The Overview and Scrutiny Board was scheduled to consider updates from Scrutiny Panel Chairs, review the Executive Forward Work Programme, and receive an update on community cohesion. The Board was also scheduled to discuss faith and belief engagement and hear an update from the Executive Member for Development.

Scrutiny Chairs Update

The Overview and Scrutiny Board was scheduled to consider updates from the Chairs of the Adult Social Care and Health and Children's Place Scrutiny Panels.

Executive Forward Work Programme

The Board was scheduled to consider the Executive Forward Work Programme and to seek further information if appropriate. This programme outlines forthcoming decisions scheduled for the Executive. The report accompanying this item recommended that the Overview and Scrutiny Board consider and note the content of the Executive Forward Work Programme. The rationale for this recommendation was that the Board has delegated powers to manage the work of Scrutiny and can decide whether value can be added by Scrutiny considering matters in advance of any Executive decision.

The Executive Forward Work Programme included several items scheduled for discussion by the Executive in the coming months. These included:

• Partnerships Strategy: To set a strategic framework for how the Council will work with partners to deliver an agreed vision for the town and their shared legal obligations.
• Information Strategy - 1 year progress update: To set out progress against the agreed strategy, highlight areas where progress has been slower, and identify actions to address this.
• Making Middlesbrough Thrive: To present a consolidated overview of partner contributions towards the Making Middlesbrough Thrive priorities, set out the Council's collective response to deprivation, and seek agreement on the next steps to strengthen partnership working and improve outcomes for residents.
• Amendment to the Tees Valley Common Allocations Policy: To ensure transparency and fairness in the allocation of partner housing stock by amending the policy to make explicit the practice of allocating homes to eligible applicants based on a preference for those with a local connection.
• Understanding Homelessness in Middlesbrough – A Comprehensive Needs Assessment: To note the findings of the Homelessness Needs Assessment for Middlesbrough and approve actions regarding the outcome of the assessment.
• Final Report of the Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Panel - Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG): How to Tackle It: To approve the overview report and action plan.
• Homelessness Prevention & Rough Sleeper Strategy: To approve the homeless needs assessment, strategy, and proposed commissioning model.
• Children's Scrutiny Panel Service Response: Out of Area Specialist Provision: To set out the service response to the recommendations within the investigation into Out of Area Specialist Provision.
• Special Guardianship Order Policy: To approve the proposed Special Guardianship Policy.
• Commercial Waste Collection and Disposal: For the Executive to approve the requirement for commercial waste collections and disposal from council buildings to be contracted out.
• Longlands Road Active Travel Corridor: To consider the infrastructure improvement proposals on Longlands Road.
• Green Lane Active Travel Corridor: To consider the infrastructure improvement proposals on Levick Crescent, Croft Avenue, Green Lane, Emerson Avenue, Keith Road, Marton Burn Road transport corridor.
• B1365 Roundabout Signalisations Consultation: To update on the development of the proposals and request permission to commence public consultation.
• UK City of Culture Bid 2029: To inform the Executive of Middlesbrough's City of Culture Bid and the implications if the bid is successful.
• Community Cohesion Report: To present the council's community cohesion strategy with some context of the consultation and engagement that has led to the formulation of the strategy.
• 2027/28 Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2027/28 to 2030/31 Update: To consider the budget and financial plan.
• Financial Wellbeing and Resilience Strategy: To approve the proposed amendments to the Welfare Strategy.
• Procurement Strategy 2027 - 2030: To present the updated Procurement Strategy.
• Quarter Two 2026/7 Integrated Performance and Finance Forecast year end Outturn: To review performance and financial forecasts.
• 2027/28 Draft Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2027/28 to 2030/31: To consider the draft budget and financial plan.
• Treasury Management Mid-Year Review - 2026/27: To provide an update on performance in relation to the Council's borrowing, investments, cash-flow, and prudential indicators.
• Quarter Three 2026/7 Integrated Performance and Finance Forecast year end Outturn: To review performance and financial forecasts.
• 2027/28 Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2027/28 to 2030/31: To consider the budget and financial plan.
• Corporate Food Poverty Policy: To approve the Corporate Food Poverty policy.
• Quarter Four 2026/27 Integrated Performance and Finance Year end Outturn: To review performance and financial forecasts.
• Update on implementing the Neighbourhoods Model: To provide an update on the progress being made on the neighbourhood plans.
• Substance Use Services - Delivery Model: For the Executive to decide on the proposed new delivery model for substance use services.
• Director of Public Health Annual Report 2026: To set out the Director of Public Health's strategic focus on Ill Health Prevention and promote collaboration.

Community Cohesion Update

Representatives from Environment, Communities and Culture, along with representatives from Belong, were scheduled to be in attendance to provide an update on the Community Cohesion Strategy.

Faith and Belief - Short Review

Representatives from the Neighbourhoods Team were scheduled to be in attendance to provide the Board with an update on how the Council engages with Faith and Belief Groups.

Executive Member Update - Development

Councillor Theo Furness, Executive Member for Development, was scheduled to be in attendance to provide the Overview and Scrutiny Board with an update on his portfolio. The report for this item outlined the scope of the portfolio, relevant services and key officers, progress in the last 12 months, and plans for the next 12 months. The Development portfolio aims to deliver the Mayor's priorities regarding fair access to high-quality homes, secure well-paid jobs and training, strengthening and diversifying the local economy, and improving transport links. Significant capital projects underway and planned for the next year were highlighted, including housing growth, town centre renewal, economic development, transport improvements, and public infrastructure investment. Specific projects mentioned included the Nunthorpe Community Centre, the Southlands MFC Foundation, the Employment & Skills Hub, and investment in neighbourhood hubs. Future developments were noted to include over 2,000 new homes at Middlehaven, the construction of a new theatre on the Civic Centre site, and the introduction of Super Stops.