Organisational Improvement Plan

Tees Valley Combined Authority is committed to continuous improvement. In response to the Best Value Notice served on TVCA in April 2025, the organisation has created an Improvement Plan and ongoing Action Plan to address these issues and become an exemplar organisation. It is working alongside an Independent Advisory Board which will act as a critical friend, supporting and challenging TVCA as it implements its Action Plan.

In February 2026, TVCA chief executive Tom Bryant completed a Self-Reflective Review assessing progress in the delivery of the Organisational Improvement Plan. This review can be accessed here: TVCA Organisational Improvement Plan – Progress update

On this page, you can click on the subjects below to read the latest achievements against our plan.

To read our previous updates, please click on the accordions below.

Partnerships and Continuous Improvement

Embed a culture of continuous improvement and a collaborative approach to long-term priority setting and planning, working closely with local authorities.

  • Continued embedding of the communications and engagement approach.
  • April: draft strategy work and engagement progressed.
  • May: notable progress included:
    • Business Board established
    • perceptions survey development underway
    • draft external communications strategy shared with partners
  • Strong progress continued in monitoring, oversight and improvement planning.
  • April:
    • implementation trackers and themed plans strengthened
  • May:
    • Improvement Plan Progress Report presented to the Independent Advisory Board
    • continued work on workforce development strategy and implementation roadmap
    • Continued development of organisation operating model
  • Continuous Improvement remains well established, with monitoring and reporting arrangements now embedded and broader organisational development work progressing.

Use of Resources

Review all finance processes and procedures, develop and implement a workforce development strategy and produce a readiness plan for fiscal devolution.

  • Good progress continued, particularly around finance recovery and audit response.
  • April:
    • proposed finance structure and recruitment needs presented to IAB
    • new budget timetable and process improvement implementation progressed
  • May:
    • update to Audit & Governance Committee on accounts/audit progress
    • finance process mapping group in place
    • procurement for external finance review considered
    • workforce development activity for finance continued

Governance

Review all Governance processes and procedures and key documents such as the TVCA Constitution. Review and strengthen Cabinet portfolio roles, decision-making processes, statutory committees and their facilitation.

  • his theme saw significant activity in both April and May.
  • April:
    • draft Single Assurance Framework presented to Cabinet and submitted for review to MHCLG
    • draft Annual Governance Statements (AGS) completed
    • informal Cabinet/workshop template developed
    • governance and constitution review activity advanced
    • code of conduct and publication scheme reviews progressed
  • May:
    • Cabinet engagement sessions on SAF and constitution review
    • internal SAF implementation group established
    • draft AGS presented to A&G Committee
    • code of conduct benchmarking completed and independent persons recruitment progressed
    • wider governance process/policy review continued

Culture

Undertake a programme of Organisational Development, ensure TVCA values are embedded through everyday activity, increase staff engagement and improve relationships between management and all staff.

  • Culture continued to move well, with strong staff engagement and OD activity.
  • April:
    • change management activity commenced
    • leadership charter and OD analysis work progressed
    • appraisal and induction improvements advanced
    • outdoor/wellbeing spaces and staff engagement activities implemented
  • May:
    • new Social Charter drafted
    • staff survey issued
    • values embedded further through survey structure and induction materials
    • work on the workforce development strategy and leadership development continued

Progress Update

May 2026

Previous Progress Updates

March/April 2026

February 2026

January 2026

November/December 2026

October

September

August

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