Agenda and minutes

The evacuation procedure was noted.

There were no interests declared.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 26 June 2025.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Community Safety Select Committee meeting which was held on 26 June 2025 for approval and signature.

AGREED that the minutes of the Committee meeting held on 26 June 2025 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Progress report for the previously completed Outdoor Play Provision review.

Consideration was given to the assessments of progress on the implementation of the recommendations from the Committee’s previously completed review of Outdoor Play Provision.

Presented by the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Head of Environment, Leisure & Green Infrastructure, this was the first progress update following the Committee’s approval of the Action Plan in June 2024.  Noting that the first stage of the new Outdoor Play Provision Strategy 2025 (setting out key principles which the Committee’s review helped establish) was agreed by SBC Cabinet earlier in July 2025, key developments in relation to the agreed actions were highlighted as follows:

·       Recommendation 1 (SBC ensures both revenue and renewal considerations are an intrinsic part of any existing and future outdoor play space proposal within the Borough to maximise the long-term sustainability of such sites): All play areas had been assessed and tables developed identifying individual items of equipment at each site, the play value of each item, its life expectancy, and replacement costs (including surfacing).  During the collation of the first stage strategy paper that was presented to Cabinet in July 2025, intensive work was undertaken around estimated costs, with the new strategy containing several principles designed to address revenue and renewal considerations – this recommendation was therefore deemed ‘fully achieved’.

·       Recommendation 3 (Regarding future proposals by developers for new outdoor play spaces, SBC does not adopt any site installed by a developer which contravenes the key outcomes from this review): The new strategy contained several principles designed to address developer site adoption – this recommendation was therefore deemed ‘fully achieved’.

·       Recommendation 4 (SBC considers support of existing play areas before any additional outdoor play spaces are agreed / approved): The new strategy contained several principles designed to support existing play areas before new spaces were agreed – this recommendation was therefore deemed ‘fully achieved’.

·       Recommendation 5 (Regarding inequality of outdoor play provision across the Borough, SBC clarifies where it is deemed there is little / no provision and possible steps to address these inequalities (including, in exceptional cases, the provision of new play spaces): The new strategy highlighted areas of inequalities and over-provision.  Following Cabinet’s decision, SBC officers were preparing the second stage of the strategy document (with the intention of presenting this to Cabinet in October 2025) which would identify specific sites in which to invest, and which may be decommissioned at the end of equipment life.

The Committee asked if a deadline for achieving this recommendation could be confirmed and were informed that this would be addressed in the second stage report to Cabinet in October 2025.

·       Recommendation 6 (As part of a required rationalisation process in relation to the existing outdoor play offer:

a)    Informed by the recent (March 2024) RoSPA assessments and an analysis of the distribution of existing outdoor play provision, proposals for the removal / repurposing of sites be developed with the aim of reducing pressure on the overall parks budget): The  ...  view the full minutes text for item CSS/15/25

To consider submissions in relation to this scrutiny topic from:

·       Stockton-on-Tees Domestic Abuse Steering Group

·       Harbour

The second evidence-gathering session for the Committee’s review of Children affected by Domestic Abuse featured contributions from the Stockton-on-Tees Domestic Abuse Steering Group and the commissioned support service, Harbour.

STOCKTON-ON-TEES DOMESTIC ABUSE STEERING GROUP

The submission from the local Domestic Abuse Steering Group (DASG) was presented by the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) Director of Public Health (who was also the Chair of the DASG) and involved the following in response to the Committee’s lines of enquiry:

·       DASG: Role & Remit: Mandated by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the objectives of the DASG were to oversee the delivery of system outcomes for domestic abuse (as defined within the Stockton-on-Tees Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-2028), facilitate the development and implementation of an Action Plan to deliver the strategy, and to adopt a whole system approach to domestic abuse (across partners).  Membership included representation of the interests of victims of domestic abuse, the interests of children of domestic abuse victims, police, health services, and voluntary sector specialist services.

·       DASG: Governance & Approach: The DASG was a sub-group of the local Health and Wellbeing Board, a Board which was currently undergoing development work in relation to terms of reference / revised governance which would reinforce links with / update reports to other strategic groups (e.g. Safer Stockton Partnership (SSP), Teeswide Safeguarding Adults Board (TSAB)) and ensure clear lines of delivery.

DASG meetings were themed to align with the Domestic Abuse Strategy (overview of progress against actions, problem-solving (including discussions held on children and young people), etc.), with resulting actions including the clarification of the Harbour education offer to schools (involving attendance at Head Teacher meetings), and awareness-raising of Harbour children and young people workers and their connection into SBC Children’s Services and wider colleagues.  The whole system and whole family approach focus had led to wider community awareness-raising work, as well as work with adult victims and perpetrators (which would impact upon children and young people) – a ‘no wrong door’ policy was also adopted to eliminate barriers associated with identifying / raising instances of domestic abuse.

·       Domestic Abuse Strategy 2022-2028: The strategy’s vision had three distinct elements – everyone experiencing domestic abuse was listened to, supported and protected to live their life free from abuse; all victims of domestic abuse had access to inclusive, quality, affordable and appropriate safe accommodation / support; perpetrators of domestic abuse were held to account and supported to change behaviour.  A recent progress review of the existing strategy had been undertaken – this had helped set priorities for the year ahead.

·       Early Years Children & Young People (EYCYP): Actions undertaken in relation to this demographic included the exploration of ways of working with childcare providers (including pre-school), workforce development planning for frontline professionals working in the system for EYCYP (373 people trained to date in year two (total of 788 across two years, including schools, nursery managers and childminders)), and healthy relationships training in schools / school community awareness and a ‘healthy schools’ approach (how schools sat within  ...  view the full minutes text for item CSS/16/25

Consideration was given to the minutes of previous Safer Stockton Partnership (SSP) meetings which took place in March and May 2025. 

AGREED that the minutes of Safer Stockton Partnership (SSP) meetings which took place in March and May 2025 be noted.

CHAIR’S UPDATE

During consideration of the work of the Select Committees at its meeting earlier in July 2025, the Executive Scrutiny Committee had requested further details of the contributions of local children and young people (via Harbour) to the recently published ‘Tell Nicole’ report which reflected children’s views on the support they needed after experiencing domestic abuse.

WORK PROGRAMME 2025-2026

Consideration was given to the Committee’s current work programme.  The next meeting was due to take place on 25 September 2025 where the third evidence-gathering session for the Children affected by Domestic Abuse review would be held.

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