Under the Local Government Act 1972 a new non-metropolitan district called Stockton-on-Tees was established, with a larger territory than the pre-1968 borough.

[10][11][12] County-level services were provided by Cleveland County Council until its abolition in 1996, when Stockton-on-Tees became a unitary authority.

In its capacity as a county council it is a local education authority, responsible for social services, libraries and waste disposal.

Following the 2023 election the Conservatives were the largest party, but a minority Labour administration was able to retain control with the informal support of the two smaller parties, the Thornaby Independent Association and the Ingleby Barwick Independent Society.

[26] Until 2020 full council meetings were generally held at Stockton Town Hall in the High Street, which was built in 1735.

[28] In 2021 the council purchased an office building called Dunedin House on Columbia Drive on the south bank of the River Tees in Thornaby, which had been completed in 1992.