Monthly Archive 29 May 2020

Council and Clinical chiefs have expressed their gratitude to members of the public, local businesses and community groups who have donated items of PPE and supplies to help with the ongoing effort to fight COVID-19.

Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Councillor Philip Jackson, Chief Clinical Officer at North East Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, Dr Peter Melton, and NAViGO chief executive, Jane Lewington, said in a joint statement:

“The outpouring of donations that we and the NHS has received in the local area has been truly heart-warming.

“It is great to see that in times of great need, people, businesses and community groups can pull together and work to defeat this virus.

“We have had lots of donations, from food parcels for the vulnerable to pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for key workers, and food and snacks for frontline medical staff.

“People in our communities have scraped together the resources at their disposal to make and donate useful items – one man and his team of friends used their 3D printers to produce and donate hundreds of full face visors for frontline workers.

“These are very trying times and many in our area are finding it difficult – loneliness and isolation, anxiety and fear are commonplace – acts of compassion like these remind us that people care and want to help.”

Associated British Ports (ABP) and Phillips 66 donated quantities of Personal Protective Equipment at the start of the pandemic.

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis, which has a plant in North East Lincs, donated a haul of protective masks and safety glasses to the effort, and BJB Lift Trucks loaned a pallet truck to help with moving supplies around the borough.

Lynes of Lincolnshire Removals & Storage have also been volunteering as part of the effort, using their removal vans to deliver PPE and equipment to where it is needed most.

And that generosity has not stopped at North East Lincolnshire’s borders – a firm in Birmingham donated some 500 protective gowns to St Andrew’s Hospice in Grimsby.If you would like to donate any protective clothing or equipment to the COVID-19 relief effort, you can contact the Council at CSSU@nelincs.gov.uk or to donate to North East Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, contact nelccg.oncall@nhs.net

Article from NELC.

Charges in place in public toilets in the resort of Cleethorpes are set to be lifted following a decision by the Council.

All of the borough’s public toilets have a charge of 20p per use, but the charges will now be scrapped across the resort.

Money raised from the charges has helped to pay for the upkeep of the toilets along with the costs from any incidents of vandalism.

To fund the move, Councillors have agreed to close the public toilets on Grant Street in Cleethorpes and look at options with business and community leaders for opportunities with the North Promenade and retaining the Boating Lake toilets.

This will see all the remaining toilets in Cleethorpes become free-to-use.

Speaking about the decision, Councillor John Fenty, deputy leader and portfolio holder for regeneration, skills and housing at North East Lincolnshire Council said: “As a seaside resort, we’re keen to do all we can to attract more people to our area and make it an even better place to visit. I’m pleased to be able to announce that the toilets across the resort will soon be free to use for members of the public.

“We are looking forward to the current pandemic ending so we can get outside, enjoy the sunshine and welcome visitors to our resort.”

There are currently nine public conveniences in the borough. The majority of these toilets will still be managed by Danfo.

Article from NELC.

Council leader Philip Jackson has clarified inaccuracies in a newspaper article about the redundancy of two members of staff in NELC’s Children’s Services.

North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire Councils have strengthened their historic ties across Lincolnshire by committing to sole membership of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership following a review of LEP boundaries.

The Greater Lincolnshire LEP will continue in its current form and will also include Rutland County Council (as announced last week).

In 2018 the Government asked all LEPs in England to consider their geographical boundaries and to remove geographical overlaps with other LEPs to ensure clear local business leadership and effectiveness. 

Until now the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and the Humber LEP have overlapped, and North and North East Lincolnshire have been members of both LEPs. 

The Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, Pat Doody, said: “We are very pleased that North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council have clearly indicated their intention to become full members of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP.

“The proposed LEP reorganisation will remove ambiguity for businesses, education and the third sector about which LEP to work with. However, real and tangible collaboration will be needed between the two LEPs to ensure that ambitions of the Humber estuary and the wider area continue to be realised regionally and nationally in areas such as freeports and decarbonisation.

“We look forward to working even more closely with our partners on both sides of the Humber to establish a model for the future which will allow us to realise the full economic potential of the Humber.”

Councillor Philip Jackson, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said the authority was focused on further developing ties to Greater Lincolnshire.

“That includes being a key partner in the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, as well as working towards a combined authority in Greater Lincolnshire to create future prosperity for the area,” he explained.

“However, it’s vital that we also maintain and enhance economic collaboration around the Humber in key strategic business sectors like renewable energy, ports and logistics and chemicals.

“Over a number of years our position has been pragmatic – about trying to ensure the best for the people of this area – and indeed several years ago we supported the original idea for a Greater Lincolnshire body because we thought it was the best for our area.

“We’ve continued to develop relationships with our colleagues there, as well as collaborating in the Humber region and beyond, all with the intention of ensuring we get the best of any deals for our residents. That has resulted in exciting initiatives such as the Town Deal, which is bringing millions of pounds of investment into the borough.

“That approach will remain the case in moving forward with any proposals, which would have to be fully considered by both the Council’s Cabinet and Full Council.”

Councillor Rob Waltham MBE, Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We are looking forward to working even more closely than we already do with our partners across Lincolnshire to build on the many successful projects and developments.

“Of course, we will continue to work closely with partners across the Humber where it makes sense to do so.

“We have seen huge investments of Government cash in North Lincolnshire through the Greater Lincolnshire LEP and will continue do so in relation to infrastructure, skills and education and business support.

“As we move through 2020 and emerge post-Covid-19 we will be stronger together as we take advantage of the business and jobs opportunities that will come.

