The Overview and Scrutiny Board met on Wednesday 16 September 2026 to discuss the Council's performance, marketing and communications, and the Executive's forward work programme. Two agenda items, the Executive Member Update - Development and the Quarter One 2026/7 Integrated Performance and Finance Forecast Year End Outturn, were deferred to a future meeting.

Scrutiny Chairs Update

The Board received updates from the Chairs of various Scrutiny Panels. The Place Scrutiny Panel had its terms of reference for a review into the bicentenary celebrations agreed, including examining local resident involvement and good practice from other towns, such as Barnsley. The Panel also received an update on the City of Culture 2029 bid and the use of Selective Landlord Licensing. The Children's Scrutiny Panel had its scrutiny topics for the year agreed, including the role of schools in tackling child poverty and would receive updates on the Ofsted inspection. The Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Panel had previously discussed the use of Artificial Intelligence in social care and its final report on Violence Against Women and Girls.

Executive Forward Work Programme

The Board noted the Executive Forward Work Programme, which outlines forthcoming decisions scheduled for Executive consideration.

Marketing and Communications - Overview

The Head of Marketing and Communications presented an overview of the team's work, highlighting its role in supporting the Council Plan through engagement with residents, businesses, staff, and the media. The team, comprising 9.5 full-time equivalent staff, works across marketing, communications, and digital disciplines, collaborating with various Council departments. Their aims include informing and influencing audiences, demonstrating the delivery of the Council Plan, and promoting Middlesbrough's reputation to attract investment. The presentation detailed the channels used, including social media (with a growing focus on TikTok), e-newsletters (with a distribution list of approximately 70,000), print, TV, and radio. Media relations had handled over 450 requests and issued 160 releases in 2026. The team also highlighted successes such as the Southlands Community Centre and the City of Culture 2029 bid, noting that while the bid initially faced negativity, the team had focused on promoting positives and engaging prominent figures.

During the discussion, a Member raised concerns about communication accessibility in areas with higher deprivation, suggesting a need for a balance between digital and paper-based materials. The availability of translations and the use of physical signage in community hubs were confirmed. The Board also discussed the potential for a future scrutiny topic on digital exclusion. The role of prominent figures like Steve Gibson in the City of Culture bid and engagement with other partners were clarified. The team's use of TikTok was highlighted as a strategy to engage younger audiences, with significant video views already achieved. The Board agreed to request data on average e-newsletter open rates, identify best practice councils for comparison, and explore potential terms of reference for a short review into marketing and communications.

Deferred Items

The Executive Member Update - Development and the Quarter One 2026/7 Integrated Performance and Finance Forecast Year End Outturn were deferred to a future meeting.