From good health news to primary academies, here is the statement to full council made by Leader Coun Philip Jackson at the latest meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council:
The situation remains uncertain over the future of Prax Lindsey Oil. This refinery provides 10% of the UK’s crude oil refining capacity and is strategic infrastructure, as well as being hugely important to the local economy. We are receiving mixed messages about potential buyers, but local politicians at all levels continue to exert pressure on both Government and the official receivers to try to ensure the site remains fully operational.
We continue to work with our neighbouring upper tier councils in Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire to develop a common narrative as to how local government reorganisation might look across Greater Lincolnshire. North East Lincolnshire’s public engagement has recently closed, with nearly 1500 responses. We are about to start a round of engagement with local businesses. The outcome of both engagements will help inform this council’s proposals. Group Leaders continue to meet regularly to oversee progress, and members will be aware that a special full council has been called on November 12 to consider our proposal document.
Turning now to Grimsby’s rapidly changing town centre. With most of the demolition of the western end of Freshney Place complete, the leisure scheme development is on time and on budget. Work continues at pace on the site of the proposed new transport hub. The demolition of the structures on Osborne Street is complete. Material is currently being sorted on site before removal. Overall, the demolition project is 85% complete and is on time and within budget. The public consultation for the provision of facilities within the transport hub closed on 19th September and I would like to thank everyone who responded.
Combatting crime and the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour in the town centre is essential if we want to see footfall continuing to increase. Operation Mastery, a very effective partnership between the police and the council, has achieved remarkable results when comparing 23/24 to 24/25. Overall crime is down 5%. All theft has reduced by 9% with retail theft down 3%. Cycle theft is down 47%. Violence with injury is down 23% and stalking and harassment down 29%. ASB has reduced by14%, whilst alcohol-related ASB is down 51%.Sanction detections have increased 40% from 185 to307, driven by the team’s intelligence-led approach and their ability to identify and target high-harm offenders. These outcomes are not only statistically significant but also reflect the team’s relentless effort and strategic focus.
The Operation Mastery team have also undertaken a number of very effective days of action over the past 18 months. There have been 59 arrests, 476 stop searches with 52 positive outcomes, action against 66 PSPO breaches and 60 parking enforcement reports. However, it is recognised that there is still much do, and we will continue the relentless tackling of crime and disorder in the town centre.
Cleethorpes has not been neglected. On the back of an ongoing review of resort management arrangements, a Resort Task Force has been established with dedicated resource to clean and smarten up the resort. To date, this has included repairing to all wooden benches along North andCentral Promenade and the Boating Lake and partnering with Probation Community Payback to have them re-painted and re-varnished. A regular jet washing regime is now in place for promenades and the Boating Lake, including regular bin cleaning. There has been repainting of promenade bollards, slipway gates and road markings. Flower containers are being reintroduced to the North Promenade. Litter and rubbish is being cleared from the Boating Lake. In combination, these initiatives are making a significant improvement.
Let us not forget Immingham. The new owners of Kennedy Way are already improving this important shopping facility with retail premises being re-opened.
This month has seen the opening of two new primary academies in Waltham and at Scartho Top, part of the ongoing improvement in the education offer to young people across North East Lincolnshire.
Turning now to good news on health. North East Lincolnshire has been selected as the only location with the Humber and North Yorkshire ICB footprint to pilot the new National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. It will be focussed on Immingham and East and West Marsh. This involvesformalising and scaling integrated neighbourhood working, using data and co-production to improve outcomes for people with multiple long-term conditions, while reshaping funding, workforce and estates to sustain the shift from hospital to community care. This initiative also aligns with our Marmot Place status.
Council asked me to keep you updated on the Ukrainian refugee situation. Since its inception, NEL has received 154 people through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. The application process is still open but arrivals to NEL are few. The team is still supporting 30 people residing with sponsors and 77 living independently. 47 people have left the area. The scheme provided an initial 3 years leave to remain plus an 18-month extension. A furtherannouncement has been made that this will be extended by an additional 24 months. The Ukraine Permission Extension scheme launched in February 2024. This does not come with any additional funding, and the previous Homes for Ukraine grant is used to facilitate any further work. 25 people have moved on to the extension scheme. We are now in the fourth year of Russian aggression against Ukraine and NEL continues to be supportive of the Ukrainian people and those who have come here. We are sympathetic to the suffering of Ukraine,recognise the threat this conflict poses to a wider Europe and continue to fly the Ukrainian flag over this town hall.
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