A joint motion was put forward at an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council today, Friday 28 June, to support steelworkers, protect jobs and ensure a sustainable future for steel making in Scunthorpe.
This follows the announcement of British Steel going into insolvency in May 2019.
The joint motion was put forward by the leader of the Conservative Party, Cllr Rob Waltham and the Leader of the Labour Party, Cllr Len Foster. It was seconded by Cllr John Briggs, Ambassador for Inward investment and Steel and Cllr Tony Gosling.
It reads as follows:
“The council resolves on behalf of local steelworkers, their families and future generations, to promote the world-class integrated steelworks in Scunthorpe, with its highly skilled and committed workforce.
“This council commits to work with any future owner, to protect jobs, and to work with the government to secure additional investment to further enhance steel production facilities in Scunthorpe.
“And that this council works with the UK Governments to invest in British Steel as a significant long term stakeholder, to ensure the continuity of steel making in Scunthorpe and the UK, accepting the strategic significance of steel production within the UK.
“This council resolves that every council member will work together, cross party, with the unions and government to ensure a sustainable future for steel making in Scunthorpe.
“Furthermore, that this council fully commits to the use of UK steel in its procurement policies, and puts pressure on UK Government to do the same.”
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said:
“The government has already committed millions of pounds to keep the steel industry working: paying wages, meeting current supplier costs and committing to future material costs.
“Greg Clark, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, chairs a weekly meeting to bring together important steel industry figures including employee representatives, the local council and local enterprise partnerships.
“The steelworkers in Scunthorpe are our friends and our neighbours, our family members, our parents and our children.
“For their future and for the future of steel manufacturing in our area, and recognising its strategic importance of this industry to our country, it is vital we work together cross-party to send a united message to any future buyer that we are an area that is open for business and that we are keen to see a successful steel industry in our town.”
Cllr Len Foster, leader of the Labour Group in North Lincolnshire, said:
“These are obviously very worrying times for steelworkers and their families. Unfortunately it is less than three years since we was in a similar situation with TATA / Greybull. We all hope that a more long-term permanent solution can be found to retain primary steel making within the Scunthorpe site. And everyone in public life should be committed to ensuring a positive future for all involved in steel.”
