Teesworks: Accountability and Scrutiny — 7 Jun 2023 at 18:48

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions that the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities provide all papers, advice and correspondence involving Ministers, senior officials and special advisers, including submissions and electronic communications, relating to the decision by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Prime Minister to commission a review into the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s oversight of the South Tees Development Corporation and the Teesworks joint venture, including papers relating to the decision that this review should not be led by the National Audit Office.

“calls for a full and thorough investigation by the National Audit Office and the Public Accounts Committee, as the situation now appears far remote from the business case originally agreed with Government”.

“there is a danger that political parties throw about allegations of corruption”.

“Contracts at the site will be a commercial matter for the companies involved.”-[Official Report, 10 May 2023; Vol. 732, c. 334.]

“PD Ports owns and operates Teesport, the country’s fifth-largest port by tonnage”.

“mulling an audacious takeover of PD Ports”,

“Court papers filed by PD accused the STDC of foul play, claiming its chief operating officer at the time, Jerry Hopkinson, was told by then-STDC board member Paul Booth that the corporation’s intention was to buy the port ‘at a discount’ by denying access to its land and then ‘flip it to make a profit’.”

“were made in a personal capacity”.

“The money to clean up the site will be what it costs. No-one knows what the condition of the site is and although there have been estimates, they are estimates based on guess work. So it is much better to make it clear”-

“central government will pay the clean-up costs and underwrite them whatever the bill comes to.”

“There must be a ledger showing how much scrap has been sold which can put the facts in the open and enable people to judge whether there is any truth in the rumour”-

“joint venture partners lack of experience on size, complexity and hazards associated with the South Tees site”

“differing governance requirements between joint venture partner background and public sector requirement impacting procurement”.

“a transfer of significant risk and rewards”

“to incentivise the required pace of delivery”.

“in return for Teesworks taking on the future development of the site, together with the net future liabilities in preparing the site for tenants”.

“If you want to see what levelling up looks like, come to Teesside.”

Debate in Parliament |