Category Archive News

A MAJOR scheme that will support Grimsby’s positive future and see up to £20m invested across our town has taken its next step.

‘Grimsby Together’ will help to change the town for the better – and is being led by those who live here, who work here and who believe in our communities.

Aided by Our Future – an organisation that invests itself in supporting communities to effect long-term change – working in partnership with the Greater Grimsby Board and North East Lincolnshire Council, Grimsby Together will look at how to best invest the Plan for Neighbourhoods grant funding.

The Government’s Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) last year changed the focus of the Long-Term Plan for Towns funding scheme.

Now called Plan for Neighbourhoods, 75 areas – one being Grimsby – were awarded a total funding pot of £1.5-billion (up to £20m for each area over 10 years) with a focus on involving communities in decision making of how and where the money should go.

Now, Grimsby Together are pushing on with people who have a passion for the town coming together to see how the funding can best be used. The second round of workshop meetings are now underway, with one of the first working groups focused on “thriving business and town centre”, led by E Factor Director Mark Webb, exploring physical and digital connectivity amongst other things.

“Today’s workshop really focused on bringing together what can only be described as fans of Grimsby, people have invested themselves, their businesses and their lives into this town.

“We want to understand what is possible for Grimsby and make sure this town gets what it deserves,” said Mark.

He added: “The whole project is about making sure there is a strong voice for the future of Grimsby.”

Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy, Devolution and Skills, Cllr Philip Jackson, said: “Grimsby Together is a great opportunity for our town. We are already undertaking one of the biggest transformations in the area’s history in our town centre with theredevelopment of Freshney Place, and this can only be a positive addition to that.

“Grimsby Together will help to shape the future of different areas of our town and it is great that investment will be led by the ideas of local organisations and people who are dedicated to improving the lives of residents and visitors.”

Emily Bolton Co-Founder and CEO of Our Future, added: “What stands out most to me is the commitment and love for the town that binds the people involved. Our 8 working groups and taskforce are made up of 80 local leaders, coming together across different sectors.

“They are all working in the collective good of the town and care deeply that we are building a thriving place for future generations. It is a joy to work alongside them developing the plan for Grimsby’s future that we can all own and bring to reality.”

More workshops will be taking place throughout September, discussing key themes like the environment, communities and housing. The public are also invited to an event on Thursday, 25 September, from 3pm-6pm at Grimsby Central Hall to listen to these ideas and have their say on how Grimsby can be improved.

For more information and how to get involved in Grimsby Together, visit https://www.our-future.io/grimsby-together- external site – external site 

Article and image from NELC.

“A whole-service transformation has been achieved. Children’s Services are largely unrecognisable from what they were in 2021.”

The words of Ofsted inspectors in a major report, released today, into the help, support, safeguarding and care of children and young people in North East Lincolnshire.

The progress, outlined in the report, has been described as one of the fastest positive changes in the history of local authority Children’s Services across the country.

With an overall ‘good’ judgement, the individual area ratings – three good and one outstanding – were made by Ofsted inspectors during an in-depth look at services over a three-week period in July.

Less than four years ago, in November 2021, the same inspection was very critical of the Council’s children’s services.

Now its progress across all areas is lauded by inspectors – with just a small number of things identified for improvement. And within those areas the inspectors were clear that senior managers in Children’s Services already have plans in place for further improvement and development.

Social workers, family help workers and their managers were among staff who were given the news by Director of Children’s Services, Ann-Marie Matson.

Sharing their huge appreciation of the progress made, senior council leaders and officers were, however, clear that the improvement journey was far from over. They say the journey will continue, as the council strives to ensure that everything possible is being done to provide children, young people and their families with the help, care and support they need and deserve.

In delivering the results, praise was directed to the whole of the refreshed children’s team led by Ann-Marie, along with political leaders, council officers and partners – including Humberside Police, schools, education and business. The report reflects how they have all supported and enabled the transformation, which reflects the council and partnership’s mantra of ‘Our Children, Our Future’.

