Teesworks: We need to clear the Teesside air

The Teesside air has to be cleared.

The make-up of the inquiring panel and its terms of reference have yet to be published, so the full details are not yet known, but Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove is making the right noises about addressing the “serious allegations of corruption, wrongdoing and illegality”. He also says that the inquiry will look at “the value achieved for the investment of public money on the site”, and this seems crucial.

The public do care primarily about results – about seeing the jobs and the businesses on this once derelict piece of land – but they also care about how they have been created.

Mr Gove’s letter also talks much about the processes by which mayors, combined authorities and development corporations are scrutinised. These are new bodies, but the drift to devolution means that will become more important, so it is to be hoped that the inquiry can give pointers as to how they, and their future developments, will not become embroiled in such difficulties.

Teesworks is enormously important for the future of the economy of our region. It is also happening extremely quickly, with the Government encouraging it along to prove that its “levelling up” slogan has some meaning.

But the allegations and the perception have hit the confidence of investors, and indeed the reputation of the Tees Valley. There are some key points that need to be explained before either can fully return, and a rapid independent inquiry is the best way to get to the truth of Teesworks.