Agenda and minutes

This meeting will be filmed for live and / or subsequent broadcast on the Council’s website.  The whole of the meeting will be filmed, except where there are confidential or exempt items, and the footage will be on the website for 12 months.  A copy of it will also be retained in accordance with the Council’s data retention policy.

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The Chair announced to those present that the meeting would be livestreamed.

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 2 July 2026.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Community Safety Select Committee meeting which was held on 2 July 2026 for approval and signature.

AGREED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 2 July 2026 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider and agree the scope and project plan for the review.

Consideration was given to the draft scope and project plan for the Scrutiny Review of Alley Gates.

As defined by the College of Policing, ‘alley gates were lockable gates installed to prevent access by offenders to alleyways, such as those which ran along the rear of older-style terraced housing in the UK’.  Whilst the alley gate programme in Stockton-on-Tees had historically delivered clear community safety benefits, the asset base has now reached a stage where increasing maintenance costs, ageing infrastructure, and the lack of a long-term funding strategy present growing challenges.  The proposed main aims for this review would therefore be to assess whether existing arrangements continued to meet local needs, provide value for money and support wider community safety and environmental protection objectives, and to inform future policy on the use of current and future alley gates in Stockton-on-Tees.

Several contributors had been identified in relation to this scrutiny topic, including Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) departments (Community Safety, Care For Your Area, and Housing Services), SBC Ward Councillors, Cleveland Police, Cleveland Fire Brigade, local housing associations, and the Borough’s Town and Parish Councils.  A resident view would also be sought via relevant resident associations / community groups.   It was anticipated that the Committee’s final report would be presented to the SBC Cabinet in February 2027.

Reflecting on the proposed key lines of enquiry for this review, the Committee drew attention to the reference on the maintenance of these gates and felt costs needed to be fully understood, as well as which budget/s were used (or should be used) to pay for installation and upkeep.  It was noted that the number of alley gates differed in each ward, and that the condition of them were often impacted by vandalism / anti-social behaviour – exploring the design of these, including whether other Local Authorities used similar or different gate, was therefore suggested.

AGREED that the draft scope and project plan for the Alley Gates review be approved.

CHAIR’S UPDATE

The Chair informed the Committee that, after several requests, a rather unsatisfactory response had now been received from Cleveland Police regarding outstanding actions in relation to the Committee’s 2020 review on fly-grazed horses.  Members, noting ongoing concerns with horses getting onto the road in Port Clarence, were asked how they wanted to proceed – it was agreed that relevant representatives from the force should be asked to attend a future meeting to explain its position and address any subsequent Member comments / questions.

WORK PROGRAMME  2026-2027

Consideration was given to the Committee’s current work programme.  The next meeting was due to take place on 1 October 2026 where items would include the first evidence-gathering session in relation to the Scrutiny Review of Alley Gates, and the latest overview and performance update regarding community safety (regulated services and emergency planning) matters.  The draft final report following the Community Participation Budget (CPB) and Ward Transport Budget (WTB) review would also be presented to the Committee for approval.

AGREED that:

1)    the Chair’s Update and Community Safety Select Committee Work Programme 2026-2027 be noted.

2)    Cleveland Police be requested to attend a future Committee meeting to explain its position on fly-grazed horses.