Scrutiny

Facilitated through Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's scrutiny committee structure, it involves Councillors working with local people, the community, Council services and other organisations. The Council's Select Committees meet on a regular basis and also gather information through site visits and a range of engagement activities.

The Council has five themed Select Committees comprising of nine Councillors on each (politically balanced). Some Select Committees also have non-Councillor co-opted members.

Select Committees examine, review and challenge the work of the Council and its local partners. They cannot make decisions, but do make recommendations to the Council and other organisations.  

Read our overview and scrutiny end of term report for 2019 to 2023.

For further information on our Select Committees, including copies of final reports, visit the Council's meetings, agendas and minutes webpage or telephone 01642 528158.

Executive Scrutiny Committee

Scrutiny provides Councillors who are not part of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's decision-making Cabinet the opportunity to review decisions, policies and performance that affect the Borough.

Scrutiny is a Councillor-led process which helps to ensure that the Council's and other local organisations' services and policies meet the needs of local people. The Executive Scrutiny Committee co-ordinates the scrutiny work programme, providing a strategic steer for the work of the Select Committees. It also considers periodic updates on the Council Plan and the Council's Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee

Review of Reablement Service

Reablement is a short period of rehabilitation which usually takes place in a person's own home.

Locally, the Reablement Service provides support for people with poor physical or mental health to help them manage their illness or condition by learning, or re-learning, the skills necessary for daily living so that they can remain in the community. The service seeks to ensure that people can maximise their independence when they need it - this can include both step-up care, the escalation of need for people already supported to live independently, as well as step-down, to avoid hospital admission or ensure safe discharges. It also promotes and supports people to be more independent and reduce the need for long-term service provision for as long as possible.

The offer is provided free as mandated by the Care Act 2014 for the person receiving support for up to a maximum of 6 weeks. A person with ongoing care and support needs following this 6 weeks will be financially assessed for their ongoing contribution to their care.

The aim of the review is to identify whether the Reablement Service offered by the Council is:

• maximising independence for people being discharged from hospital and living in the community
• reducing the need for ongoing, more intensive support in people's own homes and reducing the need for admission into 24-hour care
• working effectively with NHS provision that supports people on a reablement pathway
• using technology as effectively as possible

The review is scheduled to report to Cabinet in May 2025.

Quality Assurance Work

As well as undertaking in-depth reviews, the Committee looks at a range of other information to keep an overview of performance. These include NHS Quality Accounts and Healthwatch reports, as well as visits to local health and social care services.

Children and Young People Select Committee

Review of Holidays Are Fun (HAF)

Holidays Are Fun (HAF) is a Department of Education funded programme that provides activities and healthy meals to children and young people during holiday periods, predominantly for those on benefit-related free school meals. It is delivered in partnership through the Council and Catalyst. It involves a range of providers, including schools, delivering a variety of activities.

The programme is aimed at those most in need. Holiday times can be difficult for families, especially under the current cost of living crisis. Offering a safe place to go, with fun activities alongside a healthy nutritious meal, will help families during long and difficult times of the year. Therefore, it is essential that the funding allocated is maximised and provides value for money. The programme is delivered alongside longer-term appropriate support for families.

The Scrutiny Committee could consider if HAF is inclusive of, and attended by, those families who most need it and the impact that the programme has had on family health and social and economic wellbeing. Other considerations could include:

• how the programme can maximise the involvement of schools and education providers
• how elected members can promote and encourage eligible members of their communities to engage with the programme
• if the programme is offering value for money as it moves into its final year of national funding

The review is scheduled to report to Cabinet in May 2025.

Member visits to frontline services

In addition to review work, Select Committee Members undertake a programme of visits to frontline services as part of their wider quality assurance work.

Community Safety Select Committee

Review of Welcoming and Safe Town Centres

As Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council progresses with the redevelopment of its six town centres, fostering feelings of safety and creating welcoming spaces are crucial for several reasons. A safe environment encourages residents and visitors to engage in activities, boosting economic vitality through increased footfall and business opportunities. A welcoming town centre also promotes community cohesion and pride, attracting investment but also encouraging a sense of belonging amongst residents. Cultivating and developing a positive perception of the Borough's town centres is an essential component of the Council's regeneration strategy.

This review provides an opportunity to scrutinise what is currently in place in terms of promoting safety in town centres and how effective the measures are in addressing crime and disorder, whilst also further exploring what more can be done to positively promote the Borough's town centre spaces to address negative perceptions and improve feelings of safety.

The main aims for this review will be to:

• establish the key issues within each of the Borough's six town centres with regards safety
• understand the measures already in place to address these issues and ascertain any gaps in future plans
• identify any potential learning from other parts of the UK

The review is schedule to report to Cabinet in April 2025.

People Select Committee

Review of Disabled Facilities Grants

A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) is a means-tested grant provided by the Council to make an individual's home suitable to their needs.

Works may include:

• widening doors and installing ramps or grab rails
• improving access to rooms and facilities via stairlifts or level access showers
• building extensions to accommodate a downstairs bedroom or bathing facilities
• adapting heating or lighting controls to make them easier to use

Money to fund Disabled Facilities Grants is provided to Councils via the Better Care Fund.

Demand for Disabled Facilities Grants continues to rise at a time when building costs have significantly increased. The result of this is an increasing number of Disabled Facilities Grant applications costed above the maximum grant threshold and a growing waiting list, in terms of numbers of those waiting for a Disabled Facilities Grant and time taken from the point of application to Disabled Facilities Grant works commencing. This impacts on the health and wellbeing of individuals and potentially their ability to remain living independently in their home.

This review will explore both current and potential alternative options to ensure the service is delivered in an efficient, effective and customer-focused way.

The review is scheduled to report to Cabinet in March 2025.

Place Select Committee

Review of Affordable Housing

Like many local authorities, demand for affordable and social rented housing is increasing. As a non-stock holding local authority, we rely on nomination agreements with registered housing providers to address housing need, and on relationships with both registered housing providers and private developers to increase the supply of affordable housing in the Borough. Currently, we are experiencing increasing demand for affordable housing from all needs groups including families, singles and couples, those with health needs and those seeking supported housing to enable independent living, at a time when the number of affordable housing units available via nomination agreements is reducing.

The aim of the review is to identify potential options for how the Council can increase the supply of affordable housing in the Borough and therefore address housing need.

The review is scheduled to report to Cabinet in April 2025.

Other Scrutiny

A Tees Valley Joint Health Scrutiny Committee, comprising the five Tees Valley Local Authorities, exists to act as a forum for the scrutiny of regional and specialist health scrutiny issues which impact upon the residents of the Tees Valley, and for sharing information and best practice in relation to health scrutiny and health scrutiny issues. The North East Health Committee fulfils the same role for the region as a whole. Time-limited Joint Committees may also be established to respond to consultation on changes to local health services, as and when needed.

In terms of crime and disorder, the Council is represented on the Cleveland Police and Crime Panel. The Panel's main role is to scrutinise the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), review the police precept, contribute to the development of the Police and Crime Plan, and consider proposed appointments by the PCC.

Earlier in 2023, a joint working group was initiated by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to investigate the high-profile mass crustacean deaths which occurred along the North East coast in late 2021. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is a member of this group which continues to meet regularly.