“At the heart of that will be how we continue to deliver against the economic growth plan for North Lincolnshire, further improving connectivity and supporting businesses to grow so they can create jobs and drive even greater prosperity for the people here.

“We can better keep people safe and well, our communities will flourish and we can support the local economy to grow through closer and stronger bonds with our partners across our county.”

Councillor Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “This is a significant step in helping to get Greater Lincolnshire and our major contribution to the country’s economy recognised at a national level. 

“At the end of last year, Lincolnshire County Council, North and North East Lincolnshire Councils agreed to work together more closely and collaborate wherever we can. This latest development reinforces our commitment to do the best for our residents and businesses and work innovatively. 

“I look forward to our LEP achieving even more with a stronger, clearer voice for our area.”

Local Enterprise Partnerships were created in England in 2010 to drive local economic growth. The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is led by influential private and public sector leaders, acting as champions for the area’s economic challenges and successes. 

There are 38 LEPs across England which work with central Government and the private sector to invest in infrastructure, skills, innovation and productivity.

There will now be a short transition period agreed between the two LEPs to ensure a smooth transition for the future.

A year ago this week, the Conservatives took the reins of North East Lincolnshire. It was an historic local election; for the first time in the borough’s history, it came under majority Conservative control. Here, leader Philip Jackson reflects on the progress made in the last twelve months…

One year ago today, the Conservatives took the reins of North East Lincolnshire Council. Here, Peter Sutherland, who recently stepped down as chairman of the Cleethorpes Conservatives Association, reflects on the last twelve months.

On the first anniversary of the Conservatives taking the reins of North East Lincolnshire Council, here is a message from the chairman of the Cleethorpes Conservative Association, David Hornby.

Today, on the first anniversary of the Conservatives taking the reins of North East Lincolnshire Council, here is a message from Steve Holland, the chairman of the Great Grimsby Conservative Association.

Today marks the first anniversary of the Conservatives taking the reins of North East Lincolnshire Council – a Conservative majority for the first time in the borough’s history.

A MAJOR milestone in North East Lincolnshire’s industrial transformation was taken this week as work started on a multi-million-pound build at the new Stallingborough Business Park.

With flagship tenants, booming Lincolnshire firm myenergi, relocating to the new building the groundworks have begun on the 15,500 sqft light industrial unit.

Delighted regeneration chiefs at North East Lincolnshire Council, and its regeneration partner ENGIE, have been working with myenergi for months to ensure the building met the firm’s needs and planning permission was granted last December.

It will comprise of office space, with capacity for product development and research. There is also an option to build an adjoining large production area and warehouse, to meet myenergi’s ambitious plans to double its workforce to 120 people by 2021.

“By 2021 we are looking to a staff of between 100 and 120, from our current 60 and these jobs will not just be for the product itself, but in HR, marketing, sales and technical expertise. It’s such a huge opportunity,” said Jordan Brompton, who co-founded myenergi, alongside Managing Director Lee Sutton.

The firm, behind electric vehicle charging and smart supply energy solutions, is currently based in Binbrook. It will be temporarily moving into the old Wickes premises on Alexandra Retail Park, Grimsby, awaiting completion of the new HQ, which is due in the early summer of next year.

North East Lincolnshire’s Head of Regeneration, Cllr John Fenty said the start on site was evidence of the authority’s continued commitment to transforming North East Lincolnshire’s fortunes for the next generation, using its £42-million SHIIP (South Humber Industrial Investment Programme) as the driver.

SHIIP it is the most ambitious industrial project in North East Lincolnshire’s history. Funded by a blend of council investment and grants, it comprises of the new Business Park and A1173 highway improvements, a new £8m link road on the South Humber Bank, and the creation of a unique and award-winning wildlife mitigation site.

“We have to be bold, innovative and brave if we are to grow as an area and I am delighted that this project is finally hitting the ground. The whole SHIIP programme is incredibly important in terms of bringing local jobs to local people and this will provide the first tangible results. We’ve a long way to go to make sure that the business park fulfils its potential, but with this building being constructed with a tenant already secured, I’m sure others will follow,” said Cllr Fenty.

This first building is being constructed with the aid of £950k from the Government’s Local Growth Fund, secured by the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership as part of the Government’s commitment to the Northern Powerhouse, to build a flagship building on the site. This will create in excess of 80 jobs, and will attract more investment to the area

Interim Chair of the Humber LEP, Stephen Parnaby OBE, said: “We are very pleased to be allocating this funding towards a facility that will help to establish advanced engineering manufacturing in Stallingborough.

“The manufacturing sector is one of huge importance to our region – and is an area we have highlighted in our Humber Industrial Strategy as essential to the future growth of the region. We hope this unit not only provides jobs for local people as the project is completed, but also helps to attract further businesses to the Stallingborough site.”

Geo Houlton, a Hull based company, won the competitive tender to build the unit for North East Lincolnshire Council. Founded in Hull in 1879, Houlton employs more than 130 staff, and has completed many projects throughout Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

Andrew Kingston, Managing Director of Geo Houlton, said: “We are delighted to be working with North East Lincolnshire Council to deliver this project. The project is part of a wider scheme to regenerate Stallingborough Interchange, creating around 3000 jobs so we are extremely proud to have been selected by the authority to play a part in delivering their long-term objective.”

Meanwhile, plans are in their final stages for the next phase of improvement works to the A1173 with a new roundabout providing access to the business park. Further details will be released shortly.

Article and image from NELC.