County Council Care Homes

The council owns 16 homes, 8 of which are contracted out to the St Johns Trust.
The eight in hand provide day care, respite care and intermediate care. There are nine residents from the days when the homes were long-term residential homes.

The Council in consulting on their future. The response has been overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the facilities which are clearly doing an excellent job, keeping people out of hospital and getting them better so they can go home and turn the key in their own front door.

Thanks everyone for responding to the official consultations, signing the petition, writing letters and being on the video which brought your voices directly to the corridors of power. Every part helps. I attended submitted the petition. The strategy and commissioning principles were agreed by the Conservative Executive on Tuesday, so battle continues to keep the excellent service in the County homes which gets people successfully back on their feet and home. They also provide respite and day care to enable carers to carry on caring so people can stay in their own homes for longer. Alternatives proposed are more expensive and don’t provide the same specialist service.

At Lincolnshire County Council, I joined a working group of councillors who looked at the detailed proposals and responses.

The next day, the Conservative executive went ahead and agreed their strategy, which laid out how they were going to choose where people should go in future. This was opposed by the Independents and the Labour Group. We “called in” the decision, which means it is stopped and has to be reconsidered in a public meeting, where I led the debate and we made the case clearly. There is a party whip system that operates, so all the Conservatives voted for the strategy, and everyone else spoke and voted against it. (Vote 8:3)

At Full Council the next day, Liz Peto, Chair of the Older Person’s Forum for NK presented the petition with 500 signatures and gave a good speech to “save Bonner House”. The Unison petition was also presented in support with several thousand signatures.

What next?
In July, there will be a further decision by the Executive to look at the business case for closing the homes.

I have called for the whole cost to the public purse to be counted, not just the LCC portion. More expensive alternatives that simply charge to another department and do not provide the same level of rehabilitation will not be good enough. Just passing the cost from one public body to another will gain no favours from the public.

Borrowing more to build smart new places would be nice, but are they affordable? Who is going to pay for them, when people’s savings run out? In any case, they do not replace the specialist short-term provision that gets people better. It works. Let’s keep it.

Buses, Call Connect and Dial-a-ride

From June 1st, the Lincoln-Grantham route has gone from half hourly to hourly on the Welbourn to Grantham half of the route. I met with Stagecoach directors who have agreed to review Welbourn’s position, as it was the centre of the run. The whole route was due to be halved, but LCC has stepped in with a £30K subsidy, so please use the buses as much as you can! As a rule of thumb, the buses cross at Welbourn at 20 to the hour. They leave Grantham on the hour and leave Lincoln at 5 past the hour.

The Dunston-Metheringham bridge is due to be closed between June 8th and Aug 23rd. It needs strengthening and the walls are to be made strong enough to prevent a car going over onto the track. We have only just been informed that the buses cannot come into Dunston and keep to timetable. Len Bannister and I took in the petition with maps and times of travel off the internet to make the case, as it does mean that many are cut off from essential facilities. We have just succeeded in getting the school bus restored. Stagecoach have now agreed to run one service per day and Brylaine have stepped in with two. Thanks to everyone who added their voice in support.

Call Connect to Metheringham (LCC Service)
Ring and book a bus. Buses run 7am-7pm Mon-Sat. People with disabilities can get picked up from their house. It is free whilst the bridge is closed and after that, concessionary fares are valid. Book at least 1 hour before you wish to travel and not more than 7 days in advance. 0845 234 3344 Ring Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat to 4pm. Text “CallConnect” to 82727

Dial-a-ride 0845 456 4474
Dial-a-ride can be booked well in advance, will collect from your home, and takes wheelchairs. The fares are subsidised but concessionary passes are not valid.

Learning Science through Theatre day

On behalf of the Society of Biology, I organised a day for fifty children from local schools to enjoy finding out about the history of medicine. They produced a play of music, drama, art dance, performed in the Terry o Toole Theatre.

Congratulations to the Lincoln Larder

LCC Chairman’s Community award went to the Lincoln Larder for their successful work in providing emergency support to people suddenly finding themselves in difficult circumstances.


Young citizen of the year was James Brown of Carlton Le Moorland. The Independent’s proposal for a County young person’s award for voluntary work was passed unanimously by full council.

Useful Information

Energy Advice
To find out whether you are eligible for discounted or free insulation, telephone the Energy Saving Trust on 0800 512 012.

Useful Contacts you can use
• For Highways repairs 01522 782070
• For Roadside clean-up 01529 414155
• To view applications and make comments www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/planningonline accept conditions and type in post code.

National Govt News is on:-
The new coalition agreement
http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/aio/11333336
Local government has offered to save £4.5bn, partly by sharing services and partly by taking on the work of the Quangos for less money
http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=11333361
Queens speech http://www.egovmonitor.com/node/36703


Great photos of the Iceland volcano on
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/more_from_eyjafjallajokull.html

New Strategy to improve people’s finances is released at NK
Average wage in NK is £23,187, less than the average for England. New figures put 16% of people in Branston and Mere in the 20% most deprived and 12% of the Cliff Villages in the bottom 40%. Since 2004, 45% are now more deprived compared to the national average. Good support for our grant applications!

