Next year’s budget will be challenging, says Council Leader Philip Jackson, but key priorities will be at the forefront.
Councillor Jackson made his comments in his Leaders’ Speech at December’s full council meeting. He told the chamber at Grimsby Town Hall: “We are now going through the budget setting process for next year. We expect Government to announce the provisional local government financial settlement this side of Christmas and that will inform how we move forward to resource our key priorities and services.
“Like previous budget rounds, this will be a challenging one and we know that most other local authorities up and down the country are in a similar situation. We will have to consider how best to manage increasingly complex demand, shape and deliver critical front line services, and work with our partners, across all sectors to take the borough forward.
“The major area of financial challenge is children’s social services. Ofsted has published its most recent monitoring report – there is no doubt that the service is still far from where it needs to be, or where we want it to be, and progress over the past year has been disappointing. We still have much work to do.
“We continue to suffer because of the shortage of social workers nationally, with an over-reliance on agency staff. In recent months, we have recruited 47 new social workers, 33 of whom come from overseas and are trained to Social Work England standard. They are now here and starting to take on their own social work cases. They, along with our 14 home-grown Social Work Academy graduates, are heavily swinging the balance 70/30 in favour of permanent staff. This is a major priority for us both in terms of continuity of care for our families and children, and for financial reasons.
“There is also excessive ‘demand in the system’ – children and families being referred to us. We have been honest and transparent about our need to look carefully at the reasons why some of those young people and their families are in the system and what different approaches could and should be used to ensure better outcomes for them.
“We now have a new interim Director of Children’s Services, who is introducing much-needed new ideas and fresh ways of working. A partnership arrangement is being established with a neighbouring ‘outstanding’ children’s services council to help us with our improvement journey. We are determined our children’s services will become outstanding like our two Greater Lincolnshire neighbours, but it will be a long and challenging journey.”
He added: “We know that many of our residents are facing major cost of living challenges for all the reasons we hear about every day in the news. As a council, and working with our partners, we will continue to do all we can to mitigate these problems.”
Councillor Jackson then went on to update the chamber on projects ongoing in North East Lincolnshire. He said: “Regeneration initiatives in Grimsby town centre are at last picking up pace. Our ambition to deliver transformational town centre regeneration is also dependant on an effective working relationship with Homes England.
“I am pleased to report that officers have been engaging with Homes England officials to bring forward a road map to unlock key town centre sites and deliver modern brownfield residential developments. Garth Lane and the Alexandra Dock area are part of our immediate focus. The engagement with Homes England continues and should lead to the development of a business case aimed at securing the release of further funding to kickstart site preparation and development over time.
“Arts Council England recently announced further funding to drive up the profile of arts and culture, nationally. For the first time, North East Lincolnshire hosts an organisation, the Culture House, designated as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). NPO status is a hugely important statement of confidence in an area, sending a signal that culture, creativity and the arts are integral to our regeneration and growth, and this can only go from strength to strength.”
Councillor Jackson continued: “The recent tragic events in Rochdale impress upon us the importance of homes that are in a condition fit for occupation. Officers are fully engaged with registered housing providers operating in our borough, seeking assurance regarding issues such as the treatment of damp and mould and the related repair and maintenance regimes. Officers are also reviewing housing enforcement approaches to ensure that, where matters of concern are identified in the private rented sector, landlords are aware of and meet their obligations.
“Officials from the Department for Health and Social Care recently visited our area to learn and understand more about our integrated health and social care arrangements – something for which North East Lincolnshire is repeatedly highlighted as being forward thinking and ahead of the game. The visit focused on several areas, including hospital discharge. Here is a snapshot of the feedback: ‘The visit was hugely insightful and gave us so much to consider in relation to health and social care integration, the impact on services (including intermediate care, discharge and carers’ support) and of course the impact on people themselves. It was clear that making sure people got the right support to live their “best” lives was a commitment shared by everybody we met and talked to and underpinned the work done to bring together health and local government, working with and through the voluntary sector, in North East Lincolnshire. The strong relationships built up over many years working together also shone through and are clearly the key enabler for the great work that people do in all the different bodies and agencies that are committed to supporting the people of North East Lincolnshire.’”
Councillor Jackson then moved onto the Humber Freeport. “The final business case for the Humber Freeport is now with the Government for consideration. Subject to its approval, the next steps will include the formation of the stand-alone Freeport company and the progression of the tax sites. This remains a fantastic and significant economic opportunity for the sub-region and North East Lincolnshire – with the creation of a substantial number of skilled jobs over the coming years, especially in the green sector.
“Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer recently visited North East Lincolnshire to announce government support for two important investments in the seafood sector. Firstly, a £5 million grant towards HSH Coldstores’ new £30 million premises on Europarc. This will create 60 new jobs and increase local cold storage capacity by a much needed 20%. Secondly, £2.4 million of grant funding for JCS Fish to extend its Grimsby processing site. Mr Spencer also visited the Border Control Post we have recently opened at the Seafood Village on the Port of Grimsby to enable the inspection and certification of imported fish and fish products.
“The Government has stated its intention to deliver further devolution across the country. Deals are being finalised or announced in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cornwall, the East Midlands – and there will be more. If our area is to benefit from strategic economic growth, skills and infrastructure opportunities over the longer term, then we need to get on the devolution bus. Greater Lincolnshire devolution is that opportunity.”
“Positive news about two awards won by NELC in recent weeks,” Councillor Jackson told fellow councillors. “Firstly, Novartis Ings received the 2022 Humber Nature Partnership Award at the Humber Nature Partnership’s annual conference. The aim of this site is to provide a haven for wildlife ahead of future potential development in the area. Companies looking to expand or invest in the area would have previously been required to obtain mitigation land for wildlife to offset their developments as a planning requirement, which can delay developments for months and can be hugely expensive. Thanks to this mitigation project, the land is ready and waiting for them. This element of our industrial investment strategy has already been praised for leading the way for future developments. Along with our other site, the nearby Cress Marsh, we are protecting the natural environment, mitigating the impact of climate change and reducing barriers for new businesses investing in our area. The site has been developed, thanks to funding from ERDF and the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, and support from Novartis Grimsby to create a stopping off point for wildlife on their migration journeys where waders in particular can feed on the rich invertebrate food source on the mudflats.
“Secondly, this council won the Federation of Small Business’s All Round Small Business Friendly local authority national award. In its round-up, the FSB praised the joint approach to supporting small and medium enterprises and said that the collegiate, holistic approach has been transformational and created an environment conducive to long-term success for local businesses. Projects highlighted included business workshops and events, business festivals, sector-specific Business Growth Advisors, start-up programmes, managed and coworking spaces, the Investment Hub and access to Business Investment Advisors. Small businesses are the real lifeblood of our local economy, with 95% of businesses in North East Lincolnshire employing under 50 people. This award is testament to the great work that many people put in and to the partnership and collaboration across our borough.”
Councillor Jackson then went on to give an update on the Ukrainian refugee situation in North East Lincolnshire. “We continue to welcome new arrivals and support existing refugees and their hosts with no issues to report,” he said. “We currently have 71 guests in 34 sponsor households. There are seven imminent guest arrivals and one sponsor relocating to the area with their guest. Two guests have been successfully placed in private rented accommodation and provided with furniture. Two families have secured properties, both moving in this week. Seven guests have moved outside of the area.”
“Finally,” he added, “I want to thank all council staff for the hard work and dedication delivering services during 2022. I close by wishing all members, officers and the people of North East Lincolnshire a merry Christmas and a happy new year, albeit we know will be a particularly challenging one.”
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