January News

I stood for what I believe in. You can too. #beacouncillor

ID Needed to Vote on May 2nd Now probably better to vote by post

North Kesteven is going alone in Lincolnshire to require ID if voting in person. To vote on the day, you will need ID such as your passport or photo driver’s licence, or two types of non-photographic ID such as a utility bill and poll card. This will not apply to postal voters. Voting by post remains the same as always and becomes a more attractive option now. You can still bring your postal vote into the polling station on the day. Please consider registering for a postal vote. Here are the simple forms: https://www.yourvotematters.co.uk/ Return to NKDC, Kesteven St, Sleaford NG34 7EF or scan the form and e-mail to elections@n-kesteven.gov.uk.

Business in Lincolnshire
The Lincolnshire Business Expo will return for its fourth consecutive year on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at the Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground.
There is progress on the £70 million Lincoln Cornhill Quarter, a new factory making charging points for electric car is to open in Boston, with it 50 jobs and the 7% increase in tourism seen last year has prompted new budget hotels to Lincoln and Stamford.

Policing
You are invited to complete the annual ‘Lincolnshire Crime and Policing Survey’ Sponsored by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire, this survey aims to ensure that the views and priorities of the people and communities of Lincolnshire are reflected in the way our great county is policed. Last year nearly 3,000 residents participated in the inaugural survey and the findings informed the implementation of several new initiatives.
To participate in this year’s survey, please go to www.lincolnshirecrimeandpolicingsurvey2018.questionpro.com

Vote for Local Projects
Please support our local businesses to help keep a thriving local economy.  The Lincolnshire Co-op also gives locally, and many local businesses give raffle prizes for fund-raising.

New Charity to help the homeless
In Sleaford, opposite the Market square is a pop-up shop to help the homeless 10am-3pm. 07816 138914 daniel.nichols@p3charity.org This is in addition to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and the District Council.

Planning
Grantham New Road: The new road had a one-day Public Inquiry this week. All the objections had been dropped.

Trees
The mixed woodland on the Pottergate was legally removed last month. Village trees are tightly protected.
In the open countryside, trees can be felled as forestry with a licence from the Forestry Commission, which was correctly obtained for the Pottergate, along with expert advice.
I am also calling for better consultation on these applications, through the Council’s scrutiny process. If we feel any trees or groups of trees are important to the public view, we need to get them covered by a TPO from the District Council. That means the Council and the public would be consulted before any permissions are given.
The plan on the Pottergate is to thin the section around the buildings, remove the end sections both furthest from and nearest to the village and replant in adjacent areas.
Current Consultation: Councils are exempt from having to consult on their own tree work, along with utilities and Churches. The Forestry commission’s only required consultation is a note on their website. Should Communities have greater say in protecting local trees? What do you think? https://www.gov.uk/government/news/communities-to-have-greater-say-in-protecting-local-trees For more see p190 in of the Forestry Standard on their website. www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCFC001.pdf/$FILE/FCFC001.pdf

Lincolnshire Money: County Council
Councillors got to discuss ideas for budget proposals last month. I was able to use that to speak to ministers directly about funding and worked with colleagues cross-party, with success. Our calls for more funds from Central Government were heeded. We got one-off extra government funds for roads (£13.7m), adult care and children’s mental health and more money (now £7m) for the higher costs shown in providing rural services. It is welcome, but small compared to the 60pc of our funds taken from us and only for this already stormy year.
The County Council has been putting up tax by the maximum amount allowed, spending reserves, selling assets and increasing borrowing. Borrowing is now greater than the annual turnover and the 4% interest costs £20.3m/yr plus about the same again for repayment of the loan. The proposal is to spend £23.292m of reserves next year. The Council plans to spend £169m on roads and schools in 2018/20. I have repeatedly called for our Councils to find other ways of replacing the money lost from Central Government. The County Council has not responded until now, when a new Director for this has at last been appointed. Debbie Barnes is Acting CE.

The maximum tax rise allowed is 3%, plus 2% per year for adult care. The Police need to raise their 10% portion of the council tax. I will talk about the 10% District Council portion next month. The full proposals are here.

