Agenda and minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To consider information from the following in relation to this scrutiny topic:

·         Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector (via Catalyst)

·         SBC Regeneration and Inclusive Growth

·         Town Centre-related approaches / initiatives / considerations involving other Local Authority areas

·         SBC Ward Councillor survey feedback (to follow)

The sixth evidence-gathering session for the Committee’s review of Welcoming and Safe Town Centres considered views on this scrutiny topic from the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector, town centre-related approaches / initiatives involving other Local Authority areas, and feedback on the responses to the survey issued to all Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Ward Councillors in December 2024.  A representative from the SBC Regeneration and Inclusive Growth directorate also provided a summary of their recently completed research project focusing on Stockton town centre.

VCSE SECTOR (VIA CATALYST)

Representatives from Catalyst (a strategic infrastructure organisation for Stockton-on-Tees which offers a range of specialist support, strategic operations, and a commitment to push forward the conditions in which its VCSE colleagues operate) were asked to collate views from the sector in response to the Committee’s lines of enquiry.  Catalyst’s Chief Executive, supported by its Community Projects Manager (Equality), gave a presentation which focused on the following:

·         Current VCSE town centre support: Examples of existing VCSE activity within each of the Borough’s six town centre spaces were listed.  Specific attention was drawn to Vision 25 in Stockton (an organisation helping those with learning disabilities which makes good use of the library, thereby introducing people to the town centre), Ingelby Barwick litter-pickers (a proactive group which plays an important role in making the area welcoming), and the Thornaby Pavilion ‘warm welcome’ (bringing numerous people into the town centre space).

Elsewhere, Norton’s Open Jar CIC (a pub enabling access for community groups – a good example of crossover between different sectors), the Billingham Food Bank (bringing people into the town centre for a specific need), and Yarm Wellness (assisting groups who would not normally find themselves in the town centre) were all highlighted.

·         Volunteer Driver Scheme: Part-funded by SBC (£17,500), this initiative was gaining momentum and, with areas of the Borough isolated due to public transport issues (i.e. lack of / poor awareness of routes; being unable to access vehicles unaided), helped address a key barrier to accessing spaces / activities.  However, the current pilot expires in March 2025 and local partners were struggling to find funding for this to continue.

·         Community Mental Health Transformation: The Wellbeing Hub (a one-stop shop for mental health and wellbeing support), opened in July 2024 and located in Wellington Square (Stockton town centre), was an example of partnership-working at its best.  Discussions around the need for a similar hub based in Billingham town centre had taken place, but funding had yet to be identified.

Catalyst had also commissioned numerous other wellbeing provision involving The Moses Project, Bridges Family, and the SBC Carers Support Service, as well as Anchoreach CIC peer support and specialist counselling for hearing impaired residents, Thornaby Methodist Church, and Starfish’s ‘Place To Be’ sessions.

·         Stockton Street Angels: Previously run by Stockton Baptist Church and known as ‘Stockton Pastors’, Stockton Business Improvement District (BID) had set-up ‘Stockton Street Angels’ (aided by Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland funding) to meet  ...  view the full minutes text for item CSS/43/24

To consider the SBC Domestic Abuse Steering Group view on, and response to, a report published by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman regarding the duties of Councils to victims of domestic abuse.

The Committee considered the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Domestic Abuse Steering Group view on, and response to, a recent report published by the Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman regarding the duties of Councils to victims of domestic abuse.  This followed an October 2024 statement from the Ombudsman that ‘victims of domestic abuse are sometimes being let down by Councils using an outdated and too narrow definition of what abuse means’.

A new guidance document aimed at improving Local Authority awareness of their duties to victims when providing housing and homelessness support was also published, with the Ombudsman urging Councils to reassure themselves that they were looking at people’s cases through the lens of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (which created new duties and powers for Councils to help victims).  In order to seek this assurance, the Committee approached the Council’s Domestic Abuse Steering Group to ascertain its thoughts on the content of this report and any response to it.

With reference to a prepared presentation (included within the meeting papers), the SBC Director of Public Health / Chair of the SBC Domestic Abuse Steering Group, supported by the SBC Strategic Health & Wellbeing Manager, highlighted the following:

·         Strategic Context: Under the umbrella of the Stockton-on-Tees Health and Wellbeing Board, the issue of domestic abuse was tackled locally by the Council’s Domestic Abuse Steering Group (DASG).  Within the context of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and with links to the Safeguarding Boards covering the Stockton-on-Tees footprint and the Safer Stockton Partnership (SSP), key strategic documents included both the Borough’s Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-2028 and the overarching Stockton-on-Tees Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030 (which included domestic abuse issues and was due to be presented to the SBC Cabinet in February 2025 for approval).

·         Domestic Abuse Steering Group: Reporting to the Health and Wellbeing Board, the DASG was a multi-agency partnership between SBC and relevant organisations (e.g. police, health professionals, Harbour, etc.) which supported system-working to prevent, identify, intervene early, and respond to domestic abuse in Stockton-on-Tees.  A DASG Action Plan was in place, with themed meetings every two months which focused on key strategy areas.  Outcome indicators were in the process of being specified to measure progress.

·         What is Domestic Abuse?: Defined in section 1 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, it related to abusive behaviour between individuals who were aged 16 or over and were personally connected to each other.  Behaviour was considered ‘abusive’ if it involved any of: physical or sexual abuse, violent or threatening behaviour, controlling or coercive behaviour, economic abuse, or psychological, emotional or other abuse.

·         Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-2028: To deliver outcomes for domestic abuse, a number of indicators (including who was responsible for them) and system outcomes (including how these would be measured) had been identified to support the priorities listed within the overarching strategy.  Achieving progress on these would help in realising the local vision – that is, everyone experiencing domestic abuse was listened to, supported and protected to  ...  view the full minutes text for item CSS/44/24

CHAIR’S UPDATE

The Chair had no further updates.

WORK PROGRAMME 2024-2025

Consideration was given to the Committee’s current work programme (2024-2025).  The next meeting was due to take place on 27 February 2025, but a request to defer the anticipated progress update in relation to outstanding elements of the Action Plan approved by the Committee following its previous Tree Asset Management review had been recently received by relevant Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) officers.

It was therefore proposed, and subsequently agreed, to move the Tree Asset Management progress update to the Committee meeting in March 2025 – the February 2025 date would now be solely used as an informal ‘summary of evidence / draft recommendations’ session for the ongoing Scrutiny Review of Welcoming and Safe Town Centres.

AGREED that the Chair’s Update and Community Safety Select Committee Work Programme 2024-2025 be noted.