16 January 2026

Hello everyone. I hope you have had a lovely week. This week was a lot quieter for me which gave me time to do lots of reading, case work and get out in the community. 

At the start of the week myself and Mike Greene, Chief Executive, met with Tom Bryant, Chief Executive of the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) for a catch up. We discussed plans in our Borough and how we can work together to see these plans come into fruition.  

I then met with Cabinet and the Corporate Management Team for our regular catch up where we discussed various subjects. This was followed by a meeting on the evening with other Group members. 

Midweek I met with Mike again, this time to prepare for the Association of North East Councils (ANEC) Leaders and Elected Mayors Group meeting, which I attended on Thursday. ANEC allows local authorities in the North East to come together and collectively have a stronger political voice. 

I then chaired the Health and Wellbeing Board pre agenda meeting, ahead of our next Board meeting. 

This week, I have had lots of admin to do including completing lots of paperwork for different Boards that I sit on due to it being the start of a new year. I also completed my application to renew my postal vote, something that I have been meaning to do for a long time. If you have a postal vote, don't forget to renew it. Following recent changes, it is no longer possible to have a permanent postal vote. Instead, a postal vote stays in place for a period of three years. You can find out more information on reapplying for your postal vote online.

On Thursday I attended the ANEC Leaders and Elected Mayors Group meeting. I then met with Debbie Farrow, Head of Service for Children in Our Care and Care Leavers, to discuss our care leavers, children in our care and the Corporate Parenting Board. 

Later in the evening I chaired Cabinet where we discussed the Director of Public Health Report for 2025 and reviewed the Council's 2025 Events Programme.  

After this I returned to choir practice! A couple of years ago, along with a small group of friends we formed a women's choir called Steel Sisters after the choir we were in ceased practicing. I can't sing at all; I do it because it makes me feel good. I hadn't been in a long time due to being busy, but I said that in the new year I was going to make a huge effort to return. Steel Sisters meet every Thursday at 6:30pm in The Georgian Theatre and there are no barriers for attendance. There is no fee, only a bucket to give a donation if you can afford to do so, you don't need to be a good singer (I'm proof of that!) and you don't have to participate in performances if you don't want to. It's just a group of supportive women singing and enjoying themselves. 

Today I am meeting with the TVCA Cabinet, officers, and TVCA colleagues for an informal Cabinet where we discuss items that are on the agenda for the upcoming formal Cabinet meeting. 

I have no plans this weekend other than cleaning the car and maybe binge watching a series on TV. I hope that you all have a lovely weekend.