Agenda item

It was proposed by Councillor Ted Strike, seconded by Councillor Tony Riordan and unanimously

RESOLVED that

Council welcomes the Leader’s recent announcement confirming that the Shambles will continue to be used for its existing small businesses, and that Cabinet will bring forward plans to further support local independent retailers in the town centre.

Council further notes the historical and cultural significance of the Shambles. Built in 1825 as a covered market hall, the Grade II listed building stands immediately south of the Town Hall and Market Cross at the heart of Stockton High Street. With its Flemish bond brickwork, arched windows and decorative cornice inscribed “Erected A.D. 1825, John Wilkinson Esq Mayor”, the Shambles has for two centuries provided a distinctive civic and commercial landmark for the town centre. This year we rightly celebrate Stockton’s historic role as the birthplace of the railways, but we should also not forget our other cultural assets of equal age, such as the Shambles, which continue to play an important role in the identity and vitality of the town centre.

Council recognises that maintaining accessible and high-quality facilities within the building is important both for the businesses who trade there and for the visitors who generate essential footfall in the heart of the town centre.

Council therefore requests that Cabinet gives further consideration to whether:

·         refurbishment and upgrading of the existing toilets within the Shambles could provide a more effective solution than the development of a separate new facility in Waterfront Park; and

·         investment in the Shambles building itself could be prioritised to strengthen its role as a central part of the town centre offer.

It was proposed by Councillor Niall Innes, seconded by Councillor Tony Riordan and unanimously

RESOLVED that

Council notes that:

Under the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, filming, photographing and making an audio recording of all public meetings is permitted.

Council meetings are public meetings. Elected representatives and council officers acting in the public sphere should expect to be held to account for their comments and votes in such meetings. The rules require councils to provide reasonable facilities for any member of the public to report on meetings. Councils should thus allow the filming of councillors and officers at meetings that are open to the public.

Stockton Council has spent £9000.86 of public money on the installation of 2 Cameras in the council chamber.

Council believes that:

In the interest of transparency and openness, the council should ensure that its public meetings, which includes Committee Meeting’s, Cabinet and Full Council should be fully recorded and where possible live streamed to allow our residents to fully engage in local democracy.

The cost associated with the installation of the cameras can only be justified, if they are there to aid residents in viewing proceedings. Furthermore, the recording of proceedings will ensure an accurate account to be taken of the meeting and assist with accurate minutes.

Council resolves:

·         That all Council meetings held in the Council Chamber that are open to the public, specifically Full Council, should be recorded and livestreamed;

·         That Cabinet be requested to ensure that Cabinet meetings held in the Council Chamber are both recorded and livestreamed;

on the Council’s website, to provide the greatest level of accessibility and inclusivity for residents.

It was proposed by Councillor Niall Innes, seconded by Councillor Tony Riordan and unanimously

RESOLVED that

Council notes that:

Government Guidance on the flying of the Union Flag, put forward by Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and updated in March 2025 dictates that ‘There are designated days when the Union Flag must be flown on UK government buildings by command of His Majesty The King. However, UK government buildings are encouraged to fly the Union Flag all year around.

This guidance is aimed at UK government buildings. However, we would encourage local authorities and other local organisations to follow suit where they wish to fly flags’.

Council believes that:

Following the guidance put forward by Government, our National Flag should fly from Council Premises.

Council resolves:

That Cabinet be requested to fly the Union Flag all year round on all Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council office premises.