Here is the statement made by Councillor Philip Jackson, the leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, to September’s full meeting.
When this Conservative administration was elected, we said we would listen and we would act. We said we would focus on the regeneration and economic growth agenda; we said we would restore pride and standards across the borough; we said we would protect and promote our heritage; we said would we focus on housing and supporting vulnerable members of our community, continuing to promote closer working between the council and the NHS.
Here’s how we’re listening and how we’re doing in just four months:
Toll Bar roundabout: This was a major election issue across the borough and one that we are frequently asked about. Mr Deputy Mayor, we have listened to the community and put safety first. The full Cabinet was there to agree the implementation of a Toucan crossing on the northern arm of the roundabout, in contrast to only three Labour cabinet members present when the decision to rip up the roundabout was made. Mr Deputy Mayor, the northern arm is the one most used by students and the crossing will afford them safety and priority and will be implemented as a matter of urgency. During the three years of procrastination by the previous Labour administration, no effort was made to address the identified pedestrian safety issues. This measure also permits the retention of the roundabout until further consideration of the strategic aspects of growth and relief of congestion, which are important for the borough, can be made. We will return to Cabinet with further proposals soon.
Pride and standards: the portfolio holder for Environment has worked tirelessly with officers to bring about improvements to the street scene, grass cutting and the look of our Borough. Though there has undoubtedly been improvement, there is still some way to go. We are very alive to the current concerns about the unacceptable level of weed growth across the borough but particularly in residential areas, and we are currently giving this major focus. At the end of the day, we are largely working to a budget and operating practices set by the previous Labour/Liberal Democrat administration which we are having to review, amend and improve as resources permit.
Law abiding residents who have pride in their environment are pleased that we have upped the ante on enforcement, sending a clear message to fly tippers, litter droppers and dog foulers that, if we secure the evidence, they will be prosecuted.
Mr Deputy Mayor, we’ve also seen the disruption, mess and expense caused by illegal gypsy and traveller encampments across the borough over the summer. People are sick and tired of it! The problem persists because the previous Labour administration kicked the can down the road for five years in relation to identifying a designated stopping place. This Conservative administration is grasping the nettle and is determined to identify and implement a designated stopping place at the earliest opportunity. I won’t add anything further at this point as I’m aware there’s a question on notice later tonight’s agenda.
Protecting our heritage: we have some fantastic heritage assets in this Borough, Mister Deputy Mayor, and we need to work with partners and agencies of Government to improve and promote them. Last weekend’s heritage open days were a clear success, including tours of the Port of Grimsby / Kasbah area.
The recent announcement of another £1m of external funding to support the delivery of our Heritage Action Zone with Historic England, focusing on the Kasbah in particular, is another feather in our cap and shows our commitment to supporting SME business development and pride in our Borough.
Housing: We’ve grasped the nettle on the housing agenda, Mr Deputy Mayor, with the portfolio holder securing cabinet approval for a revised and more focused approach to developing our key housing sites, including the former Western School. This will result in better local housing developer engagement and without the bureaucratic, protracted and, frankly, unsuccessful DPP process to which the previous administration was wedded. We’re also looking at innovative ways to bring more empty homes back into use, to try to address what has been a long-standing problem in the older parts of Grimsby and Cleethorpes.
Regeneration and growth: Our Town Deal model has clearly influenced the Government’s recent announcement of the Towns Fund. One hundred towns, including Grimsby, have been shortlisted to develop a prospectus for submission to Government, seeking a share of the £3.6bn fund. Our pioneering Greater Grimsby Town Deal has paved the way for others and our aim is to benefit further, remaining fully focused on sustainable regeneration that benefits local people and local business.
We have also made it into round two of the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, meaning that we’ll receive £150k of capacity funding to support a business case submission to deliver much-needed town centre improvements.
