News from District Councillor Lucille Hagues
LOCAL GOVERNMENT RE-ORGANISATION
On Tuesday 18th March Council considered a draft proposal on how Local Government Reorganisation may work across Greater Lincolnshire area which was due for submission to Central Government by 21st March.
Consideration was based upon the six core criteria set out in the statuary invitation with details focused on:
- Place and Population
- The Power of Place
- Aligning Economic and Administrative Geography
- Renewing Local Public Services
- Financial Building Blocks
- Local Democracy and Indicative Councillor Numbers
- Early Indicative Transition Costs and Implementation Plans
- Local Engagement
The indicative timetable anticipated that a full business case on the proposals would be expected by 28th November 2025
ELECTIONS MAY 1ST 2025
Elections will be held on May 1st, 2025, to elect the first mayor for the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority and a number of Lincolnshire County Councillors.
The elections for Lincolnshire County Council will see 11 County Councillors elected to the 11 Electoral Divisions across North Kesteven.
The nomination deadline for a paper submission is 4PM ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 2ND.
Statements of persons nominated will be published on Thursday April 3rd. See n-kesteven.gov.uk/elections2025
You must be registered to vote, if eligible. The DEADLINE to do, or to amend/cancel this is midnight on Friday April 11th. Visit the website to register.
For deadline to for applying to vote by proxy or by post, or to amend/cancel a proxy or postal vote, see our webpage.
E-WASTE ACTION WEEK SUCCESS
NKDC worked with Sleaford Climate Action Network to run an E-Waste Action last week (10 – 15th March 2025) – and here are the results.
Multiple collections took place during the week from Sleaford Library and Heckington Library, and a large volume of donations came into Ruskington Methodist Church on Saturday morning.
Donated were 84 laptops, 69 tablets/e-readers and 252 mobile phones.
There were thousands of cables – too many to count – in volume being much more than a builders merchant tonne bag-full.
The Repair Café was the busiest the Sleaford Climate Action Network has had to date, with more than 50 people attending with items for repair, some bringing multiple items.
All the donated items will be taken to Sivill Service in Tattershall who will work to repurpose or recycle the items free of charge. Anything that can be refurbished will be donated to good causes locally.
Among the items donated which weren’t expected were several home printers, a broken 3D player, various computer components , hundreds of ADSL internet filters and many home phones and routers.
Find out more at https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/e-waste
GRANT OF £9.1M WON FOR RETROFIT
A further £18.4m is to be invested in making Council homes in North Kesteven warmer and more energy efficient to live in.
A grant of £9.1m in government funding will be added to the £9.36m already agreed by NKDC in its capital programme to upgrade council homes in the District.
This gives a total of £18.44m to make over 750 Council homes warmer, greener and typically cheaper to run.
It is expected that work will take place between April 2025 and March 2028, with each home seeing on average around £24.000 of investment in green technology and insulation.
ARMED FORCES WEEK COMPETITION OPEN FOR ENTRIES
Would your child like their artwork to be seen across the District?
In tribute to the contribution that members of our British Armed Forces community make their lives across the District and beyond, NKDC are inviting primary and secondary schoolchildren in North Kesteven to help them promote the importance of the Armed Forces day.
The competition theme is: 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR 11, WITH VE (VICTORY IN EUROPE) AND VJ DAY (VICTORY OVER JAPAN) DAYS. Using any medium, entrants are invited to draw their design and return it to NKDC before Friday April 4th 2025. The winning poster design will be used to promote this year’s Armed Forces Weeks events, as well as the artist receiving a prize. The overall prize is a £25 book token, then a first prize and second prize of £15 and £10 for each school year stage.
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO CELEBRATE: 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF VE AND VJ DAY
The May Bank Holiday, Monday 5th May, will see the Cenotaph dressed in Union flags, a Military procession, and a fly past in London. Street parties, BBQ’s and community get togethers will be held across the country, echoing the celebrations 80 years ago, and a ceremony on HMS Belfast will kick off community celebrations.
