Don’t forget to have your say on North East Lincolnshire Council’s spending plans

The budget is now on the council’s website at https://tell-us.questionpro.eu/Budget2024 for people to read and have their say on, closing on January 18, 2024. It wants as many people as possible to get involved – detailing what services are most important to them.

North East Lincolnshire Council is committed to the regeneration of Grimsby and Cleethorpes and will continue such work in tandem with its investment in people.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s support for people across the borough will remain a top focus in the coming financial year.

In line with other UK local authorities, the demand for services to help people of all ages who are in need is either growing or becoming more complex. That means Adult Services and Children’s Services combined will see the most spend from the council’s budget in the 12 months that start in April this year.

However, North East Lincolnshire Council remains committed to investing. With grant funding support and the use of capital borrowing, it is determined to ­­transform key areas especially in central Grimsby and Cleethorpes, as well as improving peoples’ skills, training and health.

The above priorities are highlighted in the annual budget consultation document – outlining what the council is expecting to spend from April 2024 to the end of March 2025.

The council’s Portfolio Holder for Finance, Cllr Stephen Harness, said: “We must look at how we deliver the best support possible for those in need, and with an improving picture in Children’s Services, we are striving for that. That work will continue.

“However, we must also remember that for people to take opportunity they must see it and be able to take it. We need a better town centre, we need more good quality homes, and we need people who are skilled and healthy to take the opportunities in areas such as renewable energy, which are here now,” he added.

This budget shows how, with a budget of approximately £167-million, the key areas of spend are likely to be:

• Adult Services: £54.7-million (this covers all support for those over 18 who need it);
• Children and Family Services: £56.9-million;
• Economy and Growth: £26.5-million;
• Environment: £15.1-million;
• Resource & Governance: £4.2-million;
• Public Health: £1.1-million.

The money is raised with support from Government grant funding, (every council receives a Local Authorities annual settlement annually), from specific grants especially in areas such as public health and adult services, and locally from council tax and business rates. There is also other income from, for example, buildings it owns such as Freshney Place and Pioneer Business Park in Stallingborough.

The council is also looking at selling some of its properties and land, as reported in the last budget report – a move that will reduce energy and running costs as well as reducing the authority's carbon footprint.

Although yet to be announced, it is also expected that the Government will allow local councils to, once again, raise a precept on council tax especially to invest in adult services.

Take part in the consultation at https://tell-us.questionpro.eu/Budget2024 If you need to speak to someone to give your views or ask any questions or you need a copy of the survey posting to you, you can ring the engagement team on 01472 325985 or send an email to consultation@nelincs.gov.uk. We can supply the survey in large print.