Council to bring services back in-house

Equans runs services such as parking across North East Lincolnshire

A council is planning to bring most of its services in-house, ending a 14 year partnership with a private firm.

North East Lincolnshire Council announced it is to end its contract with Equans next year.

The company runs services, including building control, planning enforcement, design services, and parking services.

Now the council is developing a plan about how it will deliver its services in the future.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the authority is considering a "hybrid" structure.

The majority of services will return to council-run operations, but the authority would also use existing sub-contractors and local firms. 

Council leader Philip Jackson said it was the right time to review, given the current contract’s end next year.

“We need to make sure that the arrangements that we put in place in the future are right to deliver our priorities for North East Lincolnshire," he said.

“It was good that we got unanimous support from full council for the proposals as set out,” he added.

“Clearly, we’ve now got a clear way forward for how we’re going to proceed.”

The council had to consider options for future service delivery because it cannot extend again its existing contract with Equans, which finishes at the end of June 2025.

Equans has run some North East Lincolnshire services since 2010

There was an in-depth service-by-service review of current and future arrangements over the last six months.

Options considered included re-procurement, bringing services in house, establishment of an arms-length delivery company and partnership with other organisations, including neighbouring councils. 

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