Quiz The Mayor In First Public Question Time On BBC Radio Tees

The public will get to quiz the Tees Valley Mayor in the first of regular new Question Time events next week.

From 9am until 10am on Thursday (15 May), Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen will be in the hot-seat for a one-hour public Q&A on BBC Radio Tees.

And listeners can call in to ask the Mayor questions on any topic.

The Mayor and Combined Authority Cabinet approved a Mayoral question time in March – which will take place every month following this week’s first edition.

The events come during a period of significant progress across our region including the development of Teesworks as a centre for clean energy, the expansion of Teesside Airport and investments across the Tees Valley’s constituent five boroughs.

As agreed, the Mayor will also be holding two in-person Q&A events each year, chaired by an independent journalist.

Those attending the free and ticketed events can submit questions to the chair, who will then ask them on their behalf.

These will be held across each of the Tees Valley’s five boroughs.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “I’d urge people to pick up the phone, get in touch and ask me anything.

“We’ve had some major developments across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, creating jobs through huge projects and backing our businesses. This is the start – we’ve laid the foundations and now we want to build on them and make it count.

“I know people always want to know more about what we are doing, what’s coming next and why – so I can’t wait for next Thursday where people can quiz me and get the answers they are looking for.”

Hosting Mayor’s Question Time events brings the Combined Authority in line with other Combined Authorities which hold similar events, including Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and West Midlands.

To ask a question, call BBC Radio Tees on: 08000 85 95 95

Send a question on WhatsApp to 08000 321 333, and start your message with the word “Tees”.

Or text your question to 81333, and start your message with Tees.