Friday 14 August

It has been another busy week as the Council responds to the many challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

After catching up with emails on Monday, I had my regular meeting with our Managing Director, Julie Danks, and Deputy Leader, Councillor Jim Beall, on Tuesday. We continue to meet twice weekly on Microsoft Teams to discuss the wide ranging issues caused by Covid-19.

Later on Tuesday I caught up with the Council's Assistant Director of Admin, Democratic and Electoral Services, Margaret Waggott. Canvassing letters were sent to all households in the Borough last week ahead of next year's Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

I attended the Tees Valley Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee virtually on Thursday. There were lots of items on the agenda, including an update on Education, Employment and Skills.

Later on Thursday I enjoyed catching up with Catalyst, who form part of the 'COVID Community Support Team' to help the vulnerable and elderly across the Borough. For the past five months they have done everything from food shopping to picking up prescriptions and dog walking. I'd like to thank everybody involved in what has been an absolutely superb piece of work involving so many of our amazing VCSE organisations.

A busy day finished with my regular meeting with our Managing Director, Julie Danks, and Deputy Leader, Councillor Jim Beall.

I will be issuing my weekly press release update later today and this will be published on the Council News pages.

Thank you for your continued hard work during these testing times and please continuing following social distancing rules so we can keep the Covid-19 infection rate down and avoid restrictions seen in other parts of the country.