Applications open for £15k job working 36 days a year

South Tees Development Corporation is responsible for the regeneration of the former Redcar Steelworks – now known as Teesworks

Applications are now open for three jobs involved in the regeneration of Teesside.

The roles have opened up after Conservative Mayor Ben Houchen confirmed he would step down from the three positions at the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) cabinet annual general meeting on June 27.

The TVCA said the three roles would require a commitment of three days a month for a salary of £15,120 per year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

Houchen currently chairs the South Tees, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool development corporations tasked with regenerating the area including the former Redcar Steelworks, now known as Teesworks.

Mayor Ben Houchen said the roles would involve forging "strong partnerships" across the public and private sectors

He said the roles needed "driven individuals" who were "visionary" to forge strong partnerships across the public and private sectors.

Appointments are made by Houchen for a period of up to four years.

The mayor agreed to step aside from the roles after advice from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on 3 April the same day that the TVCA was hit with a Best Value Notice.

The advice explains that the role of the mayor of a combined authority is to establish a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), make appointments to the MDC Board and provide oversight.

In this context, MDC is not to be confused with the Middlesbrough Development Corporation.

The government is clear that legislation does not prevent a mayor from being chair of an MDC, however, "their oversight role is not compatible with them also taking the role of chair.

"The oversight function should be clearly separate from decision making to avoid conflicts of interest."

MDC is advancing projects such as the £200m regeneration of a site in Gresham.

In Hartlepool, the development corporation is playing a role in the planned improvements to the town's film and TV production studios.

Houchen said: "We're looking for visionary, driven individuals who can lead our development corporations at this exciting time and help us get the very best for local people."

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