North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) has ended its contract with Equans after 15 years.
For the first time since 2010, the management of highways and transport, building control, security and facilities management, architecture and highways design services, civil engineering, and planning will now be the sole responsibility of the council.
In 2008, NELC decided to appoint a private-sector delivery partner to work alongside it in providing these services and leading some regeneration projects. By 2010, it had entered into a 10-year contract with Balfour Beatty Workplace – now Equans Services Limited – which was later extended by five years.
It was subsequently announced that the contract would not be renewed beyond 2025.
As a result, 270 Equans employees have transferred back under NELC’s direct management.
Council Leader, Councillor Philip Jackson, said that although “the decision to partner with a private organisation was no doubt the right one” at the time, the council “firmly believes this is the right way forward for North East Lincolnshire.”
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2020.