‘New future’ for North East Lincolnshire Council as private contract ends

North East Lincolnshire Council today welcomes 270 Equans colleagues back under direct authority management, as the contract with its former delivery partner ends.

It is the first time for 15 years that the major services of highways and transport, building control, security and facilities management, architecture and highways design services, civil engineering and planning have been the sole responsibility of the authority.

Back in 2008 the decision was taken to appoint a delivery partner from the private sector to work in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council to carry out the above services on its behalf, and lead on some regeneration work.

Two years later, in 2010, a 10-year contract was entered into with then Balfour Beatty Workplace – which is now Equans Services Limited. That contract was extended for five years in 2020, with an announcement made more recently that it would not be renewed in 2025.

Council Leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, said the decision reflected the need for the authority to look at how all their services operated in the future ensuring the best and most efficient quality of delivery.

“This is a new future for us as we come together as a whole council team. Fifteen years ago, the world was a very different place and the decision to partner with a private organisation was no doubt the right one.

“Since then, much has changed, and we thank Equans for their work. However now it is time to move on, and this council firmly believes this is the right way forward for North East Lincolnshire.  We welcome our colleagues into the council and in the coming weeks and months we will be working on re-aligning services to ensure a smooth and efficient transition,” said Cllr Jackson.

The incoming Equans staff will bring the total council workforce to almost 2,000 – the vast majority living in North East Lincolnshire.

The unitary authority delivers services across the whole spectrum of people, the built environment, public health, green spaces, housing, the natural environment, regeneration, enforcement and licensing, highways, transport and planning, skills, business and investment, and leisure.