The Executive decided to approve the formal response and accompanying action plan to the Overview and Scrutiny Board's short review into the Council's approach to poverty on 2 September 2026. The Executive approved the formal response to the recommendations, the action plan for implementation, and noted the final report and progress made through the Making Middlesbrough Thrive initiative. The approved action plan includes embedding the Making Middlesbrough Thrive initiative into Directorate Service Plans, aligning existing strategies, developing a Partnership Strategy, engaging with the Place Leaders Partnership, enhancing corporate performance management, and reporting annually to the Overview and Scrutiny Board.