Hartlepool Council chief retires after 30 years in local government

Denise McGuckin stepped down as Hartlepool Borough Council’s retiring chief executive on Friday (April 24), bringing to a close a three-decade journey that began as a recycling officer and culminated in her leading the organisation through some of its most challenging and transformative years.

She had served as chief executive since August 2020 after starting out as a recycling officer in June 1996, working her way up through various roles including environmental services manager and director of regeneration and neighbourhoods.

Mrs McGuckin, 63, said retiring is “bittersweet” but “definitely the right decision” and she will leave with “very fond memories”.

She said: “Hartlepool Borough Council is a great organisation to work for and it’s been very good to me, over those years I’ve met many friends and seen some amazing things happen and seen the town change. 

“Hartlepool people are amazing. We’re a very proud borough, and the only people who can knock us are ourselves. “

She reflected that the council has “changed significantly” over the past 30 years, with highlights during her time with the local authority including securing over £160 million of investment in the borough and making great strides in terms of recycling.

She added she is “extremely proud” that the council has this year been named the sixth most productive in the country.

Mrs McGuckin said: “It is about the people who regularly do more than one job, who will go the extra mile, who do not just work nine to five and give absolutely everything.

“Seeing the Northern School of Art and The Northern Film and TV studios, who would have thought the BBC would be doing dramas being filmed in Hartlepool in what was the council’s depot when I started?

“Bringing the National Museum of the Royal Navy here in the 90s, it’s just fabulous really if you think of all the different things that we’ve done.”

Shortly after taking over as chief executive, she helped guide the council through “one of the most challenging periods in its history” in the Covid-19 pandemic – which saw her delivering food parcels to those in need.

Mrs McGuckin added: “One thing that will stay with me forever is how well the council responded during the pandemic and how officers overnight had to restructure services.”

She highlighted managing the council finances as the biggest test –  noting local government “is not funded properly”.

She added: “Having to make cuts to services which we know residents desperately respect and want to keep is really hard.”

One of the things she said she will not miss is social media and “the lies and myths that are spread about Hartlepool Borough Council”.

She added the local authority and the borough are in a good position for the future and the new chief executive Matt Wilton will be “an absolute brilliant asset for the organisation”.

She added: “I think the best years are to come for Hartlepool I genuinely do, I think we are leaving it in a fabulous state, with a fabulous vision. 

“I will be looking with fondness to see how the town develops and grows.”

The mother-of-three added she is looking forward to swimming at the new Highlight Active Wellbeing Hub and recalls memories of visiting the Mill House pool in the first week it opened while growing up in the area.

In retirement Mrs McGuckin, who lives in Wynyard, said she is looking forward to spending more time with her four grandchildren, along with travelling with her husband in their motorhome.