Leaders of the main parties who hold councillor seats have already put forward their policy pitch to voters. But who are the other parties and candidates standing for North East Lincolnshire Council ? Only a third of seats are up for
election - one for each of the 15 wards. Away from the big three parties, there are 11 Trade Unionist and Socialist (TUSC) candidates, nine independent and three Green Party standing. Below is a rundown of them all as they give their pitches to Grimsby Live and the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) on why you should vote for them on Thursday ... Read more: Local
elections May 4 - full list of candidates for North East Lincolnshire Council Independent - Paul Henderson Paul Henderson is standing in Yarborough ward. Freshney ward independent Lyndsey Downes and Mr Henderson are each supporting the other's campaign. Why are you standing as an independent? "I'm standing as an independent because I think there's more to be done to improve quality of life for people. "When I was looking for a political party to get behind, none of them really had anything for me." He criticised the "Punch and Judy show" of North East Lincolnshire Council meetings currently, having attended several to ask questions. It is the first time he has ever stood. Traffic management and anti-social behaviour were issues he noted as affecting the ward. For example, the last traffic survey found 18,000 cars travelling on the Laceby bypass daily. "It's returning to that sort of pre-Covid level," Mr Henderson, also adding that Broadway, Yarborough, had become "a bit of a rat run" and speeding was a problem. As a new candidate, how have you found it? Mr Henderson had sent out over 12,000 leaflets and letters to all voters in the ward and enjoyed having a team of people supporting him. (Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford) "There's a whole movement of people who feel that party politics has nothing for them." There was a lot of voter apathy and he argued: "The other parties have really talked about national issues and not really engaged on local issues." "When I knock on doors, I find a receptive audience," he said, adding people were generally "not very impressed with the purchase of Freshney Place". If elected, what will be your priorities for Yarborough and North East Lincolnshire? "The first thing is to stop the development of Freshney Valley, nobody wants that on their doorstep." As well as the bread and butter of a local councillor being available to people, he summarised his policy priorities as: Stop the council wasting money Fix broken services Stop harmful building. He said of the council: "It seems that their whole strategy is holing out of the town, building on greenfield sites. "As a council, we often hear they've got ambitious regeneration plans, but they often lack common sense and I feel like we're throwing money down a black hole." He suggested more council operations in the town centre as one way to bring people back in. "There's about eight-and-a-half-thousand people in Yarborough ward. In the last election, you could get elected with 10 per cent of the vote." "In the final reckoning, I hope they will think about who's written to them, who they have seen walking about, who's best to represent them and put an X in my box." Dave Barton, independent candidate for South ward. (Image: Dave Barton) Independent - Dave Barton Dave Barton is an independent candidate for Immingham ward. He has been an Immingham town councillor for 12 years and stood in the last two council elections. Unusually, he has a deliberate policy not to door knock. He said he had lived long enough in Immingham for people to know who he was. "Door knocking for me interferes with people's lives," he said. "My thoughts are that people will realise it's time for a change and an independent is the way to change it." Why are you standing as an independent? "Because of the voice of the people of the community should be heard more over politics." "Your local ward councillor is more to do with what's going on in your community and your area," said Mr Barton, who felt there was too much emphasis locally on party politics in the area. If elected, what will be your policy priorities for Immingham and North East Lincolnshire? "There needs to be a check on spending," Mr Barton said, adding: "I think there's a lot of money currently being wasted. Examples he gave were the purchase of Freshney Place shopping centre, and the former Poundland building in Grimsby, earmarked for a potential transport hub. Mr Barton noted the council had not got the funding for the hub. "A more wiser spending regime needs to be looked at to think more on the current cost of living situation," he said, adding that the local NHS and social services such as adult care were struggling. He argued that more independents on the council will potentially bring more expertise. "People think because we're not a large voice we don't have a say in the council." As parties who run the council choose from their own grouping cabinet members, Mr Barton said: "They more than not don't have any experience whatsoever." More independents could lead to more people having knowledge of the cabinet position they run, he argued. Mr Barton is also worried about the impact of the new photo ID requirement may have and people without it being turned away. "My catchphrase last year was don't lose your voice, come and vote." Not able to access our election issues poll below? Click here . TUSC Dave Mitchell, the party's candidate in Park ward, explained TUSC's stance. The party was formed in 2009 by Bob Crow, then leader of the RMT union, and Mr Mitchell described the party as "a voice left of Labour". What are TUSC's policy priorities for North East Lincolnshire if elected? Mr Mitchell said that TUSC candidates in North East Lincolnshire have all agreed to forego the £8,000 or so allowance they would receive if elected as a councillor. "We will only take the genuine out of pocket expenses." Instead, they would put their allowances into funds for whatever ward their councillors are elected in. They would also "call on the council to use its powers and resources to ensure that no-one's sleeping rough in the streets of North East Lincolnshire". But their main aim would be for a needs-based council budget as called for by Unite trade union, with no cuts and no council tax increases. "We would launch a campaign to put pressure on central government to resource some of the money that's been cut over the years," he said of a scenario where the council has not the funding already to meet the community's needs. "Councils up and down the country are in a massive crisis, it's through