Council leader both now and four years ago, Cllr Philip Jackson, joined his Portfolio Holder for Children and Education Cllr Margaret Cracknell in an emotional response to the turn-around – the only local council of seven in the same position to receive good across all current judgements with an outstanding leadership and management judgement.

“Less than four years ago I stood before you as Leader and accepted the challenges ahead – pledging that we would listen, we would support, and we would act in the best interests of our borough and our children and young people. This is what we have done and together we have achieved.

“Words cannot describe what these improvements mean for the children, families and communities across North East Lincolnshire. This continued improvement remains vital if we are to succeed in realising our vision to build stronger communities and a stronger economy here in our borough,” said Cllr Jackson.

Cllr Cracknell added: “This is a remarkable journey and testament to all involved. We now move forward together with pride, and with determination – and also with humility that there is still much to do for our children, young people and families.”

Ann-Marie returned to her hometown of Grimsby almost two years ago to lead the transformation along with her dedicated team of professionals.

She said: “The pride I feel is extremely hard to put into words. I want to thank all of those around me – the whole Children’s Services team, the council, all our partners, our commissioner and most importantly the children of our communities and their families.

“What we are doing here is for all those children and young people who deserve opportunity, deserve our support and deserve a bright future. We will not stop, this is just the beginning.”

Following the inspection in 2021, a Government-appointed commissioner, Anthony Douglas, was brought in to work with the Council. Highly regarded with vast experience, Mr Douglas was awarded a CBE in 2008 in recognition of his services to family justice and adoption.

He said: “There has been a sea change here in ownership, positive impact and fast, sustained improvement. For me, it has been a privilege to work with exceptional leaders, all council members, front-line staff and partners. The vision is inspirational, and the intensive effort needed day-in, day-out to realise that vision cannot be underestimated. You are outstanding leaders and champions for your young people with the service unrecognisable from what it was.”

The full Ofsted Report is available to read on the Ofsted website.- external site 

Ofsted judgements, grades and comments: Inspection of North East Lincolnshire local authority children’s services, July 2025.

• The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families: Outstanding

“A whole-service transformation has been achieved. Children’s services are largely unrecognisable from what they were in 2021. Leaders have been tenacious in their approach and commitment to deliver impactful services. This has significantly improved the lives and experiences of many children and their families in North East Lincolnshire.

“Leaders at a corporate and political level now take an active interest in the impact of children’s social care in their area. The new chief executive and political leaders bring a renewed determination to embed corporate parenting principles and do all they can to support children and care leavers to live meaningful and fulfilling lives.”

• The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection: Good

“There have been profound and positive improvements to how well children are helped and protected from harm since the last inspection. Of great significance is the use of relational-based approaches to build trusted relationships with children, young people and families, which were so badly broken.”

• The experiences and progress of children in care: Good

“Children in care now receive good support from skilled, caring and diligent social workers and carers. Children only come into care when they need to. Whenever possible, social workers try to keep children and young people within their family, if it is safe to do so.”

• The experiences and progress of care leavers: Good

“Care leavers now have adults in their lives that they can trust and who are ambitious for them. Senior leaders have implemented a whole-service transformation of the leaving care service. This has created a culture where increasing numbers of staff in the service and across the wider council want the best outcomes and experiences for their care leavers. The service is now unrecognisable from that which existed at the last inspection, but these changes are recent. It is too soon to measure sustainability, although the indicators are so far very positive.”

• Overall effectiveness: Good

“Well-delivered investment in the workforce and management capacity has resulted in greater consistency of practice. Leaders, along with wider council members, partner agencies and staff, have been relentless in their focus on delivering effective help and support to children and families in North East Lincolnshire. Improving the lives of children, young people, care leavers and their families now sits at the very heart of service development and delivery. Noteworthy cultural changes across the service have stabilised and galvanised the workforce to have ambition to deliver impactful services that are helping more children, and their families, to thrive.”

