Hartlepool Council Boss Makes Direct Appeal to Prime Minister Over Town’s Future..
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The Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council has written directly to the Prime Minister calling for urgent Government action on council funding, social care and housing.
14th August 2026
Reform UK Councillor Graham Harrison has set out what he describes as three key priorities which he believes are necessary to secure a stronger future for Hartlepool and other communities facing similar pressures across the country.
In an open letter to the Prime Minister, the council leader has called for a fairer and more sustainable funding settlement for local government, faster reform of adult and children’s social care backed by adequate funding, and greater Government support for a new generation of council housebuilding.
He’s also called for stronger protections for communities affected by Houses in Multiple Occupation, commonly known as HMOs, and the placement of people into accommodation outside their home local authority areas.
Social care putting pressure on council finances
A central part of Councillor Harrison’s intervention is the growing cost of providing adult and children’s social care.
Councils have statutory responsibilities to provide a range of services to vulnerable adults and children, and Councillor Harrison says the increasing cost of meeting those responsibilities is putting considerable pressure on Hartlepool Borough Council’s wider finances.
He said: “The cost of delivering social care in Hartlepool is placing enormous pressure on the Council’s finances.”
According to the council leader, rising demand and increasing costs have meant difficult financial decisions have had to be taken over a number of years, with money that could otherwise have supported services such as neighbourhood provision instead being required to meet statutory social care responsibilities.
Councillor Harrison said the council would continue to protect vulnerable residents but warned that the existing system could not continue indefinitely without reform.
He added: “We will always do everything we can to protect vulnerable children and adults, but the current system is simply not sustainable.”
Call for fairer council funding
The letter also renews the long-running debate over the way local councils are being funded with Councillor Harrison arguing that any future settlement must properly take account of deprivation and the level of demand placed upon public services in areas such as Hartlepool.
He is calling for longer-term financial certainty rather than councils having to repeatedly plan services around short-term settlements and growing pressures.
He said: “We need a fairer funding settlement that properly reflects the levels of deprivation and service demand in communities like Hartlepool, and we need Government to provide the long-term funding necessary to deliver these vital services.”
More council homes — but stronger protections for communities
Housing forms the third major element of Councillor Harrison’s appeal where the council leader is asking the Government to support councils in delivering a new generation of council-owned housing, increasing the supply of affordable homes available to local residents.
However, the letter also calls for stronger safeguards surrounding HMOs and out-of-area placements.
The issue of people being accommodated outside their own council area has increasingly become a concern, particularly where placements can create additional pressure on housing, health, social care and other local services without necessarily being accompanied by additional funding.
Councillor Harrison’s position is that increasing housing supply should therefore go alongside measures designed to prevent individual communities carrying what they consider to be a disproportionate burden.
Prime Minister invited to Hartlepool
With the Prime Minister currently touring parts of the country, Councillor Harrison has also issued an invitation for him to visit Hartlepool.
The council leader wants the Prime Minister to meet local residents, businesses, community organisations and council representatives and discuss the challenges facing the town.
Councillor Harrison said Hartlepool was ready to contribute towards wider economic growth and housing development but needed greater support from central Government.
He said: “Hartlepool has huge potential and stands ready to play its part in supporting economic growth, delivering new homes and creating opportunities for our residents. What we need is a funding system and policy framework that enables us to do so.”
