).

·       Diffusion Tubes: A map illustrating the location of the 15 diffusion tubes situated across the Borough showed the spread of air quality monitoring throughout Stockton-on-Tees.  These tubes checked the levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and had been agreed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

·       PM & NO2 – Pollutants of Prime Concern: Tiny even in comparison to a human hair or fine beach sand, so-called ‘PM’ pollutants were caused by vehicles and heating systems, contributing to most of the air quality issues.  Once in the lungs, they were virtually impossible to get out.

·       KS2 Project: An educational package (comprising lesson and assembly plans) was introduced in all the Borough’s primary schools in relation to air quality matters.  Council officers had visited schools to lead assemblies on this topic, with further efforts made via the use of anti-idling signage (principally aimed at school drop-off / pick-up times), enforcement patrols, and a review of legislation following amendments to the Environment Act 2021 regarding anti-idling enforcement provisions.  This year had seen a further three schools contact SBC to get this information into their setting.

·       Legal Rationale for Air Quality Strategies: Local Councils in the UK were legally required to  ...  view the full minutes text for item CSS/34/25

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Safer Stockton Partnership (SSP) meeting which took place in July 2025. 

AGREED that the minutes of the Safer Stockton Partnership (SSP) meeting which took place in July 2025 be noted.

CHAIR’S UPDATE

In relation to the Committee’s ongoing Scrutiny Review of Children affected by Domestic Abuse, the Chair stated that relevant Cleveland Police representatives were unable to attend this meeting to give evidence.  The force’s submission would now be presented at the next Committee meeting in December 2025.

WORK PROGRAMME 2025-2026

Consideration was given to the Committee’s current work programme.  The next meeting was due to take place on 18 December 2025 where the deferred fifth evidence-gathering session for the ongoing Scrutiny Review of Children affected by Domestic Abuse would be held.

AGREED that the Chair’s Update and Community Safety Select Committee Work Programme 2025-2026 be noted.