Article and images from NELC.

On Monday, 4 August, at 6.30pm North East Lincolnshire Council Leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, and his Cabinet colleagues will be live on Facebook – ready to answer your questions.

There’s lots happening in the years ahead – and the council is playing a pivotal role in most of that change:

• Our towns of Grimsby and Cleethorpes will be transformed with major grant-supported regeneration schemes;
• Freshney Place will continue to be developed under council ownership
• Environmental work continues to protect our SSSI coastline
• 130 new homes will be built, pending planning approval, on the site at Alexandra Dock next to the new OnSide Horizon Youth Zone
• New schools are being constructed
• Plans for Neighbourhoods scheme looks to help improve and build upon our communities

Then there’s the creation of the new Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, and the work in Children’s Services, Adult Social Care and Public Health – continued investment in these areas is vital to the authority’s ambition for a better place.

Cllr Jackson said: “It is important that people know they have the opportunity to ask myself and my colleagues about the decisions we make that will impact on their lives both now and in the future. We will listen to what they say and try to answer any questions they ask. Others may have issues to raise and points to make that we can take away.”

What does Cabinet mean?

Key decisions, which are those with a significant impact, are made by the Council’s Cabinet. The Cabinet is made up of between three and 10 elected Members appointed by the Leader of the Council.

Each Cabinet Member has responsibility and individual decision-making powers for a range of particular services, collectively known as their ‘portfolio’.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s Cabinet is made up of eight Members from the Conservative group – the majority party. These members include the Leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, and Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Stan Shreeve. The Cabinet is the key decision-making body of the Council, and provides political leadership and direction across the whole range of council services.

Cabinet also votes to accept policies, plans and strategies, including the fixing of the budget and council tax levels. However, the final decision on such important matters rests with Full Council when all members vote.

Who is on the Cabinet?

Every member will be attending the Question Time with Cabinet event to respond to your questions and queries. Those people are:

• Cllr P Jackson – Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economy, Regeneration, Devolution and Skills
• Cllr S Shreeve – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care
• Cllr M Cracknell – Portfolio Holder for Children and Education
• Cllr H Dawkins– Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy
• Cllr S Harness – Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Assets
• Cllr R Shepherd – Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities
• Cllr S Swinburn – Portfolio Holder for Housing, Infrastructure and Transport
• Cllr H Hudson – Portfolio Holder for Environment and Net Zero

Between now and Monday 4 August we will be taking questions in advance to be answered on the night. Please send them to  communications@nelincs.gov.uk with your questions. Cabinet members will endeavour to answer all questions on the night, but will respond to all relevant questions in time.

Article from NELC.

Coun Hayden Dawkins, the portfolio holder for culture, heritage and visitor economy at North East Lincolnshire Council, spoke at the recent full council meeting at Grimsby Town Hall on the issue of the area’s libraries. Accepting a public petition, here is his speech in full:

When I first started in this role, it was apparent that library services have been declining for a few years so I wanted to find out what we could do better to encourage people to use the library services and the library buildings, hence the public consultation which has just finished.

It is fair to say that the Grimsby Central Library has not been properly maintained for probably the last 25 years. In every interview I have undertaken regarding the Central Library, I have given an assurance that the building will remain a council asset and nothing has changed. That is still the case. I am committed to North East Lincolnshire having library services but I want to enhance them. I do not want to see them decline any further.

In view of the current situation with Grimsby Central Library, we had no choice but to look for a temporary location – and that is happening. We cannot sit back and just wait for the Central Library building to be repaired. This approach was agreed at Scrutiny two weeks ago. I wish to repeat what I said at that meeting: this is a temporary solution to enable us to offer library facilities in Grimsby town centre.