If there are ways you can see money being wasted, now is the time to raise them! The Budget decisions go before full Council in both District and County Councils in Feb.
I am holding the Council to fully use its improved highways budget and for planned reductions in pothole repair times to be reinstated. Money is planned to come out of heritage and tourism, as more is passed to the voluntary sector or be self-financing. This idea may struggle. Please let me know what you think.

Highways
After the tragic death of Millie outside the Sir William Robertson School, I am putting considerable focus on road safety. The Cliff Cluster of Parish Councils are working to get Speed Indicator Devices in operation and I have called for assistance from the Road Safety Partnership, Highways, the Chief Exective of the County Council and working with the School.
We have at last some significant improvements on potholes and resurfacing, and more are needed.
In the meantime, please keep saving lives by reporting dangerous potholes. You can phone 01522 782070 or better, mark the location on the map using the link from the home page of the County Council website, called “Report a Highways Fault”. If you use a smartphone, the “Fixmystreet” app can be downloaded. Your report ends in the same place, whichever method you use. It is the start point I need to chase them up.

Petition for better Rural Roads
With £13.7m extra from the government for potholes, LCC now plans to increase risk by taking 3x longer to repair dangerous potholes or sunken ironwork, from 28 days to 3 months, on many of our rural roads. This is outrageous. I have objected. Would anyone like to help getting support for a petition, please? New response times are shown here. www.lincolnshire.gov.uk//Download/114905
Our Rural roads need proper care

Local Issues, national solutions
Two highlights for me have been speaking in the Speaker’s House in the Houses of Parliament in recognition of 100 years since the first women got to vote. It is part of series both in the Cliff Villages and nationally.
The other highlight was representing you in the UK delegation of the Council for European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), which represents 130,000 councils across Europe. As the elected spokesperson on climate change and waste regulations, I recently had the honour of moderating at our conference in Ludwigsburg, near Stuttgart, bringing all sides together to agree directions and targets for a Carbon-neutral Europe by 2050, updating the Paris Agreements, five years on. This month, I have also been working to improve the Environment strategy at North Kesteven and the Waste Management Strategy for Lincolnshire.

Some Recent Events
Thank you very much indeed for all the wonderful Christmas events organised and supported by so many people. I loved the Christingle, Carol and Christmas eve services, the Christmas markets and fayres, parties, coffee-mornings and lunch events. I hope you enjoyed them too. Different in nature was “Long Shot” in Bassingham, very clever and very entertaining. Thank you.

Bassingham lunch Club Volunteers

Useful Information
Access to Wellbeing Services and care
The Carers service 01522 782224
carers_team@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Support for Adult care is available 01522 782155

To protect a house or business against flooding

How Do I Protect My Home From Flooding?

Roadworks www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/transport-and-
roads/overnight-roadworks
roadworks@lincolnshire.gov.uk
To receive info’ on twitter #lincscc_roads
Help save lives and keep countryside clean
Report Potholes 01522 782070
http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/potholes
Or use “Fix my street” on line – works well.
http://www.FixMyStreet.com

Report Litter 01529 414155
customer_services@n-kesteven.gov.uk
Report illegal parking 01522 511142 or
ParkingServices@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Adult Concern 01522 782151

Highways, Transport and Travel
Good newsletter from lincscountycouncil@gmail.comNew site www.accesslincoln.co.uk shows all the options, or ask accesslincoln@lincolnbig.co.uk 01522 581906
Call Connect 8.30am – 7pm Weekdays and to 5pm Saturdays 0345 234 33 44 or 01522 553143 www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/callconnect/35955.article
Dial a ride 01522 544983 Disabled door to door
Car-sharing www.lincshare.co.uk
Trains www.thetrainline.com

Local Plan www.central-lincs.org.uk 01529 308084
Mobile Library 01522 782010 or www.lincolnshire.gov.uk

Planning on line
See and comment on applications to get your voice heard. Search “planning on line north Kesteven”

Like to brush up on your French?
Paula Hellyer 07709 898 352 fhcfrench@gmail.com

Thank You
Thank you all for your support and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our and for all you do our communities. Let me know if I  can help further.

Kind Regards,

Marianne
Councillor Marianne Overton MBE

Independent Councillor for Branston and Navenby on Lincolnshire County Council and for the Cliff Villages on North Kesteven District Council
Leader of the Lincolnshire Independents
Vice Chairman of the Local Government Association