Hartlepool Borough Council Chief Executive to Resign....

Scandals, Staff Crisis and ‘No Confidence’ Reportedly Make Council Top Officials Position Untenable, as Hartlepool's worst performing CEO finally admits her time at the authority with no public confidence is over....

19th November 2025

A senior local government chief is set to step down in summer 2026 after a series of scandals and a historic collapse in public trust left her position effectively unsustainable.

Denise McGuckin, who has served Hartlepool Borough Council for nearly three decades and became Chief Executive in 2020, reportedly informed colleagues she will stand down from the role next year—though insiders say the decision reportedly follows months of mounting pressure, internal turmoil, and the latest crisis involving the Hartlepool Homesearch Corruption Scandal, which reportedly became the final straw.

A Tenure Defined by Crises

McGuckin has long faced criticism for accepting inflation-busting pay rises at the same time residents saw frontline services being cut to the bone, with council tax increases, and staff morale hitting rock bottom. Her leadership coincided with the unprecedented moment in 2023 when Hartlepool Borough Council was officially deemed an authority with “no public confidence”—a badge of dishonour many employees and residents point to as the inevitable outcome of years of internal dysfunction.

Her decision to stand down from the role comes just months after the departure of two other senior council officials, Sally Robinson & Tony Hanson, who both departed the local council to take on other roles.

Although she rose through the council ranks over three decades to eventually become Chief Executive—her time at the top has been overshadowed by controversy, mismanagement scandals, and a workforce reportedly said to have become increasingly vocal about widespread disillusionment & increasing workloads which effectively 'broke' staff morale.

The ‘Retirement’ Framing Doesn’t Match Reality

New of her departure comes as a council report set to be presented to a Finance Committee meeting reveals Hartlepool Borough Council is heading towards bankruptcy

Officially, the departure is being dressed as a well-earned retirement after years of service. But behind closed doors, its claimed senior figures are said to have grown deeply concerned about the reputational damage caused by repeated scandals and the ongoing staffing confidence crisis. Sources told The Teesside & Durham Post this week that the most recent fallout from the Hartlepool Homesearch scandal made her position “simply beyond saving.”

Whilst news of her departure is said to be 'welcome news' for both locals & members of staff, Speculation's already swirling about what kind of “golden goodbye” taxpayers could be forced to stoop up to see the embattled Chief walk out the door. Where its claimed Hartlepool Borough Council has a history of handing departing executives lucrative exit packages rather flagrantly. Its claimed when former Chief Executive Gill Alexander left her post, she received tens of thousands of pounds in so-called “compensation for loss of office”—a sum that left many residents furious, with fears history may repeat itself.

A Mixed Record Painted More Positively by Supporters

The 2023 Hartlepool Tall Ships event was almost cancelled last minute after the event was set to generate a financial loss, with a number of sponsors pulling out, citing "reputational concerns" with the local council

Supporters have attempted to highlight the more favourable elements of her tenure, where its claimed under her leadership the council secured substantial outside investment—reportedly more than £160 million—and saw major events return to the town, including the Tall Ships Races in 2023. Children’s services also climbed to an “outstanding” rating, while adult services achieved “good.”

However, critics argue these headline achievements mask deeper structural failures, including crumbling public trust, divisive internal politics, long-running housing controversies, and catastrophic morale across council departments.

Its also worth noting that the 2023 Tall Ships Races held in 2023 was considered "a disaster", after locals were left footing the shortfall of the cost of the even just as they did back in 2010, making the claims that the councils press department is 'dressing up' her departure ever more plausible.

Who will become the Captain of Hartlepool's 'Sinking Ship'.....

Whoever takes on the role is likely to be told the local council is heading towards financial catastrophe in just two years.

The coming months will see the search begin for her successor. The challenge will be enormous: repairing trust, addressing the fallout from ongoing scandals, and stabilising a workforce battered by years of crisis management and political turmoil.

One thing is certain—the departure of Denise McGuckin marks the end of a turbulent period at Hartlepool Borough Council.

Whether it also marks the beginning of meaningful change remains to be seen.....