Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Thursday, 17 December 2009

Cabinet was provided with the outcome of a number of external inspections and assessments carried out of the Council's activities during 2009:-

Comprehensive Area Assessment Results

The Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) had been carried out by the Audit Commission. CAA had been introduced in April 2009 as a new way of assessing local public services by examining how well the Council worked together with other public bodies to meet the needs of the people it served. It was a joint assessment process, led by the Audit Commission and included Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, HM Inspectorate of Probation, HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

The CAA framework encompassed two aspects; an Area Assessment focusing on local priorities and how well local public services were delivering improved outcomes for people; and an Organisation Assessment, which looked at the Use of Resources and Managing Performance. The summary and detailed reports of each assessment were submitted, which illustrated that:-

• Stockton on Tees BC (SBC) performed well under its organisational assessment, achieving maximum marks for Use of Resources, Managing Finance and Governing the Business, and was delivering improvements for local people;
• The Council had greatly improved the environment through its work on reducing CO2 emissions and through increased recycling, had created jobs and had brought about improvements through regeneration;
• The Council provides good leadership across the borough, and people can easily understand how the Council arranges its services and how it makes decisions;
• It has a strong value for money culture and a history of providing high quality services for low cost;
• The Area Assessment revealed that high quality improvements could be seen to have been made to Thornaby, Billingham, Yarm and Stockton Riverside, and that neighbourhood regeneration was progressing well;
• The area had made one of the largest cuts in carbon emissions in the country, was clean and more people were being attracted to live in the area;
• The crime rate for the area had fallen, was lower than in similar areas in England, and fewer young people were committing crimes;
• Children did well at school with GCSE results improving and now in line with national averages, and more young people than ever before were going on to higher education;
• Death rates from the 'big killer' diseases had fallen, and SBC was good at getting people to give up smoking and to take up physical activity.

In terms of areas of focus for 2010, it was noted that:-

• The Council and its partners faced a major challenge in delivering some of their targets for improvement in the current economic climate, and this was never more illustrated when faced with the potential loss of 1700 jobs at Corus;
• Life expectancy amongst males was not increasing however, the number of pregnant teenage young women had recently increased, and there were too many overweight children in the borough;
• The Council needed to achieve more to reduce inequalities around health, employment and skills, and improve its outcomes from children's services and social care services for adults, in particular the response to the personalisation of those services;
• People in Stockton on Tees produce more waste and recycle less, than in other places;
• More work was needed to uplift people's satisfaction with their area, and in particular to improve the perception that people from different backgrounds get on well together, or treat one another with respect.

Audit Commission Annual Audit & Inspection Letter 2009

The Audit Commission was responsible for arranging for the audit of the accounts of the Council and a formal stage in this process was the production of the "Annual Audit Letter". The Annual Audit Letter provided a comprehensive and independent assessment of the overall "health" of the Council. It reported on the detailed results of all service inspections and assessments and also referenced how the Council worked with key partners.

The Audit Commission considered that Stockton on Tees Borough Council was improving well and was judged as being at level 4 (the highest rating) for its Use of Resources. The Commission considered that the Council's arrangements for managing finances were excellent, with a strong value for money culture. The arrangements for governing the business were also judged as being excellent with a systematic approach to commissioning and procurement supported by high levels of partnership working and joint commissioning and resulting in savings.

It considered that the Council performed well at Managing Resources. For 2008/9 a new line of enquiry was introduced that related to how well the Council was managing its use of natural resources and how it was influencing others.

The annual audit letter complimented the Organisational and Area Assessment outcomes within the CAA framework and primarily focused on judging the Council's use of resources and value for money. It also included reference to a review, conducted jointly by the Audit Commission and Deloitte across the North East, in relation to how organisations were working together to tackle health inequalities. A more detailed review was also undertaken across Stockton of action being taken to address teenage pregnancy.

The Commission considered that the Council needed to:-

Work with partners, using the recommendations in the health inequalities reports to improve targeting and performance management, making effective use of the voluntary sector and community views. Further details on each of the above assessment results can be obtained from Lesley King, Head of Policy, Performance and Partnerships, tel. 01642 527004; e-mail Lesley.King@stockton.gov.uk.

2009 Annual Performance Rating of Children's Services

The annual rating of children's services was carried out by Ofsted, within the overall framework for Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA), and notification had been received that this Council had been rated as 'performing well' during 2009. As this was the first year of reporting under the new national framework, it was not possible to make direct comparisons with the 2008 annual performance assessment for Children's Services although the 'performing well' rating was in line with the 2008 grading of 'good' for the overall effectiveness of services.

