Mayor angry over late notice of key meeting

DEVOLUTION PROPOSALS ARE GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD

- By DANIEL HODGSON

THE Mayor of Middlesbrough unleashed a furious tirade against the Tees Valley Combined Authority at an 11th hour meeting.

At a hastily arranged single member Executive meeting, last Friday morning, Middlesbrough’s Labour Mayor Chris Cooke voted in favour of proposals that would approve consent from Middlesbrough Council to a government planned devolution of additional powers to the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) in relation to adult education.

Devolution of those powers will enable TVCA to broaden the scope of training it is able to support, council documents explained.

The public meeting lasted less than four minutes and saw the Mayor speak in favour of further devolution, especially around adult skills.

However, he was visibly unhappy with TVCA and that the situation had reached a point whereby he and other local authority leaders were having to give their approval on deadline day.

When Mr Cooke's comments were put to the combined authority, TVCA accepted that the process “could have been better” and are taking steps to prevent the situation happening again.

The meeting's details were only confirmed the evening before it took place, contrary to standard procedure, whereby meetings are confirmed and agendas are published at least five working days in advance.