Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council have been a passionate supporter and key part of our place promotional work since it began in earnest in 2017. Below, we catch up with the council’s Managing Director, John Sampson, who talks about what the council does and his vision for the future.
Can you tell me about your organisation?
Redcar & Cleveland, as a borough, has a bit of everything, at the one end being the welcome to North Yorkshire and the moors, at the other being at the economic centre of Tees Valley, with beautiful coastline sandwiched in between.
What makes the area what it is though, is the 136,500 people who live here and make it their home. It is the council’s job, alongside partners to provide vital public services which make a difference to these people. The council wants the best for the area and the people who live here.
As a Council we do lots of different things for a variety of people, whether they live and/or work in the borough, or just visiting the area – some of the key activities per annum are:
- 4,127,220 – Bins emptied
- 119,908 – Visits to Kirkleatham Museum
- 67,794 – Tonnes of waste collected
- 1,886 – Businesses supported
- 868 – Planning applications decided
- 382 – Weddings conducted
- 35 – Notices served on housing conditions
- 9 – Successful closure notices
What is the best thing about your organisation?
The people who work here, just their total enthusiasm to help others and to bring success to the area for all – I have just had the pleasure of announcing some internal awards for performance excellence, e.g. Team of the year, employee of the year etc…. and the stories that sit behind these teams and individuals are amazing – it real is what a Council is about and simply the best thing about the organisation – our people.
What is the proudest achievement in your career?
My proudest achievement is being asked to lead the Council as its first Managing Director in 2019. In terms of an event, they do say out of adversity comes opportunity and success – the Council suffered a horrific Cyber Attack in February 2020, just before the Covid epidemic hit us in March 2020 – being able to steer the Council and our communities through these times and thus emerging stronger, bringing teams and people together for the Council and the borough, made me proud.
What are you looking forward to in the next 12 months, from your organisation’s perspective?
Redcar & Cleveland is on the verge of an economic renaissance, with some of the most significant industrial regeneration activity in the country taking place within the borough. This is forecast to bring thousands of good and well-paid jobs.
Whilst the full benefits of this are still some way off, when they do come to fruition it will be transformational for the area, bringing prosperity which will help to address some of the most significant challenges facing the area, which include higher than national unemployment levels, a lower-than-average weekly wage, as well as higher rates of child poverty.
What would you say is the best thing about Redcar and Cleveland?
The complete diversity of the area, from the rural countryside to our fabulous coastline and even the stunning vista of our industry, which is changing and developing day after day – the ability for an area to provide for your employment, a beautiful place to live and activities to participate in when you visit us.
Check out Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, on their social media channels, below:
Website: Redcar & Cleveland Council
Facebook: Redcar & Cleveland Council
LinkedIn: Redcar & Cleveland Council
Instagram: Redcar & Cleveland Council
