8 December 2023

This week started with a meeting with Mike Greene, Chief Executive of the Council, and Councillor Lisa Evans, the Deputy Leader of the Council, to discuss Powering Our Future - our Council-wide transformational programme. On Monday afternoon we had a pre-agenda meeting ahead of the formal Cabinet meeting next week.

On Tuesday I attended a General Licensing Committee meeting, which was held in person in Municipal Buildings. In the afternoon, there was a meeting of all of the political Group Leaders and Deputy Group Leaders in the Borough. We discussed our 0-19 offer and Learning and Skills service among other things.

Mid-week I had a briefing from senior Council Officers on my Cabinet Portfolio. In the afternoon, I joined the Borough's Community Partnerships at one of their pop-up gift wrapping sessions for the Community Gift. The Community Gift has been collecting donations across Stockton-on-Tees, and now volunteers are wrapping them into gift boxes to be distributed via our food banks and community pantries.

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the Mayor's Carol Service at Stockton Parish Church. It was a delight to see the schools performing in the church for Christmas. Thank you and well done to all the children who attended.

Later in the day I attended the North East and North Cumbria Strategic Integrated Care Partnership (ICP). ICPs bring together a broad alliance of partners concerned with improving the care, health and wellbeing of the local population.

Today I'm taking advantage of a quiet diary to catch up on emails and paperwork.

At the weekend I will be spending some time with my family. Middlesbrough suffered a crushing defeat to rivals Leeds last weekend in an exciting clash between the two sides. This weekend they face second place Ipswich Town at home. Even though we're 10 places behind Ipswich, there will be an appetite to win this one and bounce back to their winning ways.