Monthly Archive 22 January 2024

THE Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council is set to answer your questions tonight as the deadline for the public consultation into proposals for a Greater Lincolnshire Devolved Authority nears.

Councillor Philip Jackson will be fielding questions from members of the public via a Facebook Live this evening from 6pm on the Council’s Facebook page.

Councillor Jackson said: “As the Leader of one of the three lead authorities that have shaped this proposal, I want to ensure that as many people in North East Lincolnshire as possible take part in the public consultation.

“This Facebook Live event is for people to ask questions they may have about what Devolution could mean for North East Lincolnshire and how it may shape the local area and wider county in the future.

“If the outcome of this public consultation does lead to Greater Lincolnshire Devolution progressing then we want people to understand what could be achieved and that is the purpose of this Facebook Live event.  Of course, I am always ready to listen to people’s views on other matters, but I would like to keep this session just to Devolution, given its importance for us all in the future.”

Following Government approval last Autumn, the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Proposal has been taken to the next stage, which is this public consultation that runs until Sunday 28 January.

The two unitary authorities of North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire Councils and Lincolnshire County Council have led on the Level Three MCCA (Mayoral Combined County Authority) Proposal.

The Proposal states how a Devolution deal would see central Government money and power moved down to decision-makers in Greater Lincolnshire. This would start with a number of agreed key priority areas including housing, transport, infrastructure (such as highways), skills and education, and the environment.

For more details including a Q&A and Executive Summary go to www.nelincs.gov.uk.

To go directly to the consultation, go to www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk/devolution- external site .

Article and image from NELC.

A design architect has been appointed for Market Place as part of the Cleethorpes Levelling Up Fund projects.

Gillespies will play an integral role in the rejuvenation of the historic square, adding space for social interaction by reconnecting our busy seafront and town centre, creating jobs, and boosting the economy.

These improvements will re-balance the relationship between traffic and pedestrians, encouraging wider circulation of people through the town by providing a safer, healthier, and more pleasant environment for pedestrians, encouraging a circular route from the seafront through to Market Place and to the town centre.

Gillespies is a diverse, free-thinking team of landscape architects, masterplanners and urban designers based in the UK. Established 60 years ago, the practice is committed to designing intelligently with nature to build exceptional places for unique stories to unfold while reflecting local character and history. From small community parks and market squares to regional city masterplans, every project delivers unique settings that bring people together to share meaningful experiences.

North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) has been awarded £18.4m of Levelling Up Funding (LUF) to transform Cleethorpes seafront. This includes three key areas – Market Place, Pier Gardens and Sea Road.

The council’s delivery partner Equans and NELC’s project management team will work in partnership with the successful design consultancy to develop designs. Community engagement events will be undertaken with local businesses, the wider community, and residents within the vicinity of Market Place. These events will be designed to generate interest and ideas which will assist with the development of concept designs for Market Place.  Once designs are finalised, a main contractor will be appointed during the summer, with works starting thereafter.

Tom Walker, Partner at Gillespies, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be helping NELC, local businesses and residents rethink and redesign the Market Place at Cleethorpes. This project is an incredible opportunity to transform a space with enormous potential. What is particularly pleasing is working at a seaside resort and space, where joy, richness, and fun can be the focus. It’s important work, but not too serious. There are some excellent businesses around the area that will significantly benefit from the redesign, which could also transform the lives of local people and the visitor experience.”   

Councillor Philip Jackson, Leader of the council, said: “North East Lincolnshire Council has an ambitious vision for the growth and regeneration of the resort, diversifying Cleethorpes’ offer and extending the season, both to support the local economy and local people. We’re working hard to make sure that the money spent in this borough is to the benefit of everyone living and working here.”

Article from NELC.

Public drop-in sessions giving local residents the opportunity to learn more about the consultation on the draft Local Plan review will be held at libraries across the borough.

The face-to-face events are a chance for people to join the conversation on how they want to see their borough grow over the next 20 years. They will begin next Wednesday January 24 and continue throughout February.

