Former council leader takes up YMCA trustee role

Former North East Lincolnshire Council leader Ray Oxby, who had a “very public fall from grace”, has taken up a new role at YMCA Humber.

Mr Oxby has been appointed to the Grimsby-based charity’s board as a trustee.

The YMCA said that Mr Oxby, who had 36 year career in local government, will bring a wealth of experience to the role.

The news comes four months after the former council leader was handed a 28 month driving ban for drink driving.

In a statement on the YMCA website, Mr Oxby said he was pleased to take up the role at the charity.

Former North East Lincolnshire Council Labour leader Ray Oxby on his way into the court in October 2019. Photo: Daniel Jaines

“I am delighted to join the Grimsby based YMCA at a time of amazing opportunity,” he said.

“With a new and visionary Chief Executive Debbie Cook at the helm and an inspirational Chair and Trustees delivering exciting and wide ranging initiatives to grow the housing and life support offer to our young people, in strong partnership with the council and other strategic commissioners, the future has never been brighter for our clients.”

Mr Oxby’s appointment comes after the former South ward councillor had a “very public fall from grace”.

He resigned as leader of the council and Labour group leader in March 2019, citing health reasons and personal abuse.

In October, he pleaded guilty to drink driving after reversing his Nissan X-Trail into his garden wall a month before resigning his local authority leadership.

Mr Oxby said he had been subject to vitriol and abuse following a controversial decision on Toll Bar roundabout.

How the YMCA hostel on Grimsby’s Freeman Street would look.

Now, he said he hopes to provide “value and opportunity” for young people as part of his role at the YMCA.

The charity was given the go-ahead for an £8 million hostel on Grimsby’s Freeman Street by the council last year.

As part of the plan, the charity will build a four-storey, 74 bedroom unit with a health and wellbeing centre, cafe, gym and conference and exhibition rooms.

More than 50 people will be employed at the new development after transferring from the current site in Peaks Lane.

YMCA Chief Executive Debbie Cooke said previously that the plan will help to base the charity “at the heart of the community”.

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEKLY, our exclusive email newsletter with highlights from our coverage every week and insights and analysis from our local democracy reporters.