8 March 2024

On Monday afternoon, I attended the pre-agenda meeting for Cabinet held next week where we discussed items including the Durham Lane Industrial Estate Redevelopment, and the Procurement Plan and Social Value Update Report.

On Tuesday morning I joined the Collaborative Procurement Sub-Committee (CPSC) pre-meeting, ahead of a wider meeting with CPSC in a few weeks' time. A busy agenda included the Collaborative Procurement Performance Management Biannual Report and a Procurement Reform Update.

In the afternoon, I attended a further briefing for Cabinet alongside Mike Greene, Chief Executive, Councillor Lisa Evans, Deputy Leader, and other senior members of the Council.

I then met with Mike, the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees Councillor Jim Beall and other colleagues to consider nominations for the Mayor's Civic Awards 2023 to 2024. We have had many excellent nominations demonstrating how individuals, groups and businesses across Stockton-on-Tees go above and beyond to help people in our community. The Mayor's Civic Awards formally recognise these achievements and I look forward to announcing our winners at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 3 April.

Midweek, I joined a portfolio briefing for the Finance, Transformation and Performance area of the Council. I then visited the Council's Finance Team alongside Garry Cummings, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance, Transformation and Performance. Visiting our teams is a good opportunity to stay updated with the day-to-day work of the Council and connect with our staff.

Yesterday and today are quieter days, allowing me to catch up with important paperwork.

This weekend I look forward to seeing my family and spending some time relaxing. Middlesbrough beat a 10-man Norwich City mid-week, netting 3 goals at the Riverside. This weekend we play QPR, who will be fighting to stay out of the relegation zone. They're the type of team we seem to be struggling with this season, and they've won 3 of their last 4 games. A win for the Boro would keep us in the top half of the table where we deserve to be.