The names of all residents of the borough who respond to the consultations from now until Friday 8 March will go into a draw to win £100 of shop local vouchers.

The North East Lincolnshire Local Plan provides a framework for future use of land across the borough. Legislation requires that the council has a Local Plan, and must review it every five years.

There are 156,907 people living in North East Lincolnshire right now and this eight-week consultation gives everyone a chance to get involved.

Many of the policies in the draft Plan are subject to no change or only minor changes to reflect differences in national policy. These are clearly identified in the document.

Some changes are more significant and include revisions to policies related to energy and low carbon living, green spaces and recreation, skills, and affordable housing. New policies are also being considered to recognise changing priorities, such as Green Wedges, to give greater protection to the gaps between settlements in key areas of concern.

The Draft Plan also includes options relating to future requirements for employment and housing, the distribution of sites and the site options.

Changes to the Local Plan, if approved, will not come into effect until 2026, with the existing Local Plan remaining in force until then.

The public drop-in sessions will take place at the following locations:

• Cleethorpes Library, Wednesday January 24 from 10am-1pm;
• Grimsby Library, Thursday February 1 from 2pm-5.30pm;
• Immingham Library, Saturday February 3 from 10am-1pm;
• Cleethorpes Library, Tuesday February 20 from 2pm-5.30pm;
• Immingham Library, Thursday February 22 from 1pm-4pm;
• Grimsby Library, Saturday February 24 from 9am-1pm.                

Cllr Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport, said: “It is so important that everyone who lives in the local area gets the opportunity to contribute to the review of our Local Plan because it affects everyone.

“There are so many ways to engage with the consultation process but if you want to come along to our drop-in sessions and chat to people face-to-face and see the plan then please take advantage of these drop-in events.”

The Local Plan is also available to view now by visiting the web-based consultation portal https://nelincs-consult.objective.co.uk/kse/- external site 

Other ways to take part:

• To read an overview and more explanations go to www.nelincs.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/local-plan-review/
• Email any questions or further comments to Spatialplanning@nelincs.gov.uk or write to Equans, Municipal Offices, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HU.
• Paper copies are available to view at: North East Lincolnshire Council, Municipal Offices reception; Gingerbread House, Humberston; Scartho Community Hub; Grimsby Library; Waltham Library; Immingham Library and Cleethorpes Library.
• Paper copies of the Draft Plan are also available to  print out on request from the Planning Department at Equans, Municipal Offices Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HU. A charge will be made to cover the cost of printing.
• A wide range of face-to-face events on the draft review will take place over the coming weeks. You can email any questions in advance to  spatialplanning@nelincs.gov.uk

Article and image from NELC.

A DRAFT of North East Lincolnshire’s Local Plan review goes out for public consultation today (Jan 15), with residents urged to give their views on how the borough grows in the future.

The names of all residents of the borough who take part during the eight weeks between now and Friday 8 March will go into a draw to win £100 of shop local vouchers.

The North East Lincolnshire Local Plan is a blueprint for the future use of land across the borough. By law, the council must have a Local Plan, which covers the next 15-30 years, so that it can plan for change. It must then review it every five years – taking account of revisions in national planning policy and changing local priorities.

North East Lincolnshire’s existing Local Plan was adopted in 2018 and is the document that is now under review. Suggested amendments have been made and the next stage of the process is this consultation when local people are asked to look at the draft document and give their views.

These proposed draft changes to the Local Plan, if they are all taken forward and approved, will not come into effect until 2026, with the existing plan remaining in force until then. To ensure the updated Local Plan is approved by a Government inspector there are certain requirements that must be met.

The draft Local Plan review makes it clear that North East Lincolnshire Council has a long-term vision for development, with a pledge to keep a ‘pro-growth’ strategy that supports the authority’s economic vision. This seeks to ensure that development will be ‘viable and deliverable’ with a focus on design quality, climate change and the environment.  

