Stockton-on-Tees Labour Councillors

28/04/2026

21/02/2026

Unlike elected MPs and councillors, council officers are legally bound by impartiality and cannot engage in political debate. For Matt Vickers to question their integrity from behind his parliamentary platform is not just wrong—it’s a cowardly attack on the very foundation of local government.

Unlike elected MPs and councillors, council officers are legally bound by impartiality and cannot engage in political debate. For Matt Vickers to question their integrity from behind his parliamentary platform is not just wrong—it’s a cowardly attack on the very foundation of local democracy.

02/02/2026

Breakfast clubs boost attendance, attainment and life chances. 🧒

They give parents more flexibility to work, and more money in their pockets. 💸

That's why this Labour government is rolling them out across all our primary schools.

Today's latest wave of schools takes the total number of children who will have access in the Tees Valley to over 7,000! 💥

They are -
🍎In Darlington:
Firthmoor Primary School
Red Hall Primary School
Skerne Park Academy
Gurney Pease Academy
🍎In Hartlepool:
Stranton Primary School
🍎In Redcar and Cleveland:
Chaloner Primary School
Dormanstown Primary Academy
Handale Primary School
Lingdale Primary School
South Bank Community Primary School
Whitecliffe Academy
🍎In Stockton-on-Tees:
Village Primary School
Bowesfield Primary School
Hardwick Green Primary Academy
St John the Baptist CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Harewood Primary School
🍎In Middlesbrough:
Corpus Christi RC Primary School
Lift North Ormesby
Newport Primary School
🍏This is on top of last year's 12 schools:
Pennyman Primary Academy
St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School
Skelton Primary School
New Marske Primary School
Overfields Primary School
Lockwood Primary School
Prior's Mill CofE Primary School
Ingleby Mill Primary School
Holy Trinity Rosehill CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School
Ash Trees Academy
Green Gates Academy
St Helen's Primary School
Greatham CofE Primary School
High Coniscliffe CofE Primary School

Labour governments put children first, support working families & break down barriers to opportunity. 🌹

21/01/2026

Just the 4 Tories missing tonight

12/11/2025

If you're a charity or a local not-for-profit service that supports people in need in Tees Valley - you could access free goods from the Multibank to give to people in need. Just contact [email protected] to register an expression of interest 🤝

🌹 ONE YEAR OF TEES VALLEY MULTIBANK 🌹

Thousands of families helped.
Thousands of tonnes saved from landfill.
One year of Labour-led compassion in action.

It’s been a year since Labour councils across the Tees Valley came together to fund the Tees Valley Multibank - the first of its kind in the North East - with the support of former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the charitable sector, and businesses.

The project was pushed forward by Redcar and Cleveland Labour Councillor John McCue and backed by Labour Councils in Redcar & Cleveland, Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool.

Since then, the Tees Valley Multibank has:
📦 Distributed hundreds of thousands of essential items – from clothes and bedding to toiletries and toys.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Helped tens of thousands of local families struggling with the cost of living.
🌍 Stopped tonnes of brand-new goods from ending up in landfill.

Funded by the Labour councils and delivered by independent charity The Junction (who are non-political), the project has become a model of what happens when communities, charities, and local leaders work together.

As Gordon Brown said at the launch event: "We are tackling pollution and alleviating its effects by creating a new, cost effective, solution that sustains both the planet and childhood opportunity... Multibanks are not just about meeting needs, but offering hope that families struggling can have a better life."

Together, Labour in the Tees Valley are fighting back against child poverty, delivering support for working families, and building a fairer, kinder region. 🤝

11/11/2025

The Tories will claim this wasn't due to local Labour leaders pushing for change. But TVCA confirmed so themselves: "Work on the plans for support for care leavers follows a request by the leaders of the five borough councils in October 2024 for TVCA to fund free travel for those who have previously been under the care of their Local Authority."
Source: https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/news/free-travel-planned-for-care-leavers-aged-25-and-under-across-tees-valley/

🚌💥 LABOUR WIN: Free Bus Travel for Tees Valley Care Leavers 💥🚌

Big news for young people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool 👇

Thanks to Labour leaders at the Tees Valley Combined Authority, the Mayor has agreed to introduce the new ‘Tees Pass’ - giving care leavers free bus travel until the age of 25.
This vital support will help hundreds of young people access jobs, education and training across our region.

🌹 Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke, who grew up in care, said:
“Providing free travel for care leavers is a simple and straightforward move which will have a big impact on hundreds of lives. Young people who leave care face so many challenges and it’s good we’re working together to remove as many obstacles as possible.”

🌹 Darlington Leader Stephen Harker, said:
“We want the transport network across Tees Valley to work for as many people as possible. Ensuring our care leavers have free travel is another important part of us improving what we have to offer. I’m pleased our call for action has been backed and is finally being put into action.”

🌹 Stockton-on-Tees Leader Lisa Evans said:
“The new bus pass for care leavers is a very welcome addition and coincides nicely with the opening of our brand new ‘No Limits Hub’, which is a one-stop-shop for care leavers in the Stockton-on-Tees Borough. We know care leavers can have a particularly daunting time when making the transition into adulthood, so having the access to bus travel will make a really positive difference and can help with employment opportunities too.”

🌹 Hartlepool Leader Pamela Hargreaves said:
“We value our young people, we believe in their potential and we’re committed to breaking down the barriers they face. This introduction of free bus travel for care leavers isn’t just important – it’s an absolute lifeline, and for many of them this will mean the difference between isolation and opportunity. It’s a crucial step that will help care leavers access education, employment and the support networks they need to thrive.”

