Did Hartlepool Council Break the Law with its £1m ‘Clean-Up’ Press Release?
- teessidetoday
- Nov 6
- 4 min read
A recently announced £1m pound clean up operation of Hartlepool's Streets has caused a stir amongst the local community, not over just why the council is trying to promote services locals already should be paying for anyway in their Council Tax, but whether the press release was "too politically motivated"...
6th November 2025
Concerns have been raised by members of the public after Hartlepool Borough Council published a press release on November 3rd announcing a “£1 million investment to clean up neighbourhoods.”
At first glance, it looks like a harmless good-news story about litter, graffiti, and fly-tipping. But under Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986, councils are strictly prohibited from using public money to produce or distribute material that appears to promote a specific political party. The law was brought in to stop local councils using taxpayers’ cash for party-political publicity — in other words, turning the Council’s news pages effectively into election leaflets.
So, does Hartlepool Borough Council’s latest announcement cross the line?
What the law says
Section 2 of the Act states:
“A local authority shall not publish, or arrange for the publication of, any material which, in whole or in part, appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party.”
This means that Council press releases, newsletters, or social-media posts must remain strictly neutral.
The Government’s Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity makes it clear that council communications must be:
lawful and cost-effective,
objective and even-handed,
and never appear to promote a political party or candidate.
It also warns that during times of “heightened sensitivity,” such as in the run-up to local elections, which are just over six months away in Hartlepool, councils must take extra care not to publish anything that could be seen as political campaigning.
What the press release said
In its statement, Hartlepool Council announced a £1 million “Pride in Place” investment to clean up neighbourhoods across the town. It quoted the Leader of the Council, Cllr Pamela Hargreaves, describing clean streets as the Council’s “number one priority,” and praised the partnership between the Council and Hartlepool’s MP, Jonathan Brash, who just so happen to be 'Husband & Wife'...
It also carried upbeat lines such as:
“This is the biggest spending boost of its kind in a decade”, and “We’re proud to have worked with our brilliant Council.”
Whilst no political party was mentioned by name, readers immediately noticed the promotional tone of the press release and the focus on certain named political figures, one specifically is up for election herself in may 2026 . Several residents have contacted HBC Exposed questioning whether this amounts to council-funded publicity for the ruling group and local Labour MP.
Where the risks lie
An analysis of the press release under Section 2 and the Publicity Code shows a number of legal 'grey areas'.
On the one hand, the Council is entitled to tell local residents about new investments and service improvements — that’s normal business. But on the other, the tone of the piece is self-congratulatory, specifically highlighting the leadership’s “achievements” and partnership with the Labour MP Jonathan Brash, which could easily be perceived by any reasonable person as promoting political success.
If the announcement had simply stated the facts — the amount, what it will pay for, and how residents can get involved — it would clearly fall within lawful council communications. However, once political figures are named and the language becomes promotional, our expert claims it drifts towards the territory the law was designed to prevent.
Timing also matters. With local elections due in May next year, and public confidence in Hartlepool Borough Council already low, residents have a right to question whether taxpayer-funded press releases are being used to build goodwill for those in charge, especially those who are looking to defend their seats in next years local election. .
Public accountability
Under the law, any material that “appears to be designed to affect public support for a political party” is unlawful. It doesn’t need to explicitly mention a party name — appearance and intent are simply enough.
That’s why it’s important local councils maintain strict political neutrality in their communications. Press releases should inform, not promote. Taxpayer-funded PR must never become a substitute for party campaigning.
If residents believe Hartlepool Council’s release breaches Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986, they can:
raise a formal complaint with the Council’s Monitoring Officer, or
request an investigation through the Local Government Ombudsman, citing the Publicity Code.
While the £1 million clean-up may be welcome news, it should be presented with transparency, not spin. At a time when trust in local government is fragile, the Council should remember: public money is for public information, not political promotion.