Therefore, I move the following. This administration is fully aware of its statutory responsibilities in relation to library service provision. The strength of feeling generated by this issue is fully understood and the level of public engagement is welcomed. Subject to an urgent and comprehensive analysis of the results of the recent Library & Archive Review Phase Two public consultation, and in recognition of this petition, it is recommended to Cabinet that:

• Cleethorpes Library remains open and initiatives to utilise the available space and facilities are pursued.

• Waltham Library remains open and initiatives to better utilise the available space and facilities are pursued.

• In principle, the current Grimsby Central Library is reopened, subject to confirmation of the options and cost for refurbishment, on which there will be a full and transparent public engagement.

• During the temporary closure of Grimsby Central Library, a pop-up facility be provided in Freshney Place to ensure the council provides an alternative service location in Grimsby for residents within this period.

Read the Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council Coun Philip Jackson’s update to full council at the recent meeting held in Grimsby Town Hall:

Much has been happening in and around North East Lincolnshire since my last Leader’s statement back in March.  I can only cover a cross section this evening.

It was bad news earlier this week when the Government confirmed that no acceptable offer had been submitted to the official receivers dealing with Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery (LOR) and that it is expected to close in the autumn. Though the plant is geographically in North Lincolnshire, 65% of the workforce live in North East Lincolnshire. It is clearly a very worrying time for those affected, and we are already actively working with North Lincolnshire’s Council’s Economic Growth Team, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Department for Work and Pensions to develop an action plan, as well as with our local MPs. Clearly, there will also be a major effect on supply chains in the region. The Government has pledged to continue paying staff until October and, apparently, there are buyers potentially interested in parts of the site. However, the Government must recognise that LOR is arguably critical national infrastructure; consider the effect on fuel resilience if it closes permanently. The Government must redouble efforts to find a buyer for the whole site by October.

On a more positive note for the local economy, early June saw Animal Equality UK’s legal challenge to overturn the Planning Committee’s approval for an onshore salmon farm at New Clee Sidings dismissed.  After an 18-month delay, AquaCultured are now free to proceed with the £120 million development, creating about 100 new, well-paid jobs and providing local sustainably sourced salmon for our thriving seafood processing sector. The court verdict was a vindication of our planning processes, including the decision that an Environmental Impact Assessment was not necessary. The delay could easily have resulted in the loss of the project, and it is very disappointing that one of the Independent members of the Planning Committee was an interested party in the judicial review. So much for acting in the best interests of North East Lincolnshire!

Earlier this month, RWE officially opened its Grimsby Hub on the Port of Grimsby. This is its operations and maintenance base for the Triton Knoll and Sofia wind farms in the North Sea. The former has 90 operational wind turbines and the latter will have 100 when completed next year. This is a great vote of confidence for Grimsby and further evidence of the importance of the growing offshore wind sector to the local economy.

Anyone who has recently ventured into Grimsby town centre will have seen the biggest change in the skyline in a generation with the demolition of the former Bullring and Flottergate retail units, to make way for the new leisure scheme at the western end of Freshney Place. The occupier market has responded enthusiastically to the news that the scheme is happening and principal terms for two further lets, over and above Parkway Cinema and Starbucks, were agreed at July’s Freshney Place Cabinet Sub-committee. At the same meeting, terms were also agreed for a national retail chain to take most the ground floor of the former House of Fraser store. This is all great news for the renaissance of Grimsby town centre.  

Of course, all the grant funding that is contributing to this town centre regeneration came from the previous Conservative government, supporting the bold decisions taken by this Conservative administration to purchase both Freshney Place and the former House of Fraser store. I would also remind members that at last December’s Full Council meeting, both Labour and the Independents opposed the Freshney Place regeneration project without offering an alternative. This Conservative administration is transforming Grimsby town centre, attracting private sector investment and jobs, while the other two main parties offer nothing.

Moving now to Children’s Services, we are in the closing stages of our ILACS – Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services – by Ofsted. Over the past couple of years, our Children’s Services have improved at pace and I thank officers and the Portfolio Holder for their dedicated hard work, as well as the extensive preparation for this Ofsted inspection. Members will be informed of the outcome as soon as it can be announced.