Crucially, the draft plan predicts how many new jobs will be created in the borough between 2022 and 2042, based on economic projections, and then predicts how many new homes will be required each year to accommodate the increased workforce.

Encouraging people to take part, Cllr Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport, said: “We want to encourage as many local people as possible to engage with this draft review of the Local Plan, which sets out a vision for the overall look and feel of North East Lincolnshire in the years ahead. If you live or work within this borough, then this local plan review affects you.

“The existing Local Plan was developed in 2018 in a very different world. The years since its adoption have seen many key events including the decision to exit the European market and subsequent Brexit processes, the Covid pandemic, the cost of living issues that the nation has faced, and the on-going conflict in Ukraine, which has directly impacted not only here but across the world.”

He added: “This draft Plan reflects on these events, but looks forward to the opportunities for growth that will ensure North East Lincolnshire prospers as a place where people can live, work and appreciate the natural environment around them, both now and in the future.”

Ways to take part:

• Online at https://nelincs-consult.objective.co.uk/kse/- external site 
• To read an overview and more explanations go to www.nelincs.gov.uk/local-plan-review/
• Email any questions or further comments to Spatialplanning@nelincs.gov.uk or write to Equans, Municipal Offices, Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HU.
• Paper copies are available to view at: North East Lincolnshire Council, Municipal Offices reception; Gingerbread House, Humberston; Scartho Community Hub; Grimsby Library; Waltham Library; Immingham Library and Cleethorpes Library.
• Paper copies of the Draft Plan are also available to print out on request from the Planning Department at Equans, Municipal Offices Town Hall Square, Grimsby, DN31 1HU. A charge will be made to cover the cost of printing.
• A wide range of face-to-face events on the draft review will take place over the coming weeks. You can email any questions in advance to Spatialplanning@nelincs.gov.uk
• There will also be opportunities for people to take part in drop-in sessions at the following locations:
• Immingham Library, Saturday February 3 from 10am-1pm;
• Cleethorpes Library, Wednesday January 24 from 10am-1pm;
• Grimsby Library, Thursday February 1 from 2pm-5.30pm;
• Cleethorpes Library, Tuesday February 20 from 2pm-5.30pm;
• Immingham Library, Thursday February 22 from 1pm-4pm;
• Grimsby Library, Saturday February 24 from 9am-1pm.

Article and image from NELC. 

Environmental and Civil Enforcement teams across the borough have issued 9,578 fines for parking, littering and breaching Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) throughout 2023.

These include a range of civil and criminal offences including dog fouling, riding a bike in prohibited areas and fishing in green spaces.

A large number of fines were issued for littering in the streets and for dogs being on Cleethorpes beach during the ban, which runs from Good Friday to 30^thSeptember.

Over the course of 2023, 133 pet owners violated this PSPO and were issued a fine. Two people were also issued a fine for metal detecting on the beach.

As a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), people are allowed to metal detect on certain parts of the beach, but must obtain prior consent to do so.

Other PSPO breaches included using a jet ski (1), parking on a slipway (2) and cycling in prohibited areas (85). In total, 321 fines were issued for violating a PSPO last year.

Officers also cracked down on littering with over 1,000 fines issued. Broken down into littering from vehicles and littering on the street, the enforcement team gave out 1,026 fines for those dropping litter on the streets and 96 for those doing so from a vehicle.

Also included in the Council’s enforcement is the Smoke Free category. These fines are issued to people who are smoking inside commercial and shared vehicles or in non-smoking areas. In total, 23 fines were handed out for breaching these rules.

The Council are also responsible for enforcing parking across the borough. Throughout 2023, 8112 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued to those violating the rules by the Environment and Civil enforcement officers.

Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “These figures show exactly how much hard work goes into our enforcement work across the borough.

“It’s important that people understand the rules across North East Lincolnshire and adhere to them. Our Council plan advocates a zero-tolerance policy and we constantly review how we deliver our enforcement to make sure we can effectively tackle any issues.”