The annual rating was based on the Ofsted performance profile of the quality of services and outcomes for children and young people in each local authority area. It drew together relevant findings from across Ofsted's inspection and regulation of education, care and skills and sets this evidence alongside the relevant Every Child Matters indicators from the National Indicator Set (NIS).

The summary in the rating report identified a number of strengths and a few areas for development. The report supported the Council's own assessment of its performance and would contribute to the review of strategic plans and service improvement plans, to ensure the necessary actions were in place to build on strengths and respond to the areas for development. The Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP) provided the strategic framework for improvement in services, and included a range of actions already in place to address areas for development.

The Council's progress in delivery and improvement of services would continue to be monitored through a range of meetings over the year with regional and national agencies. Progress in addressing performance would be reported to Cabinet through the quarterly corporate performance framework.

Adult Social Care Annual Performance Assessment (APA) 2008/9

Notification had also been received from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) that summarised the findings of the 2009 annual performance assessment for Stockton-on-Tees Council. The performance grades for the Council were:

• Overall grade for delivery of outcomes: performing well.
• Improved health and well-being: performing well.
• Improved quality of life: performing well.
• Making a positive contribution: performing excellently.
• Increased choice and control: performing adequately.
• Freedom from discrimination and harassment: performing well.
• Economic well-being: performing well.
• Maintaining personal dignity and respect: performing well.

The APA of social care services for adults was based on a range of evidence, including a self-assessment by the authority, performance indicators, other related service inspections, and routine business meetings between CQC and the Council.

The gradings were based on the following definitions:

• Performing poorly - not delivering the minimum requirements for people.
• Performing adequately - only delivering the minimum requirements for people.
• Performing well - consistently delivering above the minimum requirements for people.
• Performing excellently- overall delivering well above the minimum requirements for people.

The overall 'performing well' grading was in line with the overall 'good' rating of 2008.

For further information on each of the above assessments, contact Simon Willson, Head of Performance-Children, Education & Social Care, tel. 01642 527035; e-mail Simon.Willson@stockton.gov.uk

Economic Climate Update-Corus

Cabinet noted and responded to the sad announcement made on 4th December 2009 that the Redcar blast furnace, Lackenby steelmaking and the South Bank coke ovens would be mothballed at the end of January 2010 with the loss of 1700 jobs.

Announcements had been made in February 2009 that Corus was to lose 2500 jobs in the UK, however at the time it was also stated that a buyer was to take a majority share in the Redcar plant which would see it secure to 2014. In May/June 2009 it was reported that a consortium of purchasers of steel from the plant had pulled out of the agreement, placing the future of the plant at risk.

A response Group was established in May 2009 of the key stakeholder public, private, and employee groups to work with Corus, to support the workforce, and seek strategic input into helping secure the future of the operation in Redcar.

The group had been chaired by One North East (the Regional Development Agency) and included TVU representing the five Tees Valley Local Authorities taking a central and active part in the work of this group.

In addition the group had included, trade unions, Engineering Employers Federation, Business Link NE, Government Office, Vera Baird MP amongst others.

Of the total number of job losses, Middlesbrough and Redcar residents represented the highest numbers affected, with Stockton numbers being 228.

An emergency enquiry has been launched, for completion by end of January 2010, by the North East Regional Committee of the House of Commons, into both help for the workforce as well as what can be done to prevent the plant's closure, and its impact on the region's economy. They were seeking written and oral responses during January.

Vera Baird MP has also been involved in meetings with the purchasing consortium to press for reinstatement of their commitments. Local MPs have written to Government departments asking what procurement they could bring forward to create demands for steel.

The company and its employees have been leading on investigating efficiencies to improve cost competitiveness of the product.

The unions and MPs were leading on continuing to seek interest from potential buyers of the plant and operation.

Latest statements were that it was planned to mothball the plant, which involved a gradual shutdown of the furnace. This meant that it could be brought back into use should the current situation change, however, the longer it remained in this state the more prohibitive the cost and difficulty of recommencing production at a future time.

In light of some of the recent press comment and speculation about gains that may benefit the company closure through Carbon Trading allowances, Vera Baird was pursuing clarity from the Environment Agency as to the factual position in terms of this possible issue.

