News from County Councillor Marianne Overton MBE
Happy Easter!
This is my usual monthly personal newsletter to let you know what I am doing on your behalf and to keep in touch with you. Let me know if I can help you.
Elections
All candidates are listed here. Poll cards were posted to all eligible electors on Wednesday 19 March 2025 that included information regarding Voter Photo Identification requirements.
It is easy to apply online to register, for a postal vote or to amend your registration. www.gov.uk
Paper application forms are available to download from the Electoral Commission website or can be requested from the NKDC Elections Team. They need to be returned to NKDC in Sleaford before the deadlines below.
Deadlines to register to make sure you can vote, either yourself or via another person who has what is called your “proxy” vote.
Midnight Friday 11 April to Register to vote
5pm Monday 14 April Apply to vote by post
5pm Wednesday 23 April Apply for a new proxy vote . No photo ID? Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate to take along instead.
Postal votes arrive by first class post after Friday 11 April. You can find your polling station is here.
New Mayor for Lincolnshire is up to you!
On May 1st, you have two votes, one for County Councillor as usual, and for the first time, you also get to vote for Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire! The Mayor works with councils and others to bring strategic direction to the whole area. For example, in transport and infrastructure, housing and planning, environment and climate change, skills and employment support, economic development, working with the NHS, police and fire to improve health and wellbeing and public safety.
These are currently done by our District and County Councils. If you thought our District was hard to influence, then how about something ten times bigger? More than ever, that person needs to be able to freely bring the best solutions, without big party politics.
Solar on Roofs, not Farmland
Thanks to our well organised Cliff Villages Solar Action Group, which I chair. Our next meeting is right after the elections. The Springwell application went to our District Planning Authority with significant objections raised for the Inspectorate. I spoke as the Community Champion and the whole committee spoke against the application. The website is here. The working groups are in action and the next meeting in on 5th May 2025. Let me know if you can find a place for a poster, board or banner to help back the campaign. Huge thanks for your support.
Grants
Groups, businesses, individuals - do you have a green idea that you're hoping to get off the ground and it needs a little boost to really fly?
At NKDC, we've recently updated our funding page for environment and climate-related grant funds from a variety of sources, so now's the perfect time to see what you might be eligible for. From insulation to EV charging, from tree planting to conservation works, there's an array of support on offer. So, grab a cuppa and check it out: https://orlo.uk/obGmo
Mental Health
Does the change in seasons bring with it a lift in mood? Or does it not feel as joyous as it should? Equally, would you feel confident spotting the hidden signs in others who may also be struggling… and would you know what to do? Read more about spotting hidden signs of mental ill-health here and take a look at how Wickes has been tackling mental ill-health in the workplace.
Why not take this month's free online module on men's mental health, which shares insight into how mental health affects men as well as strategies for offering support. Or join us as we discuss the most common workplace injuries and the essential first aid supplies that are needed to administer first aid and prevent further harm.
National Voice
I am very pleased to have joined a very useful Leaders' Council, held jointly with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Kerry McCarthy MP.
I would be delighted if you would like to write too, here are some useful things to ask for.
I am calling for a “pause” on these NSIPs to give GB Energy a "look-in". I also hope we can get the following;
1. A statement calling for all new build to be energy efficient. The cheapest energy is that which we have not used.
2. For a requirement for commercial roofs to be covered in solar wherever possible.
3. For energy feed-in tariffs to be reviewed so that householders and businesses can access sufficient receipts for a shorter pay back period, same as the big suppliers. Currently a national tariff encourages energy to be produced on relatively “cheap” farmland many miles from where it is needed, creating loss en route. Energy should be produced close to where it is needed and differential feed-in tariffs could make that happen.
4. There needs to be a limit, to prevent the cumulative impact of vast solar industrial developments on open countryside. For example, my home area, which has almost 10,000 acres of farmland out of production and industrialised sprawling over an area big enough to easily house over 100,000 people in the City of Lincoln.
All this, while 630,000 acres of roof lie vacant, as well as car parks, down the middle of railway lines and motorways.
Victory in Europe Celebrations 8th May
The 80th anniversaries of VE day on May 8th and VJ Day, Victory in Japan marking the final end of the war on August 15th . The government has set up a store of materials here. North Kesteven has a page here. Your event can be added to the Lincolnshire site here.
To close a street, contact highways here.
To share photographs link here.
Church bells will ring out at 6.30pm and beacon lighting at 9.30pm.
Changes in Local Government thinking?
Our Independent and smaller party councillors have increased in number and influence to almost 20% of all councillors, in addition to the majority of Parish Councils who remain loyal to their residents and independent.
Independents also lead 64 District and Unitary Councils and are in the leading team of a quarter of all councils.
Government provides or influences almost all local services for residents, employing 1.3 million people on an annual budget of £127bn, in England this year. The Local Government Association where I am Vice Chairman, is the voice of Local Government. We take your voices right into the heart of decision-making.
For your interest, here is the breakdown of councillors at the last elections in April 2024 in Lincolnshire.
Picture on the attached file.
Local Government Services matter
Want to keep in touch?
If you know anyone else who would find this newsletter useful, please suggest they drop me an email here. I write a weekly bulletin which you can find here. You can also keep in touch with social media. @overtonmarianne
or facebook
Best wishes,
Marianne
Marianne Overton MBE
Working together for people and planet
Local services need local decisions