Gareth Lightfoot

Middlesbrough Council’s licensing committee is deciding whether to revoke or suspend Lounge Afrique’s licence after allegations that underage girls entered the venue and were served alcohol before one girl under 16 was allegedly raped. Police and council representatives cited nine other reports in two years, including suspected drink-spiking, sexual assaults, a separate rape investigation, physical assaults and possible brothel use. Officials said the venue had serious, longstanding safeguarding and age-verification failures. Licence holder Percy Quarcoo accepted that conditions had been breached and proposed a new security team, safeguarding lead, staff training, stronger identity checks and revised procedures. The committee is expected to announce its decision within five working days.

Elton Hall Care Home near Stockton received an overall “requires improvement” rating from the Care Quality Commission, with leadership and safety downgraded from good. Inspectors praised staff for compassionate, respectful and effective care, and found residents and relatives generally positive about the new management. However, they identified ongoing problems with medicines management, risk assessment, record keeping, premises maintenance, infection control and governance, including unsafe environmental conditions. Bondcare said it had acted promptly, that no evidence of harm was found, and that significant progress had been made since the inspection.

Stockton Council has applied for planning permission to replace or alter three internal door sets at Preston Hall Museum in Eaglescliffe after a fire risk assessment identified problems with escape routes and door performance. The proposed works include changing door swing directions, removing one door set, infilling an opening and creating a new opening through a modern stud wall. The Grade II listed building’s alterations would be carried out by a heritage specialist contractor if approved.

Stockton Council is reviewing several planning applications, including home extensions in Stockton and Ingleby Barwick, solar panel installation in Carlton, a boundary fence in Redmarshall, and a garage conversion with additional modifications in Stockton.

Dangerous dog injury offences in Teesside rose from 189 in 2020–21 to 533 in 2025–26, with Cleveland Police seizing 137 dogs in the past year. PC Chris Lambert reported increased demand linked to a growing dog population and improved offence recording, noting pressure on limited kennel capacity and the resource-intensive nature of cases involving powerful breeds. He highlighted gaps in official data, the seasonal nature of dog-related antisocial behaviour, and the importance of early intervention and partnership working. Officers continue to pursue control, disqualification and destruction orders even when victims withdraw support.

Stockton Council leaders reported ongoing financial pressures driven by rising demand in children’s services, special educational needs support and home-to-school transport. The council closed the last financial year with a £3.9m overspend but improved budget performance allowed £1.7m to be set aside toward a schools grant deficit, with most of the remainder to be written off by the government. Officials highlighted efforts to avoid drastic cuts while pursuing cost-saving innovation and regional collaboration. Anticipated national reforms to children’s social care and SEND provision were cited as potential relief as demand continues to grow.

Stockton Council’s SEND and additionally resourced provision units, praised for improving outcomes and increasing capacity for children with special educational needs, will need to adjust to new national reforms shifting toward school‑led inclusion hubs and a stronger universal offer. A committee review found parents lacked confidence in mainstream secondary schools and preferred smaller, specialist environments. Early evidence from local schools showed improved attendance, engagement and inclusion. Educators called for broader adoption of the units, while parents expressed concern over limited secondary provision. Upcoming government reforms will transition ARPs into specialist units as part of an inclusive mainstream system.

Complaints about Stockton Council’s children’s services rose 37% to 160 in 2025–26, with most relating to communication issues and difficulty reaching social workers. Officials said rising complexity, higher demand and the ease of submitting AI‑generated complaints contributed to the increase. While communication and family support complaints grew sharply, grievances about staff contact and decision‑making declined. The council resolved or closed 94% of complaints, and ombudsman investigations upheld seven cases, four involving children’s services. Leaders highlighted efforts to improve communication, stabilise the workforce, and address pressures in special educational needs through planned reforms.

Recycling participation in Stockton has sharply increased following changes to waste collections, with 80% of households now recycling and significant reductions in general waste. Higher-than-expected recycling volumes have created pressure on the system, prompting the council to add more vehicles to cope with increased dry recycling and food waste. Officers reported no rise in rat complaints or waste fires, and councillors praised both staff and residents for the successful transition.