Lincolnshire County Council LCC North Kesteven District Council NKDC

JANUARY NEWS News from your local, Independent Councillor,

MARIANNE OVERTON MBE

Supporting your Voices

Wishing you a very happy 2016.

Boundary Commission The government is asking you what you think of the way they are moving the boundaries for County Councillors. 1. Councillors take on more people and bigger areas, with less people. 2. The way in which villages are grouped changes. The government proposes splitting the cliff villages, so that the north part goes in with Heighington. The southern end including Navenby go in with Bassingham and many other smaller villages to South Hykeham and the A46. I proposed keeping the Cliff Villages together as we have many natural links along the A607. Descriptions of these links from you would help. Please add your voice before 8th February. Search on “boundary commission Lincolnshire” or https://consultation.lgbce.org.uk/node/5183

Supporting our Communities Dunston Petition for road safety on the B1188 Yvonne Bayliss presented the petition of 404 signatures, calling for specific road safety improvements on the B1188 at Dunston. It was supported by an excellent letter of support written by Nick Byatt, also from Dunston. As we got the petition off the ground, I was pleased to then get the Highways staff out to look at first hand. We did get the speed limit lowered, but because of the shape of the road, there are only a few seconds visibility. This is particularly dangerous for the disabled. Thank you to everyone who signed the petition. It is now being considered at top level.

Leadenham and Whisby “Tips” are under threat In response to government cuts, local services are being reviewed with possible closure. What would be the effect? Can we come up with a solution? January 14th 7-8.30pm at the Venue, Navenby. Local services need your support, please help.

What we want to avoid

Nick Byatt and Yvonne Bayliss in full County Council.

The B1188 was blocked this week after a vehicle turned over into the ditch at Nocton. Dunston Consultation on village plan Following hot on the heels of Welbourn’s success, Dunston is going out for its first six-week consultation from 24th January. Leaflets and meetings are planned and it will be available on the web on the Dunston Dossier. Please have your say.

Information New anti-fraud hotline Fraud costs councils £2bn every year. False claims for housing, council tax discounts and Blue Badges, and using grants or contracts for other than the agreed purpose. 0800 0853716 or email [email protected].

Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Lincolnshire Independents, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH [email protected] 01400 273323 or www.lincolnshireindependents.org

Supporting local services Council Tax The government is not raising income tax, but instead expects council tax to rise by 2%, specifically to assist with adult care. That is on top of the 2% increase already in the pipeline. That makes a 17% increase in Council tax over four years. However, the government also announced a living wage which costs us tax payers an additional £30m. The 2% will not be enough. Worse, this Conservative government has shortchanged Lincolnshire again, favouring the metropolitan areas. Indeed, the worst-hit are what used to be “conservative heartlands”, such as Dorset and Surrey. Our County has to urgently undertake a concerted campaign, working together cross party for the good of all our residents. Councils are also turning to devolution in the hope of running things more efficiently, working more closely across different public authorities. New homes bonus: This is money given by central government in exchange for planning permissions. This is now likely to reduce. District Councils have been getting 80% of the money, but the biggest cost for schools, roads, care and health facilities, has fallen on the County Councl. These authorities have not been able to keep up, hence worsening roads, hospitals struggling etc.

Broadband I met with Steve Brookes in charge of the BT broadband contract. We had a battle for Coleby, Nocton and Branston. I was encouraged to see the speed now entering individual properties in Coleby is as much as 60mB/sec. The extra cabinet that we demanded has paid off. I also saw the new cabinet at Nocton is on order to be completed by March, hopefully sooner. Up to nearly 4km we should get full speed, dropping to around the contract level of 24mB/s after a few kilometres. Some people near a box have been helped by having the BT wires changed over in the exchange. Branston library is not on this contract, so I am seeking further answers. The good news is that there is around £10m underspend, still to be invested, partly because more people have signed up than expected, making it cheaper for us all. We are about to close phase one and start on phase two. Steve puts the news updates on the website. www.onlincolnshire.org Branston Library Thanks to the volunteers and one staff member, Lesa, working hard to run the library with a host of activities. It opens Mon and Wed 10am-2pm, Saturday morning ‘til 1pm, and Friday afternoon 16pm. [email protected] 01522 880426 or For a book or CD search, phone 01522 782010 or www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/libraries Lincolnshire Independents At full Council on North Kesteven District Council

Our County Council used reserves to balance the books over the last two years and will do so again, until it is gone. There are some consultation events which I hope you will want to attend. Responses from the public are being used to influence the council. Please add your voice to make sure the needs of our residents are heard.

