News from District Councillor Lucille Hagues
Councillor Lucille Hagues – Newsletter - January 2025
MARKET PLACE REOPENS
The market Place in Sleaford has now reopened after the refurbishment and you can now step onto the Market Place and see the refreshed space for yourself.
The new sandstone paving lightens up the area and reflects the historic buildings around it. There are now two raised planters with lighting and inbuilt benches, plus up-lighting for the War Memorial and in the surrounding trees to create a welcoming space to be.
With the old hut now demolished, a new defibrillator has been installed in a more prominent place to access in emergency.
A small section at the front corner of the Market Place (near St Denys’) does remain fenced off – that’s because the unexpected snow and below zero temperatures a few weeks ago delayed work by a week.
A huge thank you to Smith Construction (Heckington Ltd and its teams for ensuring that most of the Market Place was ready to reopen as planned, despite the delay.
The paving in this small section will be finished at the earliest opportunity by Smith Construction, in early January, as well as a few remaining benches to be installed. There’ll be a period to review the work and ensure everything is exactly as it should be, with every detail perfect.
There are also additional finishing touches to come, including repairs and repainting of the bus shelter, and a full window clean and any paint touch ups needed for the businesses surrounding the works (in addition to window cleaning during the works).
ENGLISH DEVOLUTION WHITE PAPER
The White Paper promotes some key policy themes, related to the government’s missions, signalling a shift to a preventative model of service delivery, to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation and reduce inequalities in health outcomes. It relates also to the government’s aspiration to meet housing need, and to improve economic performance. The government sees a significant role for local government in these areas and is proposing devolution of powers to boost local government capacity by promoting the establishment of Mayoral Combined Authorities across England. Locally The Greater Lincolnshire devolution agreement establishes a Mayoral Combined Authority, with elections for a Mayor due to take place in May.
The White Paper also outlines the government’s aspirations to create what it calls ‘Simpler structures’ for local government in England. The White Paper recommends that unitary councils be established across England with a population threshold of 500,000. This would mean a transition from a structure based on a county council and district council to be one with a smaller number of unitary councils, with the ambition to achieve this by 2028.
We do not know what this means for Lincolnshire at this point but will keep you informed as and when information is available. NKDC will always champion the ambition, values and track record of this authority, and advocate strongly for the local in local government.
DEADLINE EXTENDED: FREE TREES FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS North KESTEVEN
Apply now to secure free trees for your community – whether it’s a single commemorative tree or a community orchard, you have the opportunity to make a lasting mark on the environment in your community.
NKDC have dozens of trees to give away and can offer advice and help to plant the right tree in the right place. The offer is open to groups, charities, business’s, schools and more – anywhere that can accommodate trees.
The deadline for applications has been extended to noon on January 31st and NKDC are particularly keen to find homes for the single commemorative trees. These would be ideal for Parish Councils to plant. Find out how to apply at :
www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/communitytrees
It’s been a quiet month on news.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
Best Wishes
Lucille