no fault of the people of North East Lincolnshire," he said. Any particular priorities for wards you have candidates in? Mr Mitchell picked out Sidney Sussex, where Mark Gee is TUSC's candidate. If Mr Gee was elected, he would prioritise getting funding support and directing his allowance to the ward's foodbank, Pitstop in the Park. "There are a lot of areas of Sidney Sussex that are run down," Mr Mitchell said, mentioning litter, blocked alleyways and boarded up housing as issues there. TUSC would also push for an agency to control private landlords in the council area, and to use public venues such as St Aidan's Church, Grimsby, to hold events to "explain to people what they're entitled to" in terms of government support. Mr Mitchell said the party was not under any illusions about the challenge this May, but Sidney Sussex ward was a particular focus. Want to sign up to the Grimsby newsletter, but can’t access the link below? Click here . Independent - Phillip Moulson The LDRS has been unable to make contact with Mr Moulson, who is standing in South ward. On the ballot as an independent, when his
Facebook profile announced his candidacy, a link was posted to a video of the Alliance for Democracy and Freedom (ADF). The video talked of "common sense policies", re-establishing
British traditions and a "way of life without interference from other nations". Mr Moulson stood for the ADF in South ward last year. Green Party The Greens are fielding three candidates in North East Lincolnshire. The LDRS has not been able to make contact with the local party. However, the basic Green Party platform these local elections is for more actions at council level to mitigate the climate and ecological emergency and a focus on the cost of living crisis. The policies the Greens are nationally campaigning on this year include: Investing £250bn over 10 years in council-led schemes to insulate 10 million homes An immediate freeze on rent rises and a ban on no-fault evictions to protect households A £1 single fare on all local bus routes in the country and guarantee free travel for everyone under 22. Independent - Karen Batson South ward independent candidate Karen Batson (Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford) Karen Batson, married to current councillor Paul Batson, has lived in South ward for 38 years. A new park at The Grange and play area improvements to Nunsthorpe Recreation Ground were key aims for her. "They're adding things to parks where they've already got things," she said in criticism of the council's current play areas policy. To read more about Mrs Batson's candidacy, view here . Independent - Keith Watkin West Marsh independent ward Candidate Keith Watkin (Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford) Keith Watkin was an independent councillor for West Marsh area back in the early 2000s and is standing there again. He promised if elected to scrutinise council promised policies and to ensure "someone is made responsible when they don't do it". As well as more action on anti-social behaviour, Mr Watkin wanted to revive partnership working. He said of a ward councillor's role in this: "If you are there to help and be the in-between, you should be the contact with all the organisations, like your
police, your council, your health service, you're their saviour in some cases." To read more about Mr Watkin's candidacy, view here . Independent - Jane Bramley Standing again in South ward, Jane Bramley has been a councillor there before, but for
Labour and UKIP. South Ward independent candidate Jane Bramley (Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford) "I'm always out and about. People know me, if not by name, they know me by my face." Fixing potholes, particularly in the Winchester Avenue area, was highlighted as a policy priority. She also wanted increased recreational opportunities for young people, as well as indicating support for a possible day care centre for the elderly. To read more about Ms Bramley's candidacy, view here . Independent - Lyndsey Downes Lyndsey Downes is chair of Save the Freshney Valley and has lived in the ward virtually all her life. She has campaigned passionately against development in the so-called Freshney Valley. This includes not only now dormant plans for a Grimsby West relief road, but also private developer hopes to build as many as 3,600 new homes. Lyndsey Downes, Independent candidate for Freshney ward (Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford) "I'm not a career politician, it's the first time I've stood and I'm standing because I think a lot of people can resonate with what I feel about party politics." She promised if elected she is "somebody who isn't afraid to say things as they are," and would call out council "vanity projects". To read more about Ms Downes' candidacy, view here . Independent - Mick Kiff Mick Kiff stood in 2019 and has lived in the Willows for 50 years. Part of his policy platform includes standing in support of future housing development in the Freshney Valley area, saying: "I want the town to move on. Mick Kiff, Independent candidate for Freshney ward (Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford) "The Willows was marshland, the Wybers Wood was a field. They're not going to build on the Freshney River because they can't." Besides concerns over social housing, Mr Kiff said of his policy priorities, "it's about the town, we've got to get the town going". To read more about Mr Kiff's candidacy, view here . Independent - Peter Barker Peter Barker is standing in West Marsh, an area he was a councillor for 35 years, last in 2011. "This is my 26th election, every one in the West Marsh, I've only wanted to represent the West Marsh." West Marsh independent ward Candidate Peter Barker (Image: GrimsbyLive/Donna Clifford) "To continue the work I do with churches and community groups and to support youth groups," he said as a priority. He would also like the council to work with bus operator Stagecoach East Midlands to improve bus services. To read more about Mr Barker's candidacy, view here . Read next: Local elections - Liberal Democrat policy pitch to North East Lincolnshire Council voters Labour's pitch to North East Lincolnshire Council voters ahead of local election Conservatives on why they deserve your vote in North East Lincolnshire Council election Residents rage at giant mound of earth that is 'attracting youths on bikes and drug users' Why you should care about Northern Lincolnshire local elections on May 4 Read More Related Articles Floral tributes left at scene of tragic death in Laceby Morrisons car park Read More Related Articles Grimsby
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