Continuing with the regeneration agenda, Mr Deputy Mayor, culture and the arts can make a major contribution to regeneration. The recent Festival of the Sky not only showcased our wonderful resort of Cleethorpes but also demonstrated our capacity, working with partners, to deliver an international-standard festival. I was able to spend some time in Cleethorpes over that weekend, particularly at the opening events on the Friday evening, and it was great to see so many families enjoying a diverse range of activities spread across the resort. We must build on the success of this event, Mr Deputy Mayor, maximising the use of the Cultural Development Fund to support capacity building in the local, independent cultural sector and retaining the confidence of the Arts Council. Everyone involved with the Festival of the Sky should give themselves a pat on the back.
Public art can divide opinion, Mr Deputy Mayor, but if people are engaging and talking about it, that can only be a good thing. The White Palm proposal is causing a stir but is already raising the profile of our resort and borough. I’m sure it will attract more visitors to the North Prom in particular, a part of the resort which, to date, has enjoyed less public investment. I can remember when the Angel of the North was first contemplated; it was not universally popular, Mr Deputy Mayor, but look how it’s regarded now!
We are actively engaged in shaping and influencing the Local Industrial Strategies of both the Humber and Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnerships. Local Industrial Strategies will be the main route through which external funding will flow to support local economic growth projects, creating jobs and closing the skills gap.
I should also take this opportunity on behalf of the Council, Mr Deputy Mayor, to pay tribute to Lord Haskins, who has announced that will be stepping down as chair of the Humber LEP. He has been a strong supporter of North East Lincolnshire and our ambition for economic growth and we wish him well for the future.
Moving on to council resources Mr Deputy Mayor. The Chancellor recently announced the Spending Round. Ring fenced funding was included in areas such as social care, public health and special educational needs – but we must note that the spending round commits funding for one year only. Fiscal responsibility and strong financial management remain the order of the day for this administration. The Spending Round announcements are welcome but we must not be complacent, continuing to live within our means and invest based on credible business cases only.
One of our major areas of challenge, Mr Deputy Mayor, remains Children’s Services. I recently attended a meeting with our improvement adviser, the Director of Children’s Services and the portfolio holder, challenging and seeking assurance about our improvement plan and the use of the additional substantial transformational resources committed by the Cabinet. I will continue to maintain a personal interest, supporting the leadership being shown by our lead member for Children’s Services.
We’re also maintaining a focus on reducing the cost burden associated with children placed out of area, Mr Deputy Mayor. The development and operation of our own facility, something that should have happened years ago and that is now progressing under this Conservative administration, will serve to reduce cost and bring some of our most vulnerable children closer to the key support services they require. Evidence shows that this gives the best outcomes for these children and their families as well as saving us money.
Continuing the health and social care theme, Mr Deputy Mayor, we remain committed to the Union arrangements now in place with the Clinical Commissioning Group. The Union has clear areas of focus that fully justify the rationale for bringing the council and the CCG much closer together. Those areas of focus are the development of Primary Care Networks, the Adult Services Review, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, the Humber Acute Services Review and the development of the Union operating model. The Council and the NHS working closer together reinforces our collective commitment to place and the improvement of key health, care and wellbeing outcomes for our residents.
Earlier this week, Mr Deputy Mayor, our cabinet members met with the cabinets of North Lincolnshire Council and Lincolnshire County Council. I suspect the previous administration would never have contemplated such a meeting but, as three Conservative controlled councils, we were able to have very constructive talks around how we might work together in the future to deliver some key services more effectively and efficiently and save our council tax payers some money.
In summary, Mr Deputy Mayor, this Conservative administration continues to push forward with a pragmatic, common sense programme which chimes with the wishes of local people, whilst dealing with the legacies that the previous Labour administration was unwilling or unable to address.
Finally, and importantly, on a civic note Mr Deputy Mayor, it was a pleasure to join you in welcoming HMS Grimsby to her hometown – with the reaffirmation of their freedom of the borough being a fitting occasion. We are all proud of our armed forces, Mr Deputy Mayor, and we are especially proud of the minesweeper and her crew that take the name of one of our towns.
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