Inspections seem to be rather like buses at the moment, with our Adult Social Care CQC assessment current underway too. This will finish on August 6, by which time CQC inspectors will have spoken to more than 100 people, including those with lived experience of adult social care in North East Lincolnshire, elected members, professionals, providers, and voluntary and community sector organisations. We know our structures and arrangements in the adult social care space in North East Lincolnshire are unusual and complex, and we await the outcome of the assessment.  Once again, many thanks to officers and the Portfolio Holder for all their preparatory work.

At the start of July, we welcomed about 270 Equans staff back into the NELC fold as the 15-year outsourcing contract ended, and we brought the various services back in-house. Hopefully, this will make service delivery more seamless for the public but also for us, as elected members. Clearly, there will be a period of consolidation, and then we can assess what is needed to maximise the quality and efficiency of service delivery. Returning these services to council control has been a mammoth project handled very efficiently and I sincerely thank all those involved in the process.

June 28 saw Cleethorpes host the premiere East Coast event of the year – National Armed Forces Day. It was an honour to welcome the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon John Healey MP, to the resort.  As usual, crowds descended on Cleethorpes – and the weather was perfect.  We were on parade on the national stage and, as well as proudly honouring our Armed Forces, the event was a huge boost to the local economy. Well done, and thanks to everyone involved in the organisation and running of the weekend, particularly the Armed Forces Major Events Team. Members will have seen the letter of thanks from the Secretary of State.

Congratulations to Dame Andrea Jenkyns on being elected the first Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire on May 1.  I think it is fair to say that both Dame Andrea and the Combined County Authority (CCA) are still finding their feet. Coin Shreeve and I are the two North East Lincolnshire representatives on the CCA, where I also chair the Business and Infrastructure Board. We will ensure that North East Lincolnshire is well-represented within the context of the wider county. As I have said on the record many times, it is also essential that the Humber economic landscape works. The governance arrangements for effective pan-Humber collaboration, incorporating the two mayors, local authority leaders and business representatives, are currently on the drawing board.

A by-election for a seat on Immingham Town Council, Central Ward will be held on Thursday 14 August 2025, there are two candidates contesting the seat.

What does Immingham Town Council do?

The Town Council has a variety of responsibilities aimed at serving the local community and ensuring the smooth operation of the town. Here are some of the key duties and activities they are involved in:

• The council manages recreation grounds, the cemetery, allotments, grass cutting, litter picking, and other facilities within the parish. They look after community buildings, ensuring they are maintained and available for public use.
• They review and comment on planning applications within the parish to ensure that developments align with the community’s needs and standards.
• The town council liaises with relevant authorities and partners regarding infrastructure, policing, and community issues to represent the views of the local area and secure the best outcomes for residents.
• They engage with various other organisations about the current and future shape of life in the local area, ensuring that the community’s voice is heard in decision-making processes.

How can I vote?

This by-election is for residents in IM4 and IM5 (Central Ward) of the Immingham Town Council area. If you’re not on the electoral register, the deadline to register and still be eligible to vote in this election is Tuesday 29 July 2025. You can register to vote quickly and easily at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote- external site .

If you want to change the way you vote, please be aware of the following deadlines:

Wednesday 30 July 2025 at 5pm – Deadline to apply for new postal and proxy votes or to make changes to an existing one.

Wednesday 6^th August 2025 at 5pm – Deadline to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. You need photo ID to vote in person.  

Wednesday 6th August 2025 at 5pm – Deadline to request a new proxy vote.

For more information, please visit the Councils website or contact the Electoral Services team.

Article from NELC.

“We have listened and we are taking this action as a result.”

The words of the Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Philip Jackson, after a meeting of last night’s Full Council voted to approve new recommendations to Cabinet to secure the future of Cleethorpes and Waltham Libraries, and to re-open the main Grimsby Central Library building, subject to options and costs for its refurbishment.

