“No link” between Ben Houchen’s TVCA and Houchen-chaired Hartlepool Development Corporation

HDC board member Brenda McLeish OBE is also in charge of Learning Curve Group (LCG) - a company that provides training for adults. According to TVCA expenditure reports, LCG received £82,995.62 in grant funding via eight payments from TVCA during the first quarter of 2023.

Meanwhile, Orangebox Solutions, another skills and training company, has received £73,236.87 during the same time period. Its owner, Simon Corbett, is also a member of the HDC board.

There are no concerns about the legitimacy of the awarding of public funding to either LCG or Orangebox.

Declaration of interest forms are filled by all board members on their appointment, and ask if there is: “Any contract for goods, services or works made between the Development Corporation and you or a firm in which you are a partner, a company of which you are a remunerated director.”

It is impossible for the Development Corporation to tender any contracts before its establishment and the appointment of its board.

Mr Corbett told The Yorkshire Post: “When I was first appointed to the HDC Board, I completed a Declaration of Interests form. I was advised that these forms are published on TVCA’s website and, as such, there is no requirement to Declare those specific interests at the start of every Board meeting.”

Ms McLeish declined to comment.

Membership of the HDC board is made up by Conservative mayor Ben Houchen, who chairs the group, along with four local business people, Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner, and councillor Shane Moore - who retains his place despite standing down as council leader before HDC’s second meeting.

A TVCA spokesperson said: "The Hartlepool Mayoral Development Corporation is a separate public body to the Tees Valley Combined Authority and, while TVCA officers help manage the administration of the HDC at the moment, there is no controlling link between the two bodies.

"Board members submit a declaration of interests form upon appointment and any interests are only declared in meetings when they relate to agenda items, and none of the agenda items in the two meetings related to these topics. This is standard practice as with any local council or other public body. Neither of the two HDC board members are members of the TVCA."

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Both these companies make an outstanding contribution to Hartlepool and its local economy and we make no criticism of them. But, once again, when it comes to the Conservative Party in our town and beyond they just seem incapable of openness, transparency or accountability. Their consistent failure is undermining opportunities for investment in Hartlepool.”