Councillor Luke Henman

...that the proposed draft budget and budget proposals for service budget growth and council tax for 2026/27 are presented for public consultation, commencing on 18 December 2025 and concluding on 11 January 2026, prior to confirmation of Government funding and finalising of the proposed budget by Executive on 4 February 2026 for consideration and approval by Council on 18 February 2026.

...approves changes to Executive actions and the Council Plan 2024-27 supporting workplan actions, notes the delivery status of the Council Plan 2024-27 supporting workplan, the progress and position of corporate performance disciplines, and the Strategic Risk Register.

...to address a limited burial plot supply, the Executive approved a £0.277m virement from the Derisking Sites scheme to fund additional costs for the Thorntree extension and endorsed proposals for short, medium, and long-term burial provision, noting the current status of burial plots in Thorntree and Acklam Cemetery.

...it approved an action plan to address empty properties in response to recommendations from the Place Scrutiny Panel, while noting the resource demands and cross-departmental collaboration required.

... the Executive approved the Middlesbrough Domestic Abuse Strategy 2025-2028 and its proposed commissioning recommendations, with procurement to begin in 2025/26, to fulfill statutory duties under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.