6 February 2026

Councillor Lisa Evans

This week I'm doing a little change to my Leader's Blog. I am sure you are sick of hearing about me, my knee, my dog, my dad and my meetings. So today I am going to introduce you to a Cabinet Member, Councillor Clare Besford. 

Councillor Clare Besford

I was first elected as Councillor for Billingham North in May 2019, but my reasons for getting involved in politics go back much further. I grew up in poverty on a council estate, was the first in my family to go to university and later built a secure life of my own. In 2010, I left a senior management role to care for my terminally ill mam, an experience that showed me how hard public systems can be to navigate for working-class families and strengthened my determination to help change that. 

Alongside my council role, I work at Catalyst Stockton as Community Projects Manager, where I see every day the difference local charities, community groups and volunteers make. That experience keeps my work grounded in what really matters to local people. 

Since being elected, I've served on scrutiny committees, as an Assistant Cabinet Member, and since 2023, as Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport. Last year, I took on the Children and Young People portfolio - the busiest and most challenging role I've held, but also the most rewarding. 

Children's Services is entering a period of significant change, with new national initiatives on child poverty, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), early years and family support. Behind every report is a Stockton child and family, often navigating complex systems under real pressure. Meeting families facing SEND placement challenges is a powerful reminder of why this work matters and why we must keep pushing for better outcomes. 

Looking ahead, the coming week includes key budget discussions, a visit from the Department for Education to see our Family Hubs in action, and partnership work through our Youth Justice Management Board to tackle serious youth violence and child criminal exploitation. There are no simple solutions, but Stockton has a strong track record of working together - and that collective effort is how we'll continue to support our children, families and communities. 

But first, it's Friday. If you made it this far, I hope you've got some nice plans for the weekend. I'm looking forward to a nice meal with my husband and some friends tonight. Our new greenhouse was delivered yesterday so we will be getting our garden ready for spring. Looking out the window on a morning, it still feels a long way off. But warmer days and brighter times are just around the corner.