Councillor Graham Harrison is the new Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council.
The Reform UK councillor, who was elected earlier this month to the Burn Valley Ward in the Hartlepool Local Government Elections, was confirmed as Leader at the Council's Annual Council meeting last night.
Councillor Harrison, who is 54, is Hartlepool born-and-bred, and worked in the logistics sector. He is married with children.
Councillor Graham Harrison
He said: “It is a very great privilege to become Leader of the Council. It is very humbling to think that so many people have put their trust in me, as a councillor and now as Leader of the Council.
“My first priority is to understand the Council’s financial position. Residents expect public money to be managed responsibly, and I am committed to taking the time to fully understand the finances and carry out a clear and transparent review so we know where we stand.
“If there are opportunities to transform how services are delivered more efficiently, we will work with officers to take those forward.
“As a new administration, many councillors are, like me, newly-elected and are focused on learning the role so we can serve residents effectively. Councils are complex, delivering a wide range of services every day, and it is important we take the time to understand how the Council operates.
“Councils across the country are facing significant financial pressures, and we know our communities are too. That makes it even more important that we work together to ensure services are as effective and efficient as possible.
“I want to work closely with our officers, supporting them to address the issues that matter most to people in Hartlepool.
“We will focus on ensuring the Council serves all parts of Hartlepool fairly, with services that listen, deliver, and treat residents with respect.”