THE Chief Executive of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has been awarded a CBE.

Amanda Skelton will celebrate ten years at the council next month, having supported it through the most challenging time in its history.

She previously held senior roles at Newcastle, Sunderland, South Tyneside and Salford Councils where she led on housing development and regeneration.

She joined Redcar in 2007 as the borough faced threats to its steel industry against the backdrop of public sector austerity, which has seen the council downsize by over 1,000 people.

Ms Skelton played a role in negotiating the Tees Valley devolution deal, the establishment of the combined authority, and more recently, the creation of the South Tees Development Corporation.

When SSI collapsed in 2015 she was asked by the Government to chair the SSI Task Force which has created over 1,700 new jobs and helped over 300 people set up new companies as well as providing training and support to thousands of former workers.

Born in Newcastle, Amanda has made her home in Redcar and Cleveland.

She said: “ I love living here and admire the determination and resilience of local people and the ambition and positive drive of the business community."