Opinion: Two Senior Officials Leaving in Quick Succession & the Writing Was on the Wall for One of Hartlepool’s Worst Council CEOs…
- teessidetoday
- Nov 19
- 3 min read
One of Hartlepool's worst CEO's will stand down in the summer of 2026.
But Behind the scenes, her departure was already laid out for her with the resignation of two other council officials.
19th November 2025
News broke this week of the departure of Denise McGuckin, Chief Executive of Hartlepool Borough Council, who's set to stand down from her role in the summer of 2026.
On paper, this gives the council around six months to begin the recruitment process for her replacement. In reality, the task may be far more difficult — with many insiders suggesting that very few, if any, senior figures will be willing to take on what has become known locally as Hartlepool’s poisoned chalice. The bleak prediction is that the council could be facing bankruptcy as early as 2028, and whoever steps in will inherit a sinking ship.
A Departure Written Long Before the Announcement
Behind the glossy press release, the truth is far less polished.
McGuckin’s departure had reportedly been in motion for months. According to insiders, Hartlepool Borough Council has been gripped by departmental infighting, collapsing staff morale, and growing resentment towards a leadership team that demanded council staff take on more roles as part of constant restructuring — all while McGuckin’s own pay packet continued to rise...
The apparent 'disconnect' between McGuckin and her senior directors became impossible to ignore. From council cleaners to long-serving senior officials, it seems no one had a good word to say. One official described tensions as “boiling point,” with a growing sense that the CEO’s leadership style had increasingly isolated her from almost every layer of the organisation. Add into the fact that there was ongoing allegations McGuckin was actively 'shielding' some of her closest allies from departmental investigations only made resentment worse towards her & the writing was on the wall that she was set to face her house of cards coming crashing down...
Cuts for Residents — But Not for the CEO
During her five year tenure at one of Teesside's most troubled institutions, McGuckin presided over some of the most severe cuts to council services in recent years.
Street Cleaning, Frontline support, community facilities — all were hit hard. Meanwhile, her own salary continued to move in the opposite direction.
Council workers seen the pattern clearly. Those who dared raise concerns reportedly faced threats of disciplinary action. Others chose instead to speak out anonymously through outlets like The Teesside & Durham Post, laying bare the dysfunction that had engulfed the organisation.
Two Senior Officials Gone — The Real Story Behind Their Departures
The public was told that two senior officials — Sally Robinson and Tony Hanson — simply left for new roles elsewhere. But insiders say otherwise.
Sally Robinson’s exit was the most controversial of all. Six years ago, she oversaw the shambolic administration of discretionary housing payments which resulted in several Hartlepool residents being made homeless. Despite this, she incredibly went on to receive an honour from the King — which many rightly saw as a reward for failure.
Tony Hanson was next to leave, only weeks after Robinson. Officially, he moved on to a business role at Durham County Council. Unofficially, both are said to have seen what was coming: a collapsing management structure, rising internal chaos, and a leadership team whose highest-paid member appeared to be putting in the least effort, but collecting the most wages.
A Legacy of Controversy, Cost, and Decline
There is little doubt that Denise McGuckin will be remembered as one of the most unpopular and ineffective Chief Executives Hartlepool Borough Council has ever had. But her exit will not be cheap. Taxpayers now face the prospect of one final payout, as she takes a last dip into local pockets before her departure.
The only people shedding tears for her exit will be those deluded enough to believe she brought some form of “stability” or “progress” to Hartlepool Borough Council. The reality, supported by evidence and lived experience from those working behind the scenes, is that she became a pariah within the council, a symbol of decline, and a costly burden on the town’s future.
A Final Message
As she prepares to step down in the summer of 2026, The Teesside & Durham Post will close with a simple, pointed statement:
Please, Denise — don’t come back !