The following four proposals, put forward by the Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy Cllr Hayden Dawkins, will now be discussed and voted on by the next Cabinet meeting of the council. These proposals are also subject to an urgent and comprehensive analysis of the results of the recent Library & Archive Review Phase 2 public consultation:

• Cleethorpes Library remains open and initiatives to better utilise the available space and facilities are pursued;
• Waltham Library remains open and initiatives to better utilise the available space and facilities are pursued;
• In principle, the current Grimsby Central Library is reopened subject to confirmation of the options and costs for refurbishment, on which there will be full and transparent engagement;
• During the temporary closure of Grimsby Central Library, a pop-up facility be provided in Freshney Place to ensure the Council provides an alternative service location in Grimsby for residents within this period.

A petition, supported by more than 4,700 residents was presented to the Council meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Dawkins said this move proved how he and his fellow Cabinet members fully understood the strength of feeling within the community, including those views included in the petition.

Cllr Dawkins echoed the words of Cllr Jackson, saying: “I wish to make it very clear how, throughout the consultation on possible changes to the library service, it was always our intention to be open-minded, and transparent in our drive to improve the services and ensure the libraries become vibrant and well-used community spaces for all ages.

“It has been made very clear that people want to ensure changes are made within the existing library buildings. We are therefore more than happy to look again, and to make these new recommendations. This is about listening to the people and working with our communities to achieve positive change,” he added.

At the Full Council meeting an amendment was also supported, which was to establish a select committee to consider the developments of the library service going forward.

Article, video and image from NELC.

NORTH East Lincolnshire Council will recommend to Government that its existing boundaries remain, as it pledges to continue its partnership working to grow opportunities for its place and people.

Citing the strides that have, and are, being made with regards to the economy and the positive work within communities, a Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), report was discussed and voted on by members at the authority’s Full Council meeting tonight (Thursday).

It was agreed that:

• The preference is for North East Lincolnshire to remain within its current administrative boundaries;
• This option is promoted across Greater Lincolnshire;
• The authority continues to explore opportunities to work closely with North Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire County Councils on any Greater Lincolnshire submissions to government.

Within the report, it states how the preference for existing boundaries to remain does not mean the authority will stand still. There is a commitment to a refresh of arrangements, touching upon governance, democracy, and opportunities. Activity, which has been paused, such as the review to be conducted by the Boundary Commission of England, would be completed.

An LGR Working Group comprising of the four main group leaders, will now continue to work with officers on a full proposal to meet the Government’s November submission deadline.  This group was established to consider LGR and propose the preferred way forward.

All local authorities have been asked to submit proposals for new structures, following the release of the Government’s LGR White Paper. In Greater Lincolnshire the 10 councils – the two unitary authorities in North and North East Lincolnshire, one county council and seven districts – are all working up their preferences. The Government will decide on a way forward after considering all submissions.

North East Lincolnshire’s proposal will be supported by evidence of how, as a smaller unitary, it is able to forge close and positive working relationships to support its Council Plan vision to build a ‘Stronger Economy’ and ‘Stronger Communities’.

It will detail how the borough’s unique south Humber position has seen close partnerships built leading to significant investment in green energy, ports and logistics, and food processing.

The result has been an improvement in prospects with current ONS data showing that North and North East Lincolnshire are now 7% more productive when compared nationally. And, with a local median earning of £34,614 a year, North East Lincolnshire now has the highest median earning rate in the region, just below the national average – demonstrating the continuing growth in skilled employment in the area.

It will also highlight the vital ties to the borough’s communities and the strides that are being made to improve challenges in health inequalities and housing, to regenerate the town centre and to support the borough’s children, young people and adults.

The Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Philip Jackson, said: “I would like to give recognition to my fellow group leaders. Cllrs Clough, Aisthorpe, Holland and I have worked productively with officers to fully examine what we believe to be the best way forward.