Government had announced a £60m support package for Tees Valley on the back of the Corus situation combined with difficulties facing parts of the Chemicals Industry in the Tees Valley. Some of the funding would directly support the work of the Corus response group. Around £10m was for apprenticeships and support for people to start businesses. The enterprise element would be targeted primarily at redundant workers. Up to £20m would be invested in Wilton International to strengthen and sustain competitiveness and employment. The remaining £30m would be used to help Tees Valley businesses move beyond traditional heavy industry to become part of the low carbon economy. Investments would spread across a range of interventions but were likely to include land and infrastructure, bio-based technologies, reducing energy use and carbon capture and storage.

Cabinet discussed issues surrounding the announcement and particularly the effects it would have on workers employed by Corus and those employed by companies in the supply chain to Corus. Cabinet also discussed the significant effect on the Tees Valley local economy.

The Leader of the Council asked Cabinet to agree the following all party statement on behalf of the Council with regards to the announcement by Corus:-

"Stockton Borough Council wishes to express its disappointment and concern at the announcement by Corus, part of the global Tata Steel group, that they intend to "mothball" the Teesside Cast Product's blast furnace facility at Redcar at the end of January 2010 with the loss of 1700 jobs.

The Council recognises the importance of steel making in Tees Valley, and the region, and supports the workforce in calling on the Government to do all in its power to ensure that steel production is retained in the Tees Valley.

The Council does acknowledge the injection of finance to support the future development opportunities in the low carbon and manufacturing sectors and supports Tees Valley Unlimited in its efforts to safeguard the Corus workforce and the thousands of local jobs in the supply industries. However, government should continue to search for a long term solution and ensure, as far as possible, that the skill base is retained to allow the plant to be re-commissioned as soon as markets for the plant's products are identified."

Further information on any of the above economic climate information can be obtained from Richard Poundford, Head of Regeneration & Economic Development, tel. 01642 527024, e-mail Richard.Poundford@stockton.gov.uk. 

Stockton International Riverside Festival 2009

Cabinet considered a report that provided feedback from and reflected on the successes of the 2009 Festival. A visitor survey had been undertaken following the Festival, which revealed that:-

• Overall visitor satisfaction was 92.1% compared with 96.2% in 2008.
• 77.9% of visitors said the Festival has a positive effect on Stockton's image
• 1,094 participants and 54 groups participated in the Community Carnival, with every ward in the borough represented.
• 17 new groups and 13 diverse groups were involved.
• SIRF and Fringe combined presented more than 240 performances to estimated audiences of over 180,000 people
• Mean spend per capita £35.72 compared with £41.70 in 2008.

Brief details of the Programme were provided including those attractions that had been most popular.

Particular reference was made to the Carnival and issues surrounding it. The scale of the Carnival brought its own challenges in terms of duration of road closure required to take participants safely across Yarm Lane onto Trinity Green. The Council appreciated the inconvenience that this caused and made every effort to minimise the disruption to traffic and buses. On balance, it was considered that the benefits to participants and spectators justified the disruption, and Cabinet supported the continued growth of the Carnival. However, further analysis of routes and strategies to minimise public transport delays was required. The multi partner group, with representation from a range of Council services along with bus operators, emergency services and other stakeholders, had begun to look in detail at issues arising from SIRF 09, and the ways in which arrangements could be improved.

The Carnival had attracted many compliments and it was rewarding to receive positive comments from national arts policy makers. It was suggested that the Carnival could be in a position to represent the North East in the Cultural Olympiad celebrations 2012.

Members were reminded that for the past two years SIRF had been participating in a pilot project to improve the accessibility of the festival to disabled audiences. The Council worked with disability arts campaigner and service provider, Attitude is Everything, as part of their Disability Access Audit and Toolkit partnership project with the Independent Street Arts Network (ISAN) and part funded by Arts Council England.

Members also noted that the Festival had operated within very tight financial controls and was delivered on budget. It was explained that in response to ongoing financial pressures officers were exploring the potential for charging for part or all of the Festival, though at a level which would not prevent disadvantaged communities from enjoying the event. In addition there were ongoing pressures on spaces in the town, between the needs of SIRF and those of the other users and functions of the town centre.

Cabinet agreed that the 2009 Stockton International Riverside Festival and Stockton Riverside Fringe had been extremely successful, with continuing high visitor satisfaction ratings, and a positive impact on Stockton's image and significant economic benefits for the town, and presented arguably the best ever finale the event had ever had.

Further information on the above festival, or plans for the 2010 event, can be obtained from Reuben Kench, Head of , tel. 01642 527039, e-mail Reuben.Kench@stockton.gov.uk.