“Local Councils Getting Set to Enter ‘Purdah’, The Pre Election Preiod, as Election Rules Tighten Ahead of May Vote” Purdah Dates Confirmed as Countdown Begins to 2026 Local Elections 20th March 2026 With the local elections fast approaching, councils and candidates across the country are now preparing for the start of whats known as the pre-election period — commonly known as “purdah” — alongside a series of key legal deadlines that will shape the run-up to polling day. The

Labour Final U-Turn: Tip Booking System Returns After Election Pledge to Scrap It Recycling Centre Appointments to Return in April Under New Council Plans 20th March 2026 Hartlepool Borough Council's set to reintroduce its controversial household waste recycling centre booking system , in a move that's reignited political debate and divided opinion across the town. The change will see residents once again being required to book an appointment before visiting the Burn Road tip

Council Under Pressure as Memorial Bench Policy Row Gains National Spotlight Memorial Bench Review Triggers Backlash as Hartlepool Borough Council Seeks to Clarify Position 19th March 2026 H artlepool Borough Council has moved to contain a growing public relations crisis after controversy surrounding memorial benches—first highlighted by The Teesside & Durham Post on 5th March —began attracting national media attention. What began as a local concern about the increasing numb

Planning Powers Could Return to Council in Hartlepool Shake-Up Middleton Grange Costs Add Pressure as Future of Hartlepool Development Corporation Reviewed 16th March 2026 P lanning Powers could soon be set to return to a Teesside Council as the future of the body responsible for leading the regeneration of a seaside town is under review, with senior figures considering whether the organisation should continue to exist. Newly published papers for the Tees Valley Combined Auth

Teesside Airport Loan Repayment in Doubt as Tees Valley Sets New Budget Teesside Airport Loan “Not Expected to Be Repaid in Foreseeable Future”, Budget Papers Reveal 15th March 2026 F resh questions have been raised about the long-term financial sustainability behind Teesside International Airport after official budget papers revealed that a major loan linked to the airport is not expected to be repaid in the foreseeable future. Documents prepared for the Tees Valley Combined

Funding Cut Forces Permanent Closure of Hartlepool Cycling Hub Hartlepool Cycling Hub to Close as TVCA Faces Threat of a Second Government Best Value Notice.... 15th March 2026 A community walking and cycling hub in Hartlepool is set to close permanently at the end of March after funding for the project came to an abrupt end. A notice placed on the window of the Tees Valley Walking & Cycling hub in Hartlepool's Church Street states it will close on the 31st of March 2026 , wi

Demolition Finally Looms for Hartlepool’s Long-Derelict Admiral Court Care Home The End of an Eyesore: Demolition Approved for Hartlepool’s Abandoned Admiral Court Care Home 14th March 2026 Plans to demolish a long-abandoned former care home in Hartlepool have taken a major step forward after council officials formally signed off on proposals to bring the building down. Hartlepool Borough Council has now confirmed approval for the demolition of the former Admiral Court nursin

How Often Are Councils Found At Fault? Ombudsman Figures Reveal the Numbers Local Residents in the Region Win Only a Handful of Cases Against Councils, Ombudsman Data Shows... 13th March 2026 N ew figures from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman reveal how often complaints made against local councils across Teesside and County Durham are being upheld — with the results showing significant variation between neighbouring areas... The figures also come amid growing co

Benefit Rule Change Could Affect 100 Hartlepool Residents Council Moves to Fix Tax Support Rule After Disability Discrimination Judgment 13th March 2026 H artlepool Borough Council's confirmed it's been forced to change how it interprets its Council Tax Support scheme following a High Court ruling which found that certain benefit calculations could unlawfully discriminate against disabled people. An officer decision record signed on 9th of March 2026 states Hartlepool Borough

Audit Finds Weak Controls Over Hartlepool Council Staff Safety Register Concerns Grow Over Hartlepool Council ‘Employee Protection Register’ After Audit Warning 10th March 2026 C oncerns have been raised about how incidents involving alleged aggressive behaviour towards council staff are being recorded after an internal audit found failures in a key safety system used by Hartlepool Borough Council. A report set to be presented to the council’s Audit and Governance Committee h