Hartlepool Borough Council’s new Leader-elect gets down to work

Last week’s elections saw Labour claim nine of the twelve seats on offer, leaving them with an overall majority of 24 of the 36 seats on the Council.

Councillor Brenda Harrison, Leader of Hartlepool’s Labour Party, is now the Council’s Leader-elect and will take over formally as Leader at the Annual Council meeting on Tuesday 21 May. She will replace current Council Leader Cllr Mike Young at the meeting, which will mark the end of the Conservative and Independent coalition-run administration, which has run the Council since 2019.

Councillor Brenda Harrison

Reflecting on the local election results, Cllr Harrison, said: ‘‘This is not a time for jubilation, but rather a time for getting down to work and delivering for Hartlepool people. Times are tough and, as Leader of our Council, my priority will always be standing up for Hartlepool people in everything we do. We are ready to serve our town to get Hartlepool’s future back.’’

It is the first time in the history of Hartlepool Borough Council that a female will be its Leader, something that Cllr Harrison describes as an ‘honour’ – and she is certainly hoping that she will not be the last female to take on the Council’s top political role.

Cllr Harrison, said: “I hope that this will send a message to every young girl in our town that there are no limits to your ambitions. It is a tremendous honour for me to be our Council’s first female leader and the team that we are assembling in Hartlepool will be one that truly reflects our town.”

This week started with Cllr Harrison meeting with Denise McGuckin, the Council’s Managing Director. Top of the meeting agenda was getting the Council’s finances back on track and sustainable for the long term.

Councillor Brenda Harrison (right) with the Council's Managing Director Denise McGuckin in the Council Chamber

“These are tough times and it is clear, especially in terms of the Council’s finances that we are going to have a difficult inheritance. The budget deficit that we have been left with is enormous and our first priority will be to get this under control to ensure the long-term financial stability of the Council, so that we can deliver our promises to the people of Hartlepool,” Cllr Harrison added.

Other discussion items on the agenda included reorganising the Council to focus on jobs and growth, delivery of Labour’s manifesto commitments and the appointment of policy chairs to deliver the new administration’s agenda. Cllr Harrison will be announcing a range of appointments to key roles within the new administration in the coming days, as Labour prepares to take office.