On the aspect of littering, Councillor Stewart Swinburn, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Transport, said: “It might seem like trivial stuff, but it’s not. If we want visitors to come to our area and enjoy it, we need it to look the part. Nobody wants to visit a town centre if there’s litter everywhere.”

He added: “We’ve also had the WiSE team out in our town centres and our high streets patrolling these areas, and stopping people for things like littering.

“It does feel sometimes like a never-ending cycle, but we are making progress.”

Pictured is Regulatory Services Strategic Lead Neil Clark, left, with the WiSE enforcement team and Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, centre.

Article and image from NELC. 

North East Lincolnshire Council Leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, chats to BBC Look North’s Political Editor Tim Iredale during a public event on devolution at Nunsthorpe’s Centre4. He will be taking to Facebook next Monday to answer questions as the consultation enters its last full week.

The Greater Lincolnshire Devolution proposal and the reasons why people should take part in the current consultation will be the focus of a Facebook Live Q&A with North East Lincolnshire’s council leader.

Cllr Philip Jackson will take to the Council’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/nelcouncil- external site   – between 6pm and 7pm on Monday, 22 January. Questions on the Proposal will be answered on the night live, however people are encouraged to submit questions in advance.

Inviting people to take part, Cllr Jackson said: “As the Leader of one of the three lead authorities that have shaped this proposal, I want to ensure that as many people in North East Lincolnshire as possible take part in the public consultation.

“This Facebook Live event is for people to ask questions they may have about what Devolution could mean for North East Lincolnshire and how it may shape the local area and wider county in the future.

“If the outcome of this public consultation does lead to Greater Lincolnshire Devolution progressing then we want people to understand what could be achieved and that is the purpose of this Facebook Live event.  Of course, I am always ready to listen to people’s views on other matters, but I would like to keep this session just to Devolution, given its importance for us all in the future.”

Following Government approval last Autumn, the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Proposal has been taken to the next stage, which is this public consultation that runs until Sunday 28 January.

The two unitary authorities of North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire Councils and Lincolnshire County Council have led on the Level Three MCCA (Mayoral Combined County Authority) Proposal.

The Proposal states how a Devolution deal would see central Government money and power moved down to decision-makers in Greater Lincolnshire. This would start with a number of agreed key priority areas including housing, transport, infrastructure (such as highways), skills and education, and the environment. 

For more details including a Q&A and Executive Summary go to www.nelincs.gov.uk

To go directly to the consultation, go to www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk/devolution- external site 

To submit a question for Cllr Jackson’s Facebook Live please email with your question to: communications@nelincs.gov.uk

Article and image from NELC.

North East Lincolnshire Council is starting a review of the statutory library service and its archives service today, Friday 12 Jan.

The current statutory library service and archive service is operated by Lincs Inspire Ltd, from four key sites across the borough, Grimsby Central Library, Cleethorpes Library, Immingham Library and Waltham Library. The Archives service operates from within Grimsby Town Hall.

Cllr Hayden Dawkins, Cabinet member for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy, explained: “We know that post-Covid, the way people use our archives and libraries is changing. We also know that although in person visits are returning gradually, last year, they were around two thirds of previous levels. Alongside this, we also know that many local people do not currently visit our archives and libraries or are unaware of the services that they offer.” 

“We want to understand how people currently use the libraries and archives, or indeed why they don’t use them so that, with Lincs Inspire, we can help shape services for the future that fit local needs.”

This consultation will be carried out in two main stages throughout 2024.

In the first stage, from January to 22 March 2024, the Council will be asking both users and non-users of library and archive facilities about the service in order to understand what’s important to them, how they use, these services and indeed, if they are aware of the full suite of services offered and what they view as the opportunities for the services in the future.

