Agenda item

Question 1

The following question was submitted by Paul Frank:

“Is there a plan to house migrants (with or without criminal records) above any existing shops in Billingham Town Centre, and will the people of Billingham living close to the Town Centre be consulted and informed if or when such a plan comes to light by the Council?”

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing (Councillor Richard Eglington) responded with:

“There is not now, nor has there ever been any plan to house anybody above the shops in Billingham Town Centre. The residential units above shops in Billingham town centre are owned by Evolve and do not form part of the area that the Council has discussed purchasing, nor do the council own any residential units in Billingham Town Centre.

Future plans for the town centre as set out in the Billingham masterplan show that there is a general need for housing in Billingham same as the need across the Borough. Further consultation on the regeneration of the town centre has always been envisaged once we take an ownership of elements of the town centre. It is now some time since the original consultation on all our town centres took place and its now approaching the time when we have control of the assets and can have a meaningful dialogue with residents to understand their views, needs, desires and to explore how we meet these needs in a comprehensive deliverable and financially sustainable way. I have asked officers to prepare a plan to undertake a full community engagement exercise to ensure we have a clear mandate from local people to shape their town centre for the future.”

Question 2

The following question was submitted by Paul Frank:

“When can the people of Billingham expect to see actual progress made in the redevelopment of Billingham Town Centre?”

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing (Councillor Richard Eglington) responded with:

“I am happy to confirm to Mr Frank that actual progress is already being made to redevelop Billingham Town Centre. The detail of legal agreements between the Council and the centre owners, Evolve that will enable the purchase and development of parts of Billingham town centre have progressed over the summer, following confirmation of LUF funding in April. We anticipate agreements being concluded in the coming weeks enabling the first phase of demolition (Queensway South building) to begin with parts of the centre already being stripped out prior to demolition which we anticipate will commence early in the new year.

The existing owners have already made plans to or relocated existing businesses to concentrate commercial activity into a smaller and more sustainable footprint, with a number of agreements in place, subject to contracts being finalised.”

Question 3

The following question was submitted by John McDermottroe:

“Given that Stagecoach are currently introducing 67 Electric buses locally, which are much heavier than their diesel predecessors, were any surveys carried out to determine their impact on the Boroughs already badly, potholed damaged roads?”

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture (Councillor Nigel Cooke) responded with:

“These electric buses, now operating from Stagecoach’s depot in Stockton-on-Tees, are heavier than traditional diesel models due to the battery systems they carry. However, electric buses are still lighter than many multi-axle lorries that use our roads. They meet all national safety and operational standards required for public highways, and their use is fully legal. It’s important to note that the Council does not have control over which vehicles are permitted to operate on public roads.

To manage road conditions, the Council carries out regular surveys using nationally approved methods. These help us monitor wear and tear and plan maintenance effectively. We remain committed to reviewing and updating our asset management strategies to ensure the road network stays safe, resilient, and fit for purpose.”