A FORMER council leader has mounted a savage attack on the progress of major projects on  Teesside – with fears it is “sleepwalking into a new jobs crisis”. 

Labour’s Cllr Sue Jeffrey accused Redcar and Cleveland Council and its leader Cllr Mary Lanigan of “standing on the sidelines” at a marathon three-hour meeting.

And the one time candidate for Tees Valley Mayor reignited her feud with incumbent Conservative Ben Houchen. 

Pointing to almost 4,000 people claiming unemployment benefit in the borough, and low levels of pay, Cllr Jeffrey said the situation wasn’t getting any better. 

She added: “Despite all these programmes, there is real danger that Redcar and Cleveland is facing a new jobs crisis. 

“This time, instead of leading the fightback, we’re standing on the sidelines watching it happen.”

The former leader had backed a motion calling for clarity on the future of the SSI Taskforce – set up in the wake of the steelworks closure where 4,000 jobs were lost. 

And it also outlined “growing concern” over Sirius Minerals, lost jobs at the MGT power station and “failure to secure new investors” at the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC). 

Cllr Jeffrey added: “Last January, the Tees Valley Mayor promised not to raise taxes.

“But he has no compunctions whatsoever about taking our business rates to fund the development corporation which his government has previously promised to pay for. 

“What about the jobs we keep hearing about?

“Carbon Capture and Storage – it’s absolutely crucial to us. If we’re going to start an industrial base and a net-zero carbon future we’ve got to find a way to get the carbon.

“Despite huge pressure from our Labour MPs for more investment, there’s been very little progress made.” 

After the meeting, Mr Houchen hit back at his old opponent – saying the vision for 20,000 jobs on the STDC site was drawn up when Cllr Jeffrey was on its board. 

He also accused Cllr Jeffrey of being wrong when it came to where business rates went – adding half the rates originally intended to go to the government was now being put back into the STDC site.  

Mr Houchen said one investor was in the final stage of signing up to coming onto the STDC site – and two planning applications were imminent on the land. 

He also added work on a hydrogen train refuelling station was taking shape on the STDC site. 

Mr Houchen added: “The problem is Sue has never learned from when she ran for mayor or the result of the last local election – she has no positive vision for the area.

“And all she wants to do is talk the area down and bring up the spectre of the area being on its knees. 

“But that’s far from the truth – she needs to reflect on her behaviour and the damaging message she is sending out to businesses on Teesside.”

Cllr Lanigan said she was surprised at the criticism accusing Labour of “making political capital” out of the troubles.

The motion failed.