Member Article

Tees Valley Combined Authority holds first meeting in pursuit of ‘hugely ambitious’ plans

Tees Valley Combined Authority, the new body looking to drive economic growth and job creation in the area, has held its inaugural meeting where transport, inward investment and skills were high on the agenda.

The Authority combines the powers of the area’s five local councils, which are continuing to exist in their own right, with the Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership in an attempt to strengthen the socioeconomic standing of the Tees Valley area.

United under the formal Tees Valley Combined Authority banner, the institutions are working together to focus on economic development, transport, infrastructure and skills.

Since its inception in 2011, Tees Valley Unlimited, which was one of the first Local Enterprise Partnerships in the country to gain Government approval, has worked towards adding jobs and growth to the area.

The new statutory body will build on the firm economic foundations that have been established by TVU, which now is an integral part of the Combined Authority.

During the last five years TVU has:

• Secured 8,163 jobs
• Attracted £174m worth of investment
• Supported £1.3bn private sector investment
• Overseen £764m investment in its Enterprise Zone

The Combined Authority will also mean that Tees Valley is ideally placed to negotiate with government to secure the transfer of additional powers and resources to the region from Whitehall.

Councillor Sue Jeffrey, Chair of the Combined Authority and Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: “Coming together as the Tees Valley Combined Authority ensures that we will have the stability we need to continue to drive economic growth and secure investment in key infrastructure and employment projects.

“We are hugely ambitious for the Tees Valley and our communities. Our existing governance arrangements have served us well, but in a fast-changing world it is essential that we continue to build on our success.

“This new arrangement cements and formalises our partnership between the five local authorities and with business through the LEP so that it is clear to everyone that we all are working together for the long-term good of Tees Valley.”

Unlike most combined authorities, Tees Valley Combined Authority is holding joint meetings with the Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership and its business representatives, while also sharing staff and resources.