North East Lincolnshire Council has taken the step of managing key services in-house after ending its long-standing contract with private delivery partner, Equans. This marks the first time in 15 years that services such as highways, transport, building control, security, facilities management, and planning will fall under the direct responsibility of the council.
In 2008, the council chose to partner with a private sector organisation to handle these services, with a formal contract signed in 2010 with Balfour Beatty Workplace, now known as Equans Services Limited. The contract was extended in 2020, but recent decisions confirmed that it would not be renewed when it expires in 2025.
The council’s leadership sees this shift as an opportunity to realign services for greater efficiency and effectiveness, bringing all operations under one team. The 270 Equans employees transitioning back into the council will increase the total workforce to nearly 2,000, with the majority being local to the area.
This transition is part of the council’s strategy to ensure long-term sustainability in service delivery while maintaining high standards in key public services. The council is now focusing on integrating these functions smoothly into its operations over the coming months.
