New South Tyneside Council leader sets out priorities for 2021 after baptism of fire

In any year, Tracey Dixon would have been forced to hit the ground running after taking over the top job at South Tyneside Council following the shock resignation of her long-serving predecessor Iain Malcolm.

But faced with the fallout from a global pandemic, the former deputy is mulling a two-pronged approach in 2021 following her baptism of fire.

She said: “I can’t single out one area to focus on in particular, but [there are] two that would be really important to me – the health and support for vulnerable residents and the economy.

“I want people to live longer and I want them to have the right support.

“I want our businesses in this borough to thrive and to come back and bounce back and survive.

“I really feel for the businesses, but I understand health is important too.”

With a background in the hospitality industry, one of the sectors hit hardest by coronavirus, as well as previous council jobs overseeing elements of health and social care, the Whitburn and Marsden councillor is at least already well versed in the issues facing the borough in 2021.

She also cited the planned introduction of a freephone number for homeless services, following campaigning by singer-songwriter Sam Fender.

Cllr Dixon stepped into the breach vacated by her former boss, ex-council leader Iain Malcolm, in November 2020, after his sudden departure from both the local authority and the Labour Party.

The former councillor had also faced claims he left two of the council’s most senior employees feeling ‘fearful, bullied and controlled’.

And while she refused to pass comment on her predecessor, Cllr Dixon has promised a ‘cultural shift’ in the corridors of power.

She said: “I’m not one to give false promises, but I can always promise that I will listen to the residents.

“If we get it wrong, we’ll hold our hands up and say, we’ve got it wrong.

“It’s going to be baby steps – they’ve got to be able to look at me as a new leader and be able to trust us.”

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