NEW MAYOR IS LONGSTANDING AND POPULAR STALWART OF GRIMSBY-AREA COMMUNITY

Cllr Beasant: "I wouldn't want to live anywhere other than Grimsby"

WHEN long-serving councillor Steve Beasant becomes Mayor of North East Lincolnshire next Thursday evening, March 19, he should have no problem controlling council meetings when feelings run high.

This is because he is a former top Lincolnshire football referee and well capable of keeping a grip when tempers become frayed.

In fact, if needs must, he may still have a yellow and red card to flash in council chamber debates (and perhaps a whistle in  his pocket).

Cllr Beasant has been sitting member of Grimsby's  East Marsh ward for almost two decades.

He also once stood as Great Grimsby candidate in a parliamentary election.

He is a member of the Liberal-Democrats, but is not notably partisan in his political views, preferring co-operation to confrontation.

Although a forthright public speaker, and not one to mince his words, he has always been popular with colleagues across the political spectrum.

Says he: "I am married to my wife Carol and we have three grown-up sons and two smashing grandchildren, Nathan and James.

"I was born and bred in Grimsby and have lived here all my life except for nine months when I was working in Canada.

"Some individuals may 'call' my home town, but I would not want to live anywhere else."

Cllr Beasant used to work for Birds Eye as maintenance fitter until he developed epilepsy in 1988, but, thanks to medication, this is now under control.

As a mature student, he subsequently enrolled at York University and came away with a good degree in Politics and Sociology.

Thereafter, he completed a postgraduate certificate in Public Sector Modernisation.

After leaving university, he supported a local epilepsy charity and spoke at a number of national conferences on  this baffling neurological condition.

He has a special interests in community cohesion and all matters relating to children’s services. 

He is a school governor at Queen Mary Infant School and chairperson of the local authority Pupil Referral Unit. 

However, he is much more than just a meetings-only type of councillor. He is hands-on and always ready to get his hands dirty if a project, however arduous, needs completing.

Cllr Beasant will be succeeding current Mayor Cllr David Hasthorpe (Con, Wolds) in the one-year role.

His deputy will  be Cllr Ian Lindley (Con, Scartho) who will be stepping down as a cabinet portfolio holder.

In his capacity as deputy mayor, Cllr Beasant attended last November's Remembrance Day service in Cleethorpes