2 December 2022

My week started with a meeting about the Billingham Beck Habitat Restoration Scheme. Myself and other Councillors and officers discussed the project which aims to improve the passage of fish in Billingham Beck. It will do this by improving and creating natural habitats using Environmental Agency funding.

Later I attended a Cabinet pre-agenda briefing on items due to be discussed at the full Cabinet meeting on Thursday 8 December. Items included updates on our Capital Investment Strategy for Children in our Care and Additional Needs, the Stockton Learning and Skills Service, and Improving Quality in Care Homes.

On Tuesday myself and other members had a briefing from services within the Council which included an update on the Council's Domestic Abuse Strategy. We recruit and train staff to become Domestic Abuse Champions who can identify domestic abuse and provide the appropriate support to anybody affected by it.

I used Wednesday morning to catch up on important paperwork before attending the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting in the afternoon. I chair the board and was briefed on a number of important partnerships and strategies that support the Borough's health and wellbeing.

On Thursday I attended a town centre briefing with Garry Cummings, Director of Finance, Development and Regeneration Services, and other senior officers of the Council. I think it is important to keep up to date with the work that is happening across all of our town centres, not just the regeneration of the Stockton riverside which is the most visible and noticeable change.

This morning I attended the Mayor's Carol Service at Stockton Parish Church. A number of schools attended to sing Christmas carols with their classmates. Listening to their singing was a great way to carry on the festive spirit that Stockton Sparkles is bringing to us all.

This weekend I'm looking forward to spending time with my family. England have qualified top of Group B following a brilliant performance on Tuesday night. I'm excited to see how we play against Senegal on Sunday evening, and hope we get a win to progress into the quarter finals.