Friday 15 July

This week got underway with an always useful Leader's briefing from the Council's Assistant Director of Administration, Democratic and Electoral Services, Margaret Waggott.

I then travelled to Teesside International Airport for a Pre-Cabinet Meeting ahead of next of week's Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) Annual General Meeting and Cabinet.

Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership Board and Informal Cabinet then met later in the day. The LEP supports the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority by working with the wider business community and other partners to create growth, investment and jobs in the area. A number of issues were discussed at the meeting, including investment in the region, employment and skills and budgets.

On Tuesday I joined directors and other members for a pre-agenda meeting for the Health and Wellbeing Board, which is due to be held later this month. 

And on Wednesday I had my monthly update on our town centres from Garry Cummings, Director of Finance, Development and Business Services.

Yesterday the Council's Managing Director Julie Danks and I met with Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen for a regular catch up.

Julie also joined me for a catch up with Guru Naidoo and Jon Carling from Catalyst Stockton, Stockton-on-Tees' umbrella body for the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise sector.

This was followed by a briefing from Julie ahead of her chief executives meeting with the Association of North East Councils (ANEC).

Full Cabinet met in the afternoon to consider a busy agenda, including scrutiny reviews and updates on the Medium Term Financial Plan and our town centres.

Today I'll be attending the Leaders and Elected Mayors Group of ANEC to consider a range of issues that are progressing across the region.

Then tonight it will be my pleasure to attend a formal reception at the County Durham residence of Her Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham, Mrs Sue Snowdon.

This weekend I'm looking forward to spending time with my family. And on Sunday I'll join others at the annual Mayor's Sunday event at St Mary's Church in Norton, hosted by The Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, Cllr Ross Patterson.