A number of key appointments have been agreed at Hartlepool Borough Council’s Annual Council meeting as the council sets its leadership and governance arrangements for the year ahead.
Councillor Sue Little (Independent) has been appointed as Hartlepool’s Ceremonial Mayor and Chair of Council for the coming 2026/27 municipal year. She will be supported by Councillor Brian Cowie (Reform UK), who has been appointed as Deputy Ceremonial Mayor. In these roles, they will represent the borough at civic events and support the running of full Council meetings.
Following the local elections earlier this month, no single political group has overall control of the Council. The new political balance is 15 Reform UK councillors, 14 Labour councillors and 7 Independent councillors.
A council with no overall control means that no one political party has enough councillors to make decisions on its own.
Reform UK will lead the Council as a minority administration. Councillor Graham Harrison (Reform UK) has been appointed as Leader of the Council, supported by Councillor Mike Young (Reform UK) as Deputy Leader.
A minority administration means Reform UK is the largest political group and will take the lead in running the Council and setting its direction. However, as it does not have a majority of councillors, it will need to work with councillors from other groups to gain support for key decisions, including policies, spending plans and major projects.
As part of the meeting, councillors also agreed the chairs of the main committees, which oversee services and help shape decisions on behalf of residents. The appointments include:
- Finance and Corporate Affairs Committee – Councillor Graham Harrison (Reform UK)
- Adult Services and Public Health Committee – Councillor Christine Wiley (Reform UK)
- Neighbourhoods and Regulatory Services Committee – Councillor Amanda Napper (Reform UK)
- Housing, Growth and Communities Committee – Councillor Rob Darby (Reform UK)
- Children’s Services Committee – Councillor Jim Lindridge (Independent)
- Licensing Committee – Councillor Adam Gaines (Reform UK)
- Planning Committee – Councillor Mike Young (Reform UK)
- Audit and Governance Committee – Councillor Michael Jorgeson (Labour)
- Health and Wellbeing Board – Councillor Aaron Roy (Independent)
Councillor Graham Harrison will also represent the council on the Tees Valley Combined Authority cabinet.