Social Value Ideas for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

High-cost children’s placements

Significant potential annual spend on high-cost social care placements (cost per week and per year per category).

“32 children cost between £5k and £7k per week; 12 between £7k and £10k; 3 between £12k and £13k; 8 between £13k and £16k; 2 between £16k and £20k; 1 b…”

Expansion of in-house children's homes

Plans to expand in-house provision (Church View) and develop near-site facilities (Skinning Grove) to reduce reliance on expensive external placements; invest-to-save approach.

“we are on the cusp of extending the care homes... Church View... Skinning Grove... invest to save”

Expand Foster Network

Recommend formalizing and expanding the hub-and-satellite network, including ongoing social worker support and community activities (monthly socials) to better support foster carers and children.

“We can support the carers going into meetings. We can be there for them to help you know, support them. We can give practical support whether that's h…”

Fostering training outsourcing

Notes that training for social workers is delivered by external providers; training is sometimes outsourced; proximity issues; mentorship included; implies opportunity to procure external training and…

“training they were northeastern based but they weren't as close as red car so you might have to go to Washington to to be trained”

Budget overspend pressure

Quarter 1 financial update shows a 2.7m overspend, with reserves at risk; emphasis on mitigating costs.

“the council's projecting a2.7 million pound overspend which is obviously concerning but is a much improved position on this time last year... could le…”

Council tax policy choice

Budget includes increases to council tax (2.99%) and an adult social care levy (2%), with parish precepts amended to reflect new amounts.

“the budget suggests a 2.99% council tax increase and a 2% adult social care Levy”

Budget Overspend

The council faces significant overspend pressures; quarter three shows an overspend of 6.6m after starting at 13.2m, with a remaining target to deliver 8.8m in savings and reserves at risk.

“Overspend of 13.2 million through some really good work... we've reduced that deficit from 13.2 down to six million... we have to still find that 8.8 …”

Exceptional funding approved

Government-approved exceptional financial support of £18,400,000 was discussed as a means to bridge the authority’s budget gap, with emphasised risk if not approved. The speaker noted the scale by com…

“"This is not a Redcar and Cleveland problem. 30 councils in this country applied for exceptional support last year and 37 including ourselves have app…”

TEES Valley Energy Recovery Facility risk

Motion seeks to stress-test exclusivity, market testing, feedstock risk, and carbon/ETS costs; concerns about full business case and long-term locking-in costs.

“4 billion pounds is at stake... no full business case... exclusivity and market test not carried out”

Incinerator Decision

A motion to remove political and financial support for the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility; the project carries large cost and long-term commitments.

“The motion is that we remove all political and financial support for the Tease Valley Energy Recovery Facility going forward.”

Waste contamination policy change

Waste management discussions show data on bin contamination with checks paused in Aug 2025; contamination rates improved from 48.79% (Dec 2024) to 32.47% (Jul 2025); briefing note planned to decide ne…

“"The contamination in December 2024 was 48.79%. The contaminant rate in July 2025 was 32.47%. The decision to stop tagging... was implemented in Augus…”