Report from your local, Independent Councillor FEBRUARY 2009

FEBRUARY 2009
Report from your local, Independent Councillor
MARIANNE OVERTON

Some good news
LCC Children Services
Ofsted has inspected and given a very positive report, with “outstanding” in staying safe, economic wellbeing and capacity to improve. Schools and staff at LCC are clearly doing a great job here. Well done all.

Branston Community College
Completion of the new classrooms is programmed for 27 March 2009. The old mobile Classrooms will be demolished over the Easter Holidays completing all works by May 2009.

Greener housing
Our independent group put greener building and tackling fuel poverty onto the agenda at LCC and NKDC, and introduced the free biofuel partnership with Lindum Rotary. Latest results of eco-friendly heating systems trialled in council-owned properties have cut running costs by up to 63 per cent. Solar panel, biomass and groundsource heat pumps in 8 North Hykeham homes have slashed fuel bills and CO2 emissions.

Green grants
Schools, hospitals and charities have until June to apply for grants through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. Individuals have a further year. http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/

LCC Grants for Small Businesses
Register now for the new budget in April for IT advice and 50% of IT development cost, £2k-15k. Ring
01522 839561 Steve Cargill at LCC.

Free Business Health Check
Government has funded Business Link to provide business health checks. Is there anything you are missing? http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/busine sshelp or Help Line 0845 600 9 006.

Free Training with lunch
LCC has helped fund a series of training events. I can e-mail you details. Next is Working with the media for beginners Feb 4th 10am-4pm Sleaford 01529 308450
info@volunteercentrenk.org.uk
Invitations

Nominate your unsung heroes!
The simple form for Community Service and Youth Awards is on line at NKDC home page www.n-kesteven.gov.uk Deadline: Noon Monday 16 February

Nominate young people to the
Lincolnshire Youth Cabinet. Contact
Andrew Garbutt on 01522 550757. Deadline Feb 6th for elections week beginning Feb 23rd

Your personal trainer awaits!
To help cut down on drinking, smoking or weight, free step by step help is now available on the NHS. 01529 416090 ria.harkess@lpct.nhs.uk.
Extend classes for over 60’s Ring 01529 411194

Information
Bus on time? Want to check?
By texting the bus stop code to 84268, the sender is able to get the running times of the next three buses via text. Or check on http://www.truetimes.info/

Road Closure: Starting 2nd Feb Sleaford Hill, Leadenham (old A17) from traffic lights up the Hill to Pottergate Junction

Medieval Day at Temple Bruer
7 Feb 2009, 1100 – 1530hrs
Templar Preceptory Tower, Temple Bruer (TF 008 539). Hear about the Knights of Skirbeck at the country’s most important and best preserved Knights Templar Preceptory. The popular book by Dennis Mills of Branston, “The Knights Templar in Kesteven,” is relaunched at this event.

Feb Half Term Mon-Thurs
Brilliant activities, all free 1-4pm and 5- 8pm at Northgate Sports Hall at Carre’s Grammar School and Sleaford Youth Centre for 11-19yr olds. Free transport from North Kesteven Sports Centre and Branston Community College at noon. Book 01529 306888 kerry.mitchell@lincolnshire.gov.uk
At Whisby Natural World daily: Energy Saving Project Workshops, 11am to noon. Art and crafts 1.30-2.30pm. Arts NK 01529 410595

Waste collection
To save money all routes will change from Monday 20th April. The new bin collection rota is being posted out. Next Winter, the Garden waste collection will be four-weekly collection from November to February inclusive.

Neighbourhood Watch Information
www.lincolnshire-neighbourhoodwatch.co.uk Ring 01522 532222 to report crime or
999 if a crime is in progress. Keep windows and doors locked.

Support for voluntary groups
The really Useful Stuff handbook is available from LCC on www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/RUS

RU paying too much?
If your roof water is not connected to the mains sewers, you can claim a £34 rebate from Anglian Water. 0800 1693271 http://www.anglianwater.com/

Consultations
Budgets LCC spends £1bn annually If you haven’t already done so, let me know what you think about further increases, and about where more or less money should be spent, so that I can better represent you. I can send you the consultation documents. The budget goes to full Council on Fri Feb 13th, is open to the public and podcast http://www.lincolnshire.public-i.tv/site/

Dunston Quarry
An application to continue to extract limestone from Dunston Quarry and extend its restoration with inert waste can be viewed and commented on at http://eplanning.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ePlanni ng/loadFullDetails.do?aplId=26382 or phone Adam Winkley 01522 782070. Let me know your views.

Composting in Blankney Quarry
Feedback has been positive on this so far, following the informative session in the village.

Unsung Heroine
Special thanks go to Hilary Hawkyard who instigated and managed the Branston Heritage project, organised the recent craft fayre and is now chairing our Branston Parish Plan. What a star!

Very best wishes to you all for a healthy and happy 2009,

Marianne

Cllr Mrs Marianne Overton
Leader of Lincolnshire Independents;
Independent Councillor for Cliff
Villages on North Kesteven District
Council and for Branston and Navenby
on Lincolnshire County Council
www.independentvoice.org.uk
Cllr Marianne