5 June 2026
Hello everyone, it's been a bit of a busy week with lots of catch ups, meetings and events.
On Monday, I met with Mike Greene, Chief Executive, for our regular catch up.
I then met with Joanne Horner and Paul Marriner, both Managing Directors at Lakota Hub. Lakota are a community-based organisation offering free support, advice and resources, focusing on young people and adults who face social isolation, unemployment, or mental health challenges. It was great to meet them and discuss the important work they do across the Borough.
Following this I had a catch up with Councillors to discuss any issues and offer support along with a general discussion.
I then chaired Cabinet pre-agenda.
Tuesday began with my regular catch up with Tom Bryant, Chief Executive for the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA). It was good to discuss my Cabinet portfolio but also the wider issues and the Best Value Notice.
Later in the evening I met with Cabinet members for our regular catch up.
On Wednesday, I travelled to the airport to join TVCA colleagues and Leaders again for a Cabinet workshop on Inward Investment and Business Support. It's been a busy week in my role at TVCA.
In the evening, I headed to Preston Park Museum for a Stockton and Darlington Railway Bicentenary event. This was a hugely significant evening celebrating the success of the event. The event welcomed more than one million visitors and engaged with over 60,000 children and young people in railway themed activities. We welcomed over 100,000 visitors from outside of the area, from as far afield as the United States and Japan. The videos that were played from the event were amazing and I felt very proud to be from Stockton-on-Tees.
Yesterday I joined Chris McDonald MP at an event attended by delegates from the European Union. The visit gave an opportunity for delegates to meet with young people from across the Borough, where they shared their perspectives on education, training, employment and other issues affecting young people. They also visited local independent retailers in the town centre, the active travel hub, Change, Grow, Live and Fujifilm.
I then visited Hart Gables, to celebrate their organisation receiving the King's Award for Voluntary Service. Hart Gables work to ensure that all LGBTQ+ people are given equal life chances and have services that meet their needs. They do this by supporting the local community, working with partner organisations and delivering award winning awareness training across the UK. The Lord Lieutenant of County Durham Mike Butterwick CBE, DL, presented the Award.
After this, I headed back to join the European Union delegation for a dinner.
Today, I am joining another workshop with the TVCA alongside other Cabinet members and colleagues before attending a briefing with TVCA ahead of an upcoming visit from the Social Mobility Commission. I then need to catch up on lots of emails and casework.
After a really busy week I am looking forward to the weekend. I have no plans, so I am hoping to relax and catch up with family and friends.
I hope you have a great weekend.
