Meet the new Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees

Meet the new Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees

Councillor Jim Beall is the new Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees.

He was officially installed at the Council's Annual General Meeting today (Wednesday, 24 May), replacing Councillor Ross Patterson at the end of his mayoral year.

Born and raised in Stockton, Councillor Beall went to the former Mill Lane school, followed by Grangefield Grammar then onto Essex and Keele universities.

He is passionate about helping local people and had a long 33-year career in social care. Having first worked as a care assistant in an adults' care home, he then worked as a social worker before progressing to senior management roles in children's social care.

Councillor Beall has represented the Roseworth ward since 2007 and was Deputy Leader of the Council from 2011 until 2022.

In his 12 years as a Cabinet Member, he served as Cabinet Member for Adults and Health and later as Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, with responsibility for a wide range of services for residents, including some of the Borough's most vulnerable people.

The Mayoress is Councillor Beall's wife, Councillor Pauline Beall who represents Stockton Town Centre ward.

Councillor Jim Beall said: "As well as the traditional Mayoral duties I'll have throughout the year, I'm looking forward to visiting some of the many community initiatives that focus on improving the wellbeing and health of people in the Borough.

"There are a lot of great organisations doing great things to help our communities and I'd like to support them in raising their profile."

The Mayor's chosen charities this year are the North East Autism Society, which has recently opened a school in Roseworth, and Eastern Ravens Trust, which supports disadvantaged children and young people including young carers.

The retiring Mayor, Councillor Ross Patterson, raised £14,172 for The Historic Counties Trust, which raises awareness of the history, geography, natural history, architecture and traditions of the historic counties of the UK. Councillor Patterson also made donations to his other charities, the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) and Remembering Rebecca, which supports children and families affected by neurological conditions.

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