Five-year vision for borough

Economic growth and the green agenda are core to the Council Plan – the vision for our borough over the next five years.

The Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Philip Jackson, gave a speech at tonight’s meeting at Grimsby Town Hall proposing the plan, setting out key aims of the Conservative administration.

“Looking ahead over the next five years, this plan sets out the key aims of this Conservative listening council, which has the drive to be aspirational, innovative and bold so that we can fulfil our ambition for the borough,” he told the chamber. “This is the first major refresh of the Council Plan since we took control in 2019, and we have put our stamp firmly on it.

“This is a time of great opportunity for North East Lincolnshire.  Economic growth is being fuelled by the renewable and low carbon energy sectors, alongside major investment in ports and logistics. The most recent and significant development has been the establishment of the Humber Freeport, which would have been impossible without Brexit. Our flagship seafood sector and chemical manufacturing also remain important to the borough.

“This puts us in a unique place to grow through inward investment, skills, innovation, and new jobs. Coupled with our Grimsby Town Deal, which happened under a Conservative Government, and the millions of pounds of grant funding for our urban areas, we have a true and real hope in the decades ahead. This Government’s Levelling Up agenda has the potential to further enhance our prospects.

“We must now work hard, along with our key partners, who have helped develop this plan, to ensure that those living within our communities can benefit, raising aspirations across the board.  We know this will be more difficult in some areas, with significant challenges in our most deprived wards.

“This plan recognises the need to balance economic growth and the green agenda, making sure we take the community with us. By 2030, we want NEL to be a place:

• Where business can sustain and grow.
• Where citizens of all ages live active, healthy, and independent lives, and are much less dependent on government and the council as a result.
• Where young people have choice and are equipped with the skills to exercise that choice, including taking the new, skilled, better paid jobs that are increasing in the borough.
• Where people are proud to live, work, invest and visit.

“NELC’s priorities that contribute to the Outcomes Framework, as set out in this plan, and the wider development of NEL are as follows:

• Regeneration – We will deliver our major programmes and projects focussed on making NEL a better place to live, work, invest and visit. These include the Future High Streets Fund and Towns Fund developments in Grimsby, projects derived from the new Cleethorpes Masterplan, and the various highways and housing schemes included within the Local Development Plan.
• Environment – We will ensure we have the capacity to keep our streets clean, improve the gateways to the borough and maintain our parks and open spaces. We will look at innovative ways to continue to reduce domestic waste generation and increase recycling. Focussing on the wider environment, we will progress the recently adopted low carbon roadmap to deliver a net carbon zero council by 2040 and enable a net carbon zero borough by 2050. 

• Enforcement – We will advocate a zero-tolerance model by continual review of the effectiveness of our delivery models, increasing capacity where needed and increasing police/partnership working that is focussed on outcomes. This administration will continue to make is clear that crime and anti-social behaviour is unacceptable and will not make excuses for perpetrators.

• Education and skills – We will work with education providers to improve secondary attainment, supporting the development of alternative secondary provision where there are clear benefits. I would remind members, and some of the newer ones who may be unaware, that it remains this council’s policy to support the establishment of a grammar school within the borough.

• Children’s services – We will continue to deliver our children’s services’ Transformation Plan, focusing on strengthening early intervention to ensure the best outcomes for families and reducing the number of looked-after children. For those who do need care, we will focus on ensuring their needs are met.

• Adult social care – We will maximise the benefits for North East Lincolnshire through the new Integrated Care Partnership arrangements, building on the legacy of the successful NELC/CCG Union Board arrangements, to join up health and social care provision in a way that makes best use of resources and reduces health inequalities.

• Tackling poor housing – We will work with our communities to develop specific strategies aimed at tackling the issues faced by communities in East and West Marsh, especially in relation to housing.

• Greater Lincolnshire – We will work with colleagues across Greater Lincolnshire to further explore opportunities for collaboration and closer working between the upper tier councils. We will continue our involvement in pursuing a devolution deal to bring increased resources and powers to Greater Lincolnshire.

“All scrutiny panels have been consulted on this Council Plan and I thank members for their contributions to it. It focusses on aspiration, ambition, and innovation to build a stronger economy and stronger communities and I commend it to the chamber.”

The plan was approved.