On Thursday May 8th, the VE programme, will include a service of remembrance and thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey, followed by a concert.
On Friday 15th August, The Royal British Legion will lead the nation in honouring and remembering those who fought and died during the War and Far East with a service marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day at the National Memorial Arboretum. This will all be accompanied by the National Engagement Programme, including educational resources and creative community activity.
FUND TO SUPPORT VE DAY COMMINITY CELEBRATION
A fund is being made available to support the North Kesteven community in celebrating and commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE and VJ day.
Community and voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises with financial resources below £10,000 can apply for a grant for up to £500 each to deliver local events relating to VE or VJ day that benefit communities.
THIS FUND WILL CLOSE FOR APPLICATIONS FOR VE DAY EVENTS ON APRIL 14TH AND JULY 21ST FOR VJ DAY EVENTS. EARLY APPLICATION IS ADVISED TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.
Visit NKDC Fundingwebpage for eligibility criteria and an application form.
Funding activity must take place within a week either side of May 8th and be a benefit to NK residents.
Eligible costs include venue hire, promotional materials, decorating and entertainment and the purchase of refreshments but not alcohol, benches or structures.
CHAIRMAN’S CHARITY WELLBEING WALK
The Chairman of the Council, Cllr Andrew Hagues, invites you to join him for a Charity Wellbeing Walk, next Wednesday, 2nd April 2025. It’s a great chance to enjoy some fresh air, beautiful scenery , and bond with officer’s and Members.
Please bring along friends and family and not forgetting your furry friends too.
Here are the details:
DATE Wednesday 2nd April 2025
STARTING POINT The Depot, Scoley Court, Moorlands, Metheringham, LN4 3BS
TIME Arrive at the Depot 4.30pm, the walk will start at 5.00pm
DISTANCE Approximately 3 miles
PARKING Free
COST OF EVENT Voluntary contribution to the Chairman’s Charity – LINCOLNSHIRE RURAL SUPPORT NETWORK
After the walk, we’ll head back to the Depot for some delicious refreshments and draw the raffle.
Please register your attendance with NK-CorporateAndCivicSupportTeam@n-Kesteven.gov.uk if you are thinking of joining us so we can plan the refreshments. Raffle tickets are £2 and can be purchased from the Corporate and Civic support team. Feel free to pop into the office G65 (ground floor, Lafford terrace) before 12 noon on WEDNESDAY APRIL 2ND or you can purchase tickets at the charity walk.
Top prize is a THREE COURSE LUNCH FOR TWO AT WASHINGBOROUGH HALL HOTEL, and plenty of other prizes.
NEW CAR PARK IN SLEAFORD
A new car park is to be created on Sleaford’s derelict ambulance station on Kesteven Street to create additional public parking near to the town centre.
NKDC has bought the old ambulance station on Kesteven to create additional public parking close to the town centre.
And through an early decision to offer the first hour free, and a charge of £1.50 for up to three hours and £3.50 for longer. It will support workers , shoppers and visitors to The Hub and nearby leisure centre, in particular.
EASTER AT SLEAFORD MARKET PLACE
Families searching for Easter fun can hop into Sleaford for free outdoor activities including a trail with a chance to get a Cadbury chocolate egg – all for free.
A special Easter Garden will be in the main square of Sleaford’s Market Place from 11.00am – 4.00pm on Saturday April 12th.
There at the Easter Garden, you can pick up a leaflet and embark on an Easter trail by finding all 10 town centre businesses and venues displaying the special window stickers shown. Return your completed trail leaflet to the Easter Garden to claim a free Cadbury egg – whilst stocks last, one egg per child or adult showing the completed leaflet.
Each completed leaflet is also entry to the Easter Garden itself, where the fun continues. From creating Easter cards and crafting masks, there’s plenty in the garden to keep children busy. There’ll also be face painting, with the exact location to be confirmed.
Best Wishes
Lucille