9 December 2022

I started this week with a briefing from senior Council officers on the third round of the Household Support Fund. This fund will provide support to a wide range of low-income households who are most in need due to the rising cost of living, including a £100 voucher for households with children receiving a Council Tax Reduction. There are other ways you can get support too. You can find out more on our Household Support Fund webpage.

On Tuesday I met with senior leaders across the Borough at the Education, Employment and Skills Advisory Group (EESAG), for which I am the chair. A busy agenda included discussions on the Local Skills Improvement Plan and delivery of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Mid-week I had my quarterly meeting with the Tees Valley Police and Crime Commissioner, Steve Turner, to discuss crime and policing in the Borough.

It was Cabinet on Thursday where we discussed our Capital Investment Strategy for Children in Our Care and with Additional Needs, the Stockton Learning and Skills service, and improving quality in care homes.

This morning I attended the Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet meeting at Teesside International Airport. As well as finances for the coming budget year, we discussed the Investment Plan for 2023/24 and the region's Net Zero Strategy, which aims for Tees Valley to be the world's first net zero cluster by 2040.

We also discussed the Tees Flex service and how it is helping residents in Stockton-on-Tees and across the entire Tees Valley.

This weekend I'll be relaxing with my family. Following a 3-0 win of Senegal, I'm really looking forwards to the much-anticipated quarter final match between England and France. It's going to be a tough game, but I really hope that we can take the win and proceed to the semi-finals, and maybe even the final!