The Overview and Scrutiny Board of Middlesbrough Council met on Wednesday 29 July 2026 to discuss a range of important issues, including the final report on Violence Against Women and Girls, the Council's work programme, and its financial performance. Key decisions included endorsing recommendations for a new Violence Against Women and Girls Prevention Framework and approving the scrutiny work programme for the upcoming year.

Final Report on Violence Against Women and Girls

The Board received the final report from the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Panel concerning Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The report highlighted that VAWG, encompassing domestic abuse, sexual violence, and harmful attitudes, remains a significant issue in Middlesbrough, with rates of domestic abuse and repeat victimisation exceeding regional and national averages. The Panel concluded that a dedicated VAWG Prevention Framework is needed to complement the existing Domestic Abuse Strategy, focusing on prevention, early intervention, and cultural change.

The Board endorsed the Panel's recommendations, which include:

• Developing a Middlesbrough VAWG Prevention Framework by March 2027.
• Establishing a cross-directorate steering group to oversee VAWG prevention activity.
• Implementing mandatory online training for all Council employees and elected Members on VAWG awareness by December 2026.
• Working with key partners to establish a joint commissioning approach for VAWG services.
• Progressing White Ribbon accreditation for the Council to demonstrate organisational leadership.
• Engaging visible local ambassadors and role models to support awareness-raising.
• Working with schools and education partners to strengthen the delivery of healthy relationships and prevention education.

Overview and Scrutiny Board Work Programme 2026/2027

The Board discussed and approved its work programme for the 2026/2027 municipal year. This programme will guide the Board's scrutiny activities, including undertaking reviews and receiving updates on various topics. In addition to the topics outlined in the report, members suggested including Grass verges, Budget consultation processes and how to involve backbench Members, and the Crisis Resilience Fund in the work programme. The Chair was delegated authority to work with Democratic Services to create a schedule of reviews and updates.

Prudential Indicators and Treasury Management Outturn - 2025/26

The Board reviewed the Prudential Indicators and Treasury Management Outturn Report for the 2025/26 financial year. The report indicated that the Council had met all treasury management and prudential indicators. The Council's total debt stood at £280.6 million, and it was noted that Middlesbrough was not an outlier compared to other local authorities in terms of borrowing. The Council was described as under-borrowed by £27.2 million, meaning it was utilising internal cash balances rather than external borrowing, which helped reduce costs. The report also highlighted that the largest risk to the Treasury Management Strategy was market uncertainty, particularly regarding interest rates. It was agreed that the cost of borrowing would be incorporated into the Executive Member for Finance's update at the November meeting of the Board.

Service Overview Presentations

The Board received service overview presentations from the Chief Executive's Department and the Legal and Corporate Services Directorate.

Chief Executive's Department: Erik Scollay, Chief Executive, and Ann-Marie Johnstone, Head of the Chief Executive's Department, presented an overview of their department's functions, which include Performance, Compliance, and Data Protection. Key priorities for 2026/27 include implementing integrated performance, finance, and risk management, delivering the information strategy, and strengthening governance frameworks. Challenges identified included rising complexity of compliance requests, embedding organisational change, and data quality issues. The Board was informed that the cost of the transformation programme would be circulated.

Legal and Corporate Services: Charlotte Benjamin, Corporate Director of Legal and Corporate Services, outlined the directorate's focus on governance, legal compliance, workforce, technology, digital, marketing, and communications. Priorities for 2026/27 include maintaining lawful decision-making, providing legal support, and delivering the digital strategy. Challenges include responding to legislative changes and recruitment difficulties in specialist legal roles. The Board was informed that examples of when external legal counsel or expertise would be required would be circulated, and a member briefing on new ward boundaries would be held.

Other Matters

The Board also noted updates on the Executive Forward Work Programme and Forward Plan Actions Progress. The Chairs of the Place Scrutiny Panel, Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Panel, and Children's Scrutiny Panel provided updates on their respective panels' activities. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 July 2026 were approved.