Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet Approves Tees Valley Review Response

A detailed response to recommendations in the Tees Valley Review has been approved by Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet.

The Tees Valley Review was established following claims of corruption made in Parliament and the media in relation to the redevelopment of Teesworks, the UK’s biggest industrial zone.

The report, published in January, found no evidence of corruption or illegality in respect of Teesworks Ltd, the Teesworks Joint Venture Partners, the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC) or Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA).

It also recognised the pace and scope of regeneration at Teesworks and the positive impact on the Tees Valley economy, including the creation of 9,000 jobs and the return of £1.3billion to the local taxpayer in business rates. It also highlighted the “critical” role the Joint Venture Partnership has played in unlocking and developing the site at pace.

The report contained a series of recommendations to further strengthen governance, legal and administrative frameworks at the Combined Authority and related bodies.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has now written to Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner setting out details of the finalised response, which was agreed by the five Labour Local Authority leaders who sit on the TVCA Cabinet, and Siobhan McArdle as Tees Valley Business Board Chair.

It follows a comprehensive review of the recommendations and their implications for the TVCA and STDC constitutions and governance arrangements.

A working group made up of statutory officers from the five constituent authorities – including their Chief Executives, Monitoring Officers and Chief Financial Officers – was established to develop a wide-ranging action plan.

The plan – together with the revised governance arrangements and constitutions – was further developed, scrutinised and approved by TVCA’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Audit and Governance Committee, South Tees Development Corporation’s Audit and Governance Committee and South Tees Development Corporation Board.

The process also saw the involvement of independent bodies to provide additional expertise and insight including The Centre for Governance and Scrutiny and Local Government Association.

The amendments will be incorporated into the processes and documentation of Hartlepool and Middlesbrough Development Corporations to ensure best practice is consistent across all regional statutory bodies.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “The response has been developed following one of the most wide-ranging and extensive processes ever undertaken by the Combined Authority and its constituent authorities.

“It has produced robust and highly detailed response to the Tees Valley Review and I would like to put on record my sincere thanks to all elected members, officers and external bodies who have contributed.

“Teesworks is set to deliver transformational change to Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool and this work will now allow us to progress with its delivery – creating well-paid high-skilled jobs, attracting global investment and growing our local economy.”

Letter from Tees Valley Mayor to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government