WHAT DOES MY COUNCILLOR DO FOR ME? July 2007

WHAT DOES MY COUNCILLOR DO FOR ME?

JULY 2007 Report from
Cllr Mrs MARIANNE OVERTON

Congratulations to
Coleby for their Fantastic Great Gatsby Picnic
Branston Booths for their brilliant first birthday celebration for their new hall.
Welbourn for a host of weekend activities, including peace flags and polish dancers!
Waddington Air Show for a good first day, where I watched with Maggie Thatcher!
Nocton for their sculpture trail just opened http://www.noctonvillagetrail.com/

Next: The Romans are coming to Navenby!
Navenby Archaeology Group have organised a big event on Sunday July 8th 10am-5pm, with Romans setting up camp and a host of activities on offer. We had a professional costumier give us lessons in how to make our own authentic costumes, so do join in! I shall be dressed as Roman and others are Romans or Iron-age Britons. Cars park on the Playing field. Do come along! Preview on www.romanarmy.net

Youth Council
14-16 year olds from Navenby, Branston and Potterhanworth were with the Youth Council at the full County Council meeting in June. They presented a motion calling for good quality sex and relationship education across the County. After a very exciting debate, with brilliant rousing speeches from the young people, they won! I think this has been a first in the country, where young people have had a very direct impact on policy. View it on line at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/indexLCC.asp

Cigarette Stubs & litter £75 fine
Not only are we non-smoking in public enclosed places from July 1st, but dropped cigarette stubs also attract an on-the-spot fine of £75. The District Council has a stock of pocket pouches so smokers can stub out and store their cigarette ends until they can safely dispose of them in a litterbin, available from the environmental officers. Time to be litter-free! Please feel free to report litter directly, 01529 414155.

Working Progress

Branston B1188 Speed Limit
People walking along this road and disabled people in ride-on wheelies have felt unsafe with the speed of traffic along this road. Both the Parish Council and I asked for a reduction in the speed limit. The proposal to reduce the speed limit on the B1188 Lincoln Road from 50 to 40 and from 40 to 30 has been passed by committee at County Council and is now out for the statutory consultation of eight weeks.

Branston Junior School Crossing- Update
The children and parents are continuing their campaign to reduce traffic problems outside the school. They have put a plea for a lollypop lady/man to help them across the road. If you know someone who might help and take the job, please contact Pauline.Mckinlay@lincolnshire.gov.uk or 01522 805823

I supported the petition to the County Council on September 8th. The County has tested the traffic and pedestrians and concluded that the numbers are not high enough to meet the criteria for a crossing, nor for a 20mile/hr zone. I have asked for the criteria to be reviewed. In the meantime; signs have been improved and a person to assist at the crossing is sought. Also the school is encouraging parents to use park and walk, to try and reduce the congestion at the school gates themselves, making it safer for children.

Harmston Quarry Update
We did get enforcement action on the height of the bund, which was a breakthrough in the way LCC deal with transgressions. The timing of opening of the site is being enforced, but the number of vehicles is more problematical. We need to argue that the road cannot cope with the extra vehicles over and above those numbers already agreed and those already using the road.

Harmston Park
There has been much difficulty getting the road completed at Harmston Park and in getting compliance with the usual procedures, but work continues. LCC has now developed a more robust system for dealing with the process, including fines for delays, so that hopefully, the Nocton development will not suffer delayed completion in the same way.

Flooding
North Kesteven suffered in Waddington, Skelllingthorpe, North Scarle, North Hykeham, Heighington and Washingborough. Over 17,000 sandbags and sand were distributed by NKDC.

Overflowing River Brant

Opportunity?
Grants for New Shops
£40,000 is on offer for each new village shop, a mix of grant and loan funding and advice from the Village Retail Services Association. In partnership with Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Co-operative and Community Finance, the Village Core programme that will provide £2 million of start up funding to new Community owned shops in rural areas of England. Eligible applicants will include community-based organisations located in rural communities of not less than 200 residents. Deadline 30th July 2009. http://www.virsa.org/index.cfm/villageshop/News.Custom/page_id/36

Celebration!
100 years of Women in Local Government
I represented all the Independent women in England on a committee celebrating 100 years of women in Local government. At our last conference in London, we had a lady ex-councillor, aged 101 who stood and spoke brilliantly, rousing the troops!

100 years of women in local government; oldest (101) and youngest (16), local (me) and a peer of the realm celebrate in City Hall, London.

Useful Numbers
· North Kesteven District Council to report litter, dog fouling or fly-tipping
01529 414155 (and 9 - to avoid the annoying front message)
Lincolnshire County Council to report road repairs, flooding and potholes 01522 782070
To report a crime 01522 882222 (24hrs)
NKDC Hotlines are 01529 308308 and 01522 699650.

Flooding
For updates every 15 minutes on flood risk areas, the Environment Agency Floodline is 0845 9881188 http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
For weather forecasts; http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/em/em_forecast_warnings.html

Monthly Surgery dates
Navenby July 12 10am
Branston July 12 2pm Wishing you a very happy summer! Best wishes,

Marianne

Cllr Mrs Marianne Overton
Independent County Councillor for Branston and Navenby Division
and for Cliff Villages Ward of North Kesteven District Council
Tel: 01400 273323 http://www.independentvoice.org.uk/