Councillors clash over £20m levelling up cash for Billingham

Labour and Conservative members locked horns in a heated Stockton Council meeting.

Both sides had laid claim to being chiefly responsible for securing the huge sum in the third round of the Levelling Up Fund, after two disappointing knockbacks, while accusing their opponents of doing nothing for the town.

The government said it had awarded the money to “high-quality bids”.

Stockton North Labour MP Alex Cunningham and the council cabinet’s regeneration lead Councillor Nigel Cooke said the success was down to the “bold vision and hard work” of the Labour-led authority’s bid and their tenacious campaigning.

Councillors Bob Cook (left) and Nigel Cooke (right) in Billingham town centre (Image: LDR)

However Conservative parliamentary candidate and deputy group leader Cllr Niall Innes said the government had “put money where its mouth is” after he and Stockton South MP Matt Vickers lobbied for the money.

The public comments were mentioned during a debate about the council’s leadership.

Cllr Marcus Vickers, Conservative member for Billingham West and Wolviston, said: “Nothing surprises me with a group and a council that blame everyone else for their mistakes and take credit for others’ achievements.”

Billingham town centre (Image: LDR)

Cllr Barry Woodhouse, Labour member for Billingham Central, said: “When I hear things like honesty and morality coming from that party over there I cannot believe that.

“They say the Labour Party claims credit for everything. Yes, we do.

Cllr Marcus Vickers (Image: STOCKTON COUNCIL)

“And how they dare mention Billingham when we had a petition going, a campaign going to keep the post office open, then about three or four weeks later, lo and behold, the Conservatives are claiming credit for it.

“This Labour council has just successful achieved £20m for my town. The Tories are trying to claim credit for it.

Councillor Barry Woodhouse (Image: LDR)

“We’ve battled and fought three, four times to get this money. We fought for years to get the money for the station.

“The Tory Party may claim credit but the people out there know it’s just a pack of credit where it’s not due.”

Cllr Nigel Cooke, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Can you remember the bid which people on this side of the house said was poor quality? In the minister’s words, it was one of a number of impressive, high-quality, ready-to-deliver bids.

Billingham town centre (Image: GOOGLE)

“So local Conservatives can’t recognise the worth of this council, can’t recognise the worth of this leadership, but nationally business, government, they recognise what we’re all about.”

Cllr John Coulson, Conservative member for Yarm, said: “It’s a fact. Our MP worked very, very hard to get this money and it was acknowledged in Parliament. He’s a trojan, I’ve never known such a hard-working MP in my life.

“And he and Ben Houchen together have revived Teesside. I went to a meeting yesterday in which it was stated that Teesside was a forgotten area until they got involved.

“I find it abhorrent that Labour should attack a hard-working MP and Ben Houchen. They’ve brought business to the area, a business that’s sorely needed.

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“And as regards Labour taking credit for this, I would suggest going into the countryside, taking a deep whiff. Farmers at this time of the year spread a lot of it. And I would call that absolute bulls**t,” he concluded, prompting groans of disapproval from his opponents.

Mayor Cllr Jim Beall said: “What you say may appear in different places. I think we can avoid the intemperate language.”

Billingham West and Wolviston Conservative Cllr David Reynard said: “With the levelling up for Billingham, fantastic news. I think everyone needs to come together on that.”