24 January 2025

My week began with a meeting with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) and other senior members of the partnership's five local authorities, to discuss the TVCA's Group Chief Executive and Directorship structure.

On Tuesday morning, I attended a briefing from Jonathan Nertney, Head of Democratic Services, for updates regarding our democratic, scrutiny and electoral services. I then joined the Local Government Association (LGA) Children and Young People Board.

In the afternoon, I joined the Corporate Management Team and Cabinet Away Day. The session gave myself and other senior colleagues the opportunity to discuss key Council strategy, such as the Housing Delivery Options Appraisal and the Climate Strategy.

Midweek I attended a briefing alongside Council members for the ongoing delivery plans for Dunedin House, including members' accommodation and the upcoming move for Democratic Services.

In the evening it was the full Council meeting. The agenda included the Inclusive Growth Strategy and appointments to committees, joint committees and outside body for 2023 to 2027.

Yesterday I marked this year's Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) by joining the commemoration event held at Stockton Central Library. The event gave the important opportunity for reflection and remembrance of the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust, and in more recent times, the genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. You can read more about the commemoration day here.

Today is a quieter day, affording me some time to catch up with paperwork.

This weekend I'll be relaxing and spending some time with my family. Middlesbrough results are a mixed bag at the moment. We took a loss against relegation-troubled Portsmouth, and then won in emphatic fashion against fellow promotion contenders West Brom on Tuesday. We're away to Preston on Saturday who sit mid-table, but it's anybody's guess on who will come away with the three points!