Ex-council chief to chair new development corporation

APPOINTMENTS AS TEES VALLEY MAYOR STEPS DOWN FROM ROLE

- By DANIEL HODGSON Local democracy reporter

A FORMER council chief executive is the new chair of one of the region's development corporations.

Tony Parkinson, who led Middlesbrough Council from 2016 to 2023, has taken on the role of chair of Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC).

The development corporations in Hartlepool (HDC) and South Tees (STDC) will be chaired by Mark Robinson and David Smith, respectively. Each of the men will serve a four-year term. Described by Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) as a "trio of highly experienced leaders", the three men will each work three days a month on an annual salary of £15,120.

Recruitment was launched in May and the aim for the new chairs is to drive forward key regeneration projects in the Tees Valley.

Hartlepool Council leader Cllr Brenda Harrison, Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke, and Redcar & Cleveland Council leader, Cllr Alec Brown (all Labour) have separately been appointed as vice-chairs of the boards in their respective boroughs.

The changes come as Tees Valley Conservative Mayor Ben Houchen steps down from chairing the three development corporations after advice was issued from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on April 3, the same day that the TVCA was hit with a Best Value Notice.