The Borough of Middlesbrough is a unitary authority area with borough status in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England, based around the town of Middlesbrough in the north of the county. Middlesbrough Council became a unitary authority in 1996. The borough is part of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, along with the boroughs of Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland, Hartlepool and Darlington. There are two parish councils in the area of the borough of Middlesbrough, Nunthorpe and Stainton and Thornton respectively.