Budget speech from the leader of the council

Budget speech from the leader of the council

Tonight’s full council meeting at Cleethorpes Town Hall saw the Conservative-led administration present its budget.

Leader Councillor Philip Jackson has this evening told the chamber of the significant improvements made in many areas since the Tories took the majority on NELC last May and also made some announcements.

  • We are looking at removing the charges to use the toilets in Cleethorpes from April, so it will once again be free to spend a penny.
  • Major changes to the way recycling is collected will be introduced next year.
  • We are exploring the restoration of the council tax discount for Special Constables – a discount that was withdrawn by the previous Labour administration.
  • A Resort Manager has been appointed for Cleethorpes.
  • A planning application to regenerate the long-derelict West Haven Maltings on Garth Lane into an Onside Youth Zone facility is expected in the next few weeks.
  • This summer, Grimsby town centre will host the inaugural Festival Of The Sea.
  • Additional resources for the council’s children’s services.

Here is Councillor Jackson’s speech in full:

“This is the first budget of the first majority Conservative administration of North East Lincolnshire. During our first ten months in office, we’ve essentially been operating with the budget we inherited from the last Labour administration, albeit we have been able to flex within the budget envelopes. This has made it more difficult to pursue our objectives, but we have still managed to achieve significant improvements in many areas.

“Last May we were elected on a manifesto and we also pledged to be a listening administration. Since May we have already made good progress with many of our manifesto commitments and the budget, commissioning plan and outcomes framework that is in front of you tonight will enable us to make significant further progress. The feedback we’re getting from the residents of North East Lincolnshire is that they support our direction of travel. They want common sense, effective and efficient local government. That has been our focus during our first ten months and will continue next year.

“I want to spend a few minutes touching on a few of the highlights of the budget and then let my portfolio holders provide more detail. On highways, we have been able to find a way to retain Tollbar roundabout, which was one of our manifesto pledges and played such a pivotal role in last May’s elections. The improvements to that roundabout to meet capacity demands and tackle congestion are included within next year’s budget. There are also many other exciting highways improvements that will address congestion and improve road safety, including the ongoing works to install a new roundabout at the junction of Cambridge Road and Littlecoates Road and the major upgrade of the A18. 

“In our manifesto, we pledged to restore pride to the borough. Improving the street scene was a key aspect of this.  By changing how we operate and bringing about efficiencies, we have already made significant improvements to grass cutting, weed control, litter collection and grounds maintenance. However, we recognise there is still a long way to go and next year’s budget enables us to devote more resources to this priority area and accelerate the improvements we have already been able to deliver.

“For many years, under the previous Labour administration, North East Lincolnshire performed poorly with regard to recycling of domestic waste. One of our key manifesto pledges was to make recycling easier and improve recycling rates, and we have just completed a major public consultation. Tonight, we can announce major changes to the way recycling is collected, to be introduced next year, enabling us to meet people’s wishes and boost recycling rates.

“A key part of our manifesto pledge to restore pride in the borough was to increase enforcement around littering, fly-tipping, dog fouling and anti-social behaviour. We have already significantly stepped up this activity, but next year’s budget enables us to do even more, particularly in Grimsby town centre, essential if we want to encourage increased footfall. The work we have done to date clearly has the support of local people. As part of our campaign against crime and anti-social behaviour, I can also announce that we are exploring the restoration of the council tax discount for Special Constables, a discount that was withdrawn by the previous Labour administration. This will bring us back in line with the three other unitary councils within the Humberside Police Authority footprint.

“There has always been cross-party recognition of the importance of economic development and regeneration within North East Lincolnshire if we are to provide jobs and prosperity for our residents and increase our tax base to enable us to deliver the improved services people have told us they want. In recent months, the pace of these projects, including the very important South Humber Industrial Investment Programme (SHIIP) has accelerated.

“I can make two important announcements relating to Cleethorpes. Firstly, we have appointed a Resort Manager, a post that has been needed for a long time and one that will be welcomed by businesses and traders within the resort. Secondly, we are exploring the removal of the charges on public toilets in Cleethorpes as from April, so that, once again, it will be free to spend a penny. That will undoubtedly please visitors, local people and businesses in the resort and make it a more attractive destination.

“We need to do more to regenerate and increase footfall in Grimsby town centre. As part of the Town Deal, the long-derelict West Haven Maltings on Garth Lane are to be regenerated to provide an Onside Youth Zone facility which will kick-start activity, boost confidence in the town centre and provide a great facility for our young people. We are expecting a planning application for this exciting project within the next few weeks. Linked to this are the public realm improvements for the Garth Lane and town centre areas which have been out to public consultation and are included in next year’s programme. Grimsby town centre is a key focus for this Conservative administration and this summer will see the staging of the inaugural Festival Of The Sea, attracting tourists and locals into the town centre to boost confidence, footfall and trade.  

“This administration continues to focus on children’s services, ensuring vulnerable children across the borough are kept safe. The budget before us tonight provides additional resources to meet increased demand, an increase that authorities up and down the country are experiencing. However, this additional money is also to enable transformation of the service to address the problems we found when we took control of the council in May.  It’s vital that we put children’s services on a more sustainable footing, including stepping up plans to bring out-of-area children back into the borough.  This is better for children and their families and saves considerable money.

“Turning now to another of our vital services: adult social care. We have made improvements to this service and will be taking advantage of the two per cent adult social care precept again this year, something we have always supported in the past when we were in opposition, as we recognise the growing demands.

“Finally, I would like to thank officers and portfolio holders for all the hard work which has gone into producing the budget, commissioning plan and outcomes framework that is on the table tonight, as well as the helpful input from other members via the informal and formal scrutiny processes.

“As a Conservative administration, we have listened – and continue to listen – to the residents of North East Lincolnshire. This budget focusses on delivering the efficient and effective frontline services they want, promotes regeneration and industrial development in our key towns of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham and continues to address the manifesto commitments that won us the local elections last May.”

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