Hartlepool Borough Council will move to a Leader and Cabinet governance model from Thursday 10 December 2026, after councillors approved the change at a Full Council meeting on 15 October.
The new arrangements will replace the current committee system and align the council with the Government's specified model of governance for local authorities. The Government announced in June 2025 that it would abolish committee systems and require councils currently operating this model to transition to Leader and Cabinet governance.
How the new model will work
Under the Leader and Cabinet model, the Leader of the Council will appoint a Cabinet of councillors responsible for key service areas and executive decisions. Full Council will continue to set the authority's budget and policy framework.
New overview and scrutiny arrangements will ensure decisions are subject to appropriate challenge and review. The Leader and Cabinet model is used by the majority of councils across England and is designed to provide clear leadership, streamlined decision-making and greater accountability.
Implementation support
The Council is being supported throughout the transition by specialists from the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CfGS). A number of cross-party working groups have also been established to help implement the new governance model, bringing together councillors from across the political spectrum alongside council officers.
Councillor Dave Bruce, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said the new model will provide clearer accountability and more transparent decision-making. "Residents can more easily understand who is responsible for the decisions that affect their lives and communities," he said.
Further details on the new governance arrangements, including Cabinet portfolios and areas of responsibility, will be published ahead of implementation on 10 December 2026.