25TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORGANISATION WHICH HAS SERVED BRIGG WELL

An organisation which has touched the lives of every Brigg resident in different ways, and served our town well, has reached its 25th anniversary.
North Lincolnshire Council came into being on April 1, 1996 as a new unitary authority under local government reorganisation instigated from Parliament.
Providing a wide range of services, it took over from Humberside County Council and Glanford Borough Council (both created in 1974).
Brigg Blog is unaware of any current celebrations by North Lincolnshire Council to mark its 25th anniversary, but this is not really surprising as, sadly, the Coronavirus emergency is still with us. Not a time to celebrate, many will think.
However, we were expecting the council might have posted something on its website - perhaps a box or emblem on the home page noting that it has now been serving the public across North Lincolnshire for 25 years.
When formed in April 1996 the new authority took charge of council housing (later passed to a social landlord), planning, refuse collection and disposal, education (no academies back then), libraries, markets, tourism, economic development, social services, leisure and recreation, council tax collection, election organisation, youth services and many others. It has also given valuable financial support to various local bus services over the years.
Scores of people living in Brigg and district became employees of North Lincolnshire Council 25 years ago, having formerly been on the payroll of Humberside and Glanford.
An early decision made by North Lincolnshire Council saw its Brigg base - the offices on Station Road - named Hewson House to mark the great contribution made to local government by Coun George Hewson, of Brigg - former chairman of Brigg Urban District Council and later Glanford's first Mayor.
Two new schools have been built in Brigg during North Lincolnshire's era, and the council has revamped the Recreation Ground by providing a floodlit all-weather pitch, tennis courts and a new changing room block. Many local groups and societies have received grants. It also established and developed the very popular monthly Brigg Farmers' Markets. Latterly, the Angel building in the town centre has been transformed into a community hub, while the Buttercross has been refurbished.
Ian Cawsey was the first Leader of North Lincolnshire Council in 1996 (later becoming MP for Brigg & Goole with an office at 7 Market Place, Brigg). Sir Nic Dakin was NLC's Leader prior to being elected MP for Scunthorpe - a seat now held by Holly Mumby-Croft. Brigg's Coun Rob Waltham MBE is the current Leader.
Coun Rob represents the Brigg & Wolds Ward alongside Couns Carl and Nigel Sherwood. Carl is one of the cabinet members with special responsibility for rural areas, while Nigel also has an important role as chair (man) of the Planning Committee.
Obviously, over 25 years, not everything the council has done, or not done, has pleased everyone.
We recall an earlier period when Brigg missed out on bin collections at bank holidays. But changes were made, and for many years North Lincolnshire Council's refuse (and now recycling) collections have been one of its most effective services to the public.
Many residents will also remember, years ago, periods of bad weather during which there was a slow response when it came to clearing Brigg streets of accumulated snow and ice. However, the council's policy was revised with Brigg town centre designated as a priority area for salting and snow removal.

PICTURED: Brigg Farmers' Market, the Union Jack flag flying recently outside the council's Hewson House offices, and a Brigg Hockey Club match on the all-weather pitch at the Rec Ground (pre-Covid emergency).