Chris Cooke - Elected Mayor

...approved budget virements within the revenue and capital budgets, and the inclusion of new schemes to the Capital Programme, while noting the Council's forecast financial position at Quarter Three 2025/26.

...approve the proposed Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2026/27, which includes adjustments to income bandings to maintain current support levels for vulnerable residents, to be forwarded to the Council for formal approval.

...approved the updated eligible Members’ Small Scheme project allocations and a review of the funding allocated in the budget in line with the updated financial position.

...approve the refreshed Exceptional Hardship Fund - Section 13A (1) (a) Policy, which includes an additional element for some Care Leavers, and delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to make minor modifications to the policy in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance.

...the Executive of Middlesbrough decided to forward recommendations to the Council for approval regarding the 2026/27 revenue budget, medium-term financial plan, and council tax setting, including a proposed service budget growth of £6.460m, budget provisions for demand pressures, no increase in core council tax but a 2% increase for the adult social care precept, and a net general fund revenue budget of £200.675m.