🌹 Redcar and Cleveland Leader Alec Brown said:
“This new Tees Pass is a vital step forward in helping care leavers across our region access the opportunities they deserve. Whether it’s getting to college, starting a new job, or attending training, free bus travel removes a major barrier and will open doors for many young people.”

This win builds on Labour’s wider fight to fix our broken bus system:
✅ Labour’s new Bus Services Act puts power back in local hands to make it easier to bring buses into public control, protect routes, and put passengers before profit
✅ Labour councils across the Tees Valley have passed motions leading the call for the Tees Valley Mayor to use these powers and bring in franchised, reliable services
✅ Teesside’s Labour MPs Anna, Andy, Chris, Jonathan, Luke & Lola fought for the £1 BILLION transport fund coming to the Tees Valley to deliver real improvements here at home.

Labour is proving what can be achieved when local leaders work together - practical, compassionate change that makes life fairer for the next generation. Labour will keep fighting for better buses - so working people across the Tees Valley have a system that is fairer, faster and better connected. 🚍🌹

04/11/2025

"Vital" vouchers to help with the cost of everyday essentials like food and energy bills will be sent to low-income families across the Stockton Borough this winter.

The vouchers totalling £120 from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council will be delivered automatically to all households in receipt of Council Tax Reduction.

The vouchers are exchangeable for cash at any PayPoint outlet and must be exchanged by the end of February.

In the last two weeks of November, two £60 vouchers will be distributed to approximately 10,000 working age households who receive Council Tax Reduction.

Then in the first two weeks of January, two £60 vouchers will be distributed to around 6,000 households with pensioners who receive Council Tax Reduction.

This is thanks to the latest Household Support Fund (HSF) funding from Government.

In addition to the vouchers, discretionary payments of £120 are also available for residents who are on a low income, pay energy bills and do not receive Council Tax Reduction.

Residents can check if they are eligible for this discretionary support, to help pay energy costs, through our online application process via the Household Support Fund webpage.

Funding is also being used to help supplement the Council's 'Back on Track' scheme, which offers crisis support for residents experiencing financial difficulties.

Councillor Paul Rowling, Deputy Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Resources and Transport, said: "The Household Support Fund has been vital for families around our Borough for a number of years now, so we're delighted to again offer vouchers for thousands of eligible households this winter.

"Don't forget if you receive Council Tax Reduction then there's nothing you need to do, with vouchers sent automatically.

"And of course, if you do not receive Council Tax Reduction then you may still be eligible for support by applying for a discretionary payment.

"Plus, you can also visit our 'Here to Help' hub for a range of information on benefits, advice and support available to help you and your family."

For more information on HSF, visit the Household Support Fund webpage:

Funding to help those who are struggling to pay their energy costs, water bills, food, and other wider household essentials.

19/10/2025

Police Funding Consultation

Police Commissioner Matt Storey currently running a public consultation, and we would like to hear from you about what you are willing to pay towards the cost of policing in your community next year.
Of the £203 million we currently spend on Policing and Crime in Cleveland:
• £53m comes from your Council Tax payments
• The vast majority of the remaining £150m comes from the Government
To provide a similar level of service in 2026/27, it will cost around £10 million (5%) more because:
• We need to pay Police Officers and Staff more – this is expected to increase our costs by around £7 million.
• We need to pay higher non-pay bills such as insurance, and we are seeing higher costs of policing major incidents – this along with general price increases is expected to add costs of around £3m to our budget.
The consultation will ask residents to choose from a few options (e.g. extra £1–£2 a month) and tell us which policing issues matter most (anti-social behaviour, speeding, burglary, violence, etc.)
Have your say now:

Please take a few minutes to take our survey.

16/10/2025

A Billingham shop has been closed as the Labour led Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council continues to clamp down on counterfeit and illicit cigarette and v**e sales.

Station Road Convenience Store on Station Road has been given a three-month closure order, which was secured by the Council at Teesside Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, October 15.

The Court heard how complaints had been made from the public regarding illegal cigarette sales and underage sales.

Test purchases carried out by the Council's Trading Standards Team confirmed ci******es sold at the premises failed to comply with the Standardised Packaging of To***co Products Regulations 2015 and the Trade Marks Act 1994.

Trading Standards officers, with support from Cleveland Police and a to***co detection dog and handler, also seized 5340 illegal ci******es and 40 x 50g packets of illicit to***co from a concealment within a section of a brick wall that had been precisely cut to resemble a small door.

Officers also seized 120 single use v**es which are prohibited for sale under The Environmental Protection (Single use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024 which came into place June 1, 2025.

Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: "I'd like to thank the Trading Standards Team for their robust work to secure this closure order.

"I hope it serves as a warning that businesses must take their legal obligations seriously or face the consequences.

"I'd also like to encourage local people to keep reporting any sales of illicit or counterfeit to***co and single use v**es to us, so we can take the necessary action.

"Anyone concerned about the sale of illegal ci******es and v**es can contact our Trading Standards team by calling 01642 526560 or emailing [email protected]."

Inspector Tony Cross, from Stockton's neighbourhood policing team, said: "By working alongside our partners we have closed a shop that was operating illegally through the sale of counterfeit ci******es and single use v**es.

"This happened because we listened to concerns from members of the public who reported the activity and then took action that has led to the store being granted closure for up to three-months.

"I want to take this opportunity to encourage people to keep on reporting crimes like this knowing that it will be acted upon."

This work was carried out as part of Operation Cece, which is run in partnership with the National Trading Standards and HMRC to help tackle the sales of illicit to***co.