This review will support the Council and Lincs Inspire in:

• Understanding how current user behaviour has changed and what are service delivery requirements for the future. 
• Understanding what residents want from the service for the future, covering both user and non-user public consultation. 
• Looking at how the area’s demographics may change demand for services.
• Considering the strategic fit of library and archive provision and how it complements wider outcomes and collaboration with other services such as health, business / resident support, internal council services and leisure. 
• Understanding trends and our approach to library and archive service delivery, and how this compares to industry practice.
• Understanding the future local priorities for funding resources and how this is best utilised across the library and archives service. 
• Developing a long-term plan for the future of library and archive services.

The results of the first stage of consultation will inform proposals about how the services may look in the future, which will be the subject of the second stage of consultation, likely to be released in the late spring or summer of 2024.

To take part in the consultation, visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/have-your-say. Several focus groups will also be taking place in the coming weeks across North East Lincolnshire. If you want to take part in these, please email: consultation@nelincs.gov.uk

Article and image from NELC. 

More than 11,000 plants, shrubs and trees are set to grace the new seating areas currently being built at Riverhead Square in Grimsby this autumn as part of the regeneration scheme.

The design was created by national experts in the field, Arup design, and included the list of sustainable plants which worked with the harsh weather of the east coast.

The tree species selected for Riverhead Square have contrasting characteristics, including leaf shape, colour and canopy spread. Evergreens are combined with deciduous specimens for year round seasonal interest providing blossom in Spring, colour in Autumn and fruit in Winter.

The existing lime trees were removed and will be replaced with semi-mature Field maple trees which have a reputation for managing tough urban conditions well. These will be installed in tree pits, and positioned to frame views through the square keeping open views of the shopping centre. They will also provide height and shading in some areas.

The plants include perennials, shrubs and bulbs as well as swathes of grasses and wildflowers with pops of colours and scents from different flower species. The shape of the flower beds and seating and the curved flow of the area leading to Frederick Ward Way have been designed to represent our coastal sand dunes.

The planting also includes a rain garden as part of the sustainable urban drainage programme, and plants have been chosen to represent the dune edge and give a natural feel.

Chris Pulford, the Council’s Area Manager for Grounds Maintenance in Grimsby, said: “The plants chosen are mainly low maintenance varieties which will help increase biodiversity in the town centre. The planting scheme will complement the planting we’ve carried out in other areas, such as outside the municipal offices, on Cleethorpes’ sea front and in various roundabouts around the town.”

The scheme derives directly from the recent Masterplan, where people said that they wanted more places in the town centre to spend time in a nice open space.

As previously reported, the Riverhead scheme is one of the Towns Fund schemes to improve the look and feel of the town centre. Further work is ongoing in Freshney Place, the Central Library, Alexandra Dock Housing site, and additional work is being planned for the waterfront to complement the other schemes.

Article and image from NELC. 

PLANS for a primary school in Waltham have been approved by Councillors at a meeting of North East Lincolnshire Council’s Planning Committee.

The primary school, which is being funded by North East Lincolnshire Council, the Department for Education and through Section 106 contributions, will be run by Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust (LGAT).

Plans for a second primary school in Scartho, on land off Matthew Telford Way, were approved in December last year.

Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust has announced that two new schools will be known as Waltham Gateway Primary Academy and Scartho Gateway Primary Academy.

Councillor Margaret Cracknell, portfolio holder for children and education at North East Lincolnshire Council, said:

“I’m really pleased to see planners approved these proposals. The two primary schools in Scartho and Waltham are desperately needed by 2026 to accommodate pupils.

“I know that we are keen, along with Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust to work with local residents to minimise any disruption.”

“These school spaces are sorely needed, and it’s vital that we start to plan now for the future.”

Martin Brown, Chief Executive Officer of Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust, appointed to run the two new free schools serving Waltham and Scartho, said: “We’re pleased both have now been approved by planners.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to work closely with North East Lincolnshire Council and our other partners to provide additional, quality education provision in Waltham and Scartho.

“We will keep residents informed throughout the build and there will be opportunities for local communities to engage with us to help address any concerns.”

Work is expected to begin on both sites immediately.

Article and image from NELC.