17 October 2025
Hi everyone. I had a lovely weekend celebrating and spending time with my family in Manchester. I can say that I finished last in every sporting event. I'm usually quite good at cricket but got less from the full game than I usually do in an over. Woeful!
My week began with a meeting with one of my Cabinet Members. I know the challenges that each Cabinet Member faces and it's very difficult to hold down a family life, full time job and make very difficult decisions, so I have regular meetings with Cabinet members to support them.
After this I had a briefing with officers and Councillors on the Golden Eagle developments. We have exciting plans for all of our town centres but working with the Town Deal Board in Thornaby, our exciting plans are really progressing.
On Tuesday I attended the Care and Health Innovation Zone strategic programme board. The partners around the table are instrumental to our vision and we had a really productive meeting to progress with our vision.
Our Annual Colleague Awards are taking place next month. I am on this year's judging panel for Employee of the Year and Team of the Year, and on Wednesday we met to discuss this year's nominees in both categories. There are so many fantastic submissions this year that it is hard to narrow down to just one winner. I came away wanting to give every single nominee and team an award and I hope our officers know I value every single contribution that they make on a daily basis.
In the afternoon, I had a catch-up with members of Thirteen Housing Group. Thirteen are a housing association and one of the Council's partners that provide around 100,000 people in the North East, Yorkshire and Humber region with homes and housing support. It is always good to touch base and keep up-to-date with their current priorities and relay our concerns and priorities as a Council.
I then attended a Regional Corporate Parenting Chairs Network Meeting. I am always very vocal as a Corporate Parent about our shared responsibilities to protect our young people, and I will reiterate that it is our most important function. I always try to shape what we do in Stockton, but we are instrumental in influencing the Tess Valley, Region and National agenda.
On Thursday morning I attended the Council's corporate induction to speak to our new employees. Mike Greene always says that it is our favourite event, and this is true, I have a passion for our Borough, and I hope that our new employees do too.
In the afternoon, I headed over to Preston Hall Museum for our Corporate Management Team and Cabinet Away Day. The session gave me and other senior colleagues the opportunity to discuss key Council strategy. We have amazing plans for our Borough, and we have a shared vision of making our Borough the best place to live, work and play.
I then chaired Cabinet in the evening, with very important strategies and policies being discussed and decided.
My diary today was pretty quiet. I had a brilliant meeting this morning with an instrumental person with vision for our music and culture plans. This afternoon I have a chance to catch up on emails and case work from my Ward and planning for future meetings.
Tomorrow I am attending a board development day hosted by The Junction Foundation, a charity for which I am a Trustee. You can learn more about The Junction Foundation on their website.
I have felt a little bit under the weather this week, but I am hoping to attend Counterfest tomorrow evening in Stockton. This is an amazing event that is arranged by our wonderful Georgian Theatre. The Georgian Theatre is run by a local music charity, Tees Music Alliance and supports our cultural agenda, young people, local musicians and many local organisations.
If you see me around Stockton over the weekend, please say hello but whatever you are doing, I hope that you have a great weekend.