Supporting Welbourn Forge

Public Consultation: Jan 13th at NKDC in Sleaford 6-8pm http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/budget Decisions: Full Council at LCC on Feb 26th 10am and at NKDC on 25th Feb at NKDC 5pm Welcome to ask questions, in advance.

Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Lincolnshire Independents, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH [email protected] 01400 273323 or www.lincolnshireindependents.org

Supporting our Heritage

Local Information

Lincoln Castle The castle and shop are well worth a visit, now and when the Magna Carta is back on display in April. (One ticket does two visits) Owned by the County Council, the £22m refurbishment used mainly external funding for the wall walk and visitor centre. It has seen over 200,000 visitors to date.

Help save lives and keep countryside clean Report Potholes 01522 782070 Or use “Fix my street” on line – works well.

There is a Magna Carta Celebratory book of Lincolnshire Poems and articles, titled “800”. Only 1215 copies of the book have been produced, with 800 being distributed to schools and libraries. The remaining 415 copies, all signed by the three famed poets and are for sale at £8. http://festival800.co.uk/beta/product/800-book/

Supporting local Events Wildlife Watch for Children Wildlife Watch is our outdoor activity club for children aged 713yrs who like wildlife. The new calendar of monthly weekend events is now out, starting with a visit to a new RSPB Winter Stone Chat at centre at Langford Gibraltar Point Reserve Lowfields, Collingham. The club forms the junior part of the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts. New members are welcome and you can come along just to see. Please contact me or Jean Martin on 01636 626176 [email protected] Thanks to the many local volunteers organising lovely events and services over Christmas; including Christingle at Wellingore, Christmas at Navenby and a lovely Boxing Day walk at Welbourn.

http://www.FixMyStreet.com

Report Litter 01529 414155 Adult Concern 01522 782151 Non urgent Health 111, Police 101 Grants [email protected] Anti-terrorism hotline is 0800 789 321 or in an emergency 999. More on http://bit.ly/1Se6LrD Power: support with NHS Complaints 0300 456 2370 http://www.power.net Transport and Travel Call Connect 8.30am - 7pm Weekdays and to 5pm Saturdays 0345 234 33 44 or 01522 553143 [email protected] Dial a ride 01522 544983 Disabled door to door Roadworks [email protected] To receive info’ on twitter #lincscc_roads Car-sharing www.lincshare.co.uk Trains www.thetrainline.com Local Plan www.central-lincs.org.uk 01529 308084

January Events 9th Books & Butties Wellingore Memorial Hall 10am 13th Wellingore U3A Antiques Group presentation Wellingore Memorial Hall 10am th 13 Coleby Community library and coffee 10.30am 13th County budget consultation at NKDC, Sleaford, Full line up ready for you 6-8pm th 14 Valentines dinnerat The George, Leadenham 16th Bring and Buy Book Sale Branston Library 10-1 19/20th Leadenham Players with Beauty and the Beast Leadenham Hall 7pm & Sat 2.30pm 23rd St Peter’s Coffee morning, Navenby Hosted by June Mundy 79 High St, Navenby 10.30am-noon th 25 Robbie Burns Night 26th Coleby & District Gardener’s Club Vill. Ha. 7.30 29th/30th Leadenham Players with Beauty and the Beast Fri 7pm and Sat 2.30 and 7pm 30th Navenby Methodist Coffee Morning 10.30am 30th We are Bronte Harmston Memorial Hall £8/5 Box Office 722462 and Thorold Arms 7.30pm February 6th National Library Day in Branston 10-1

Best Wishes,

Marianne Overton MBE Published by Marianne Overton MBE, Lincolnshire Independents, Hilltop, Welbourn, Lincs LN5 0QH [email protected] 01400 273323 or www.lincolnshireindependents.org