“Crucially this is about the future growth and improvement of North East Lincolnshire, its economy and its people, whilst working within the Greater Lincolnshire footprint, to provide support, opportunity and respond positively to challenge.

“We have clearly shown how a smaller unitary with unique characteristics, challenges and geography can attract public and private sector investment that can and is enabling significant positive change. We firmly believe it is our size and drive that has achieved this and we want the opportunity, as a council, to continue this work, which will be of benefit to everyone locally, regionally and nationally,” added Cllr Jackson.

As the full submission is worked on, North East Lincolnshire Council will be asking people to have their say as part of public engagement. More details will be released soon.

Article from NELC.

PLANS have been approved to transform the health of the borough following a recommendation from leading Councillors in the borough.

North East Lincolnshire Council has today confirmed its commitment to becoming a Marmot Place, following Cabinet’s endorsement of the full implementation of the Marmot framework.

The decision marks a milestone in the borough’s ambition to reduce health inequalities and improve the wellbeing of all residents.

The proposals take their name from Professor Sir Michael Marmot, who is widely recognised as a World-leading expert in Public Health, and has championed health-led initiatives to significantly improve the lives of people living in towns and cities across the UK.

The approach, which was developed by Prof Marmot and the UCL Institute of Health Equity, set out a number of principles aimed at tackling the root causes of health inequality and building fairer, healthier places.

In areas that commit to becoming Marmot Places, each and every decision taken by authorities should consider the eight Marmot principles. Examples of places that have adopted the Marmot principles include Greater Manchester, the UK’s first Marmot City Region, and Kent, the first coastal Marmot Place.

Speaking after the vote, Deputy Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council and portfolio holder for health, wellbeing and adult social care, said:

“I’m proud that my colleagues have committed today to making our area a Marmot Place.

“This is a significant step towards improving the lives of everyone in North East Lincolnshire.

“The authority will put health at the forefront of decision-making, ensuring  that our residents are able to lead long, healthy lives.

“This is about embedding fairness, prevention, and equity into all aspects of local governance and service delivery.

“There are unacceptable health inequalities in our area, and tonight, following the recommendations of a cross party working group, Cabinet has committed to doing all that we can to tackle them.”

Director of Public Health in North East Lincolnshire, Diane Lee, added:

“Right now, the difference in life expectancy between someone living in one part of the borough to the other is up to 18-years. The average healthy life expectancy is 55 years. People living over 55 are likely to have health conditions that might limit their lifestyles.

“The reasons for this are varied. From diet to smoking and lack of exercise, through to environmental factors like pollution, deprivation, access to clean energy and transport infrastructure.

“Areas like ours, that face significant health challenges, can reverse these trends over time by taking very careful, deliberated and directed action in specific areas.

“Things like improved transport infrastructure, help for people to quit smoking, improve their diets and exercise more, and greater support to upgrade poor quality housing.”

Professor Sir Michael Marmot added:

“We are delighted to be working with North East Lincolnshire to tackle the root causes of ill health and to reduce the unfair and unnecessary inequalities in health which blight the lives of too many.

“Our work with other places across the UK has demonstrated what can be done despite significant funding constraints and limited powers.  North East Lincs now joins nearly 60 other places across the UK who are prioritising health equity.”

There is already work going on to tackle some of these challenges. North East Lincolnshire Council have taken steps to improve the outcomes of infants in their early years through improving school readiness, supporting the development of their speech and language, and promoting healthy child development and parent-infant relationships.

There is also a significant local effort to improve the educational achievements of young people locally, and particularly those who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Now approved, Public Health officials will work closely with partner agencies to lead on community interventions, from making sure that Council policies reflect public health outcomes, to ensuring that front-line services are well equipped and informed to best support residents in tackling health-related inequalities.

To find out more about the Marmot Principles, visit https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/taking-action/marmot-places

Article and image from NELC.