Flooding control and emergency plans

Flooding control & Emergency Plans
The Framework means Lincolnshire County Council will be the lead local flood authority and work with the District Councils, Internal Drainage Boards and others in putting an effective plan in place for local flood risk management. Welbourn Parish Council is developing its own useful plan of contacts and actions in an emergency plan. Welbourn was also only one of two councils in the District who have received additional funding for much-needed anti-flooding measures.

Thank you

Election News
Thank you for your huge support over the elections, where you gave me just under 4000 votes, in the top 3% of Independents in the country. Winning as MP turned out to be a tall order, with the media focus on the national party leadership contest. All of the Lincolnshire Independents ran excellent campaigns, genuinely engaging and responding on all kinds of issues, and making the point about the value of good, local representation.

With four Independents standing in Lincolnshire as MP for the fist time in 60 years, we changed the face of political thinking in Lincolnshire, brought some common sense to the issues and laid the groundwork for local Independents in future. Congratulations to everyone who decided to make a stand and support us. We all have something of which we can be justly proud.

The Conservatives took around 50% of the vote, as in previous years. I shall of course, be pleased to work with the new man to do our best for the people of Lincolnshire.

Election comments

Dear Marianne,

Well done! I think you ran a really good campaign and certainly ruffled a few complacent feathers. You must be exhausted and I hope that Peter takes you on a well deserved holiday now.

Don't normally divulge our ballot crosses, but we did vote for you on this occasion.

K
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It was always going to be difficult going up against the might of the major parties who have a wealth of support and substantial budget behind them. However, we enjoyed helping out and if you stand again we'll be there to assist.

P and D
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Hi Marianne, I’m just gutted that people could not see the benefits in voting for you, but we will continue to support you at all levels and build a momentum for the next time.

Kind regards

P
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Hi Marianne
I do hope Peter's driving on friday - you deserve to celebrate! Of course he does too - he was a hero - but somebody has to drive!
I'll do my utmost to be there - we have lessons to learn for next time. Like moving out of Lincolnshire?!! I'm beginning to think it's no place for a social conscience.
Best wishes
L
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Hi Marianne, What can I say? You should have won. Well done for a great attempt. The tide will turn.

So sorry that you did'nt get to be the MP you are certainly the only one for the position as far as I'm concerned.
You're work and character will win the day Marianne, you so deserve to be in Westminster leading the way.

All this uncertainty will hopefully make the country think differently next time. Well things are a changing, but nature will take its course, inch by inch its a sinch.

Congratulations for the fantastic campaign you ran. You are great. Lots of people look to you for the way to go.

Take care, Kindest regards Helen. Sorry I shall be in Italy for your party. I'll drink you a toast looking out over the blue sea.
H

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Dear Marianne,

Thank you for the update. Congratulations to you and Peter and indeed your whole team. I thought that this was going to be a turning point in England's politics and British democracy - and perhaps in a sense it was. Mao Tse-tung and others spoke of the first step on any journey.

Your 3,805 votes; your saved deposit; the democratic stir that you created; the defeat of UKIP; the defeat of the BNP and coming 8th out of 315 Independents, strike me as one hell of a first step!

I think that this country's political systems will certainly change for the better eventually, [but that may well be a long journey], and you have contributed, and made your mark on that.

Congratulations to you, your helpers, your 3,805 constituency voters and your many other supporters.

Kind regards,

R
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Dear Marianne,
Congratulations on your remarkable achievement re the election and I am so pleased that people like yourself are prepared to stand despite the tremendous odds. The Green Party M.P. achieved success in the end which is inspirational for minority parties and Independents. We hope that you have a very jolly time after all the hard work of the preceding weeks.
We will be with you in spirit!
Kind regards.
Y
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Dear Marianne

Well done on your splendid fight in the election, so proud of you for standing up for all of us Independents. Time to rest for a bit perhaps. Was too exhausted to make it to Sleaford but was definitely thinking of all of you.

Love, S
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Hi Marianne,
Congratulations on your valiant attempt to enter ‘the house of corruption’. You did really well and can only get stronger.
I will buy you a drink the next time I see you.
Best Wishes,
G
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Dear Marianne,
It was a pleasure to make a contribution towards your campaign.
The overall results for independent thinkers were most encouraging throughout the country and a triumph for you personally.
Mighty oaks from acorns ........
I am sure that support for you will grow as this new parliament tries to sort out its policies and alliances and be an effective government.
with my best wishes
A
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Dear Marianne
Congratulations on your good result in the election (R and I both voted for you). Sorry you didn’t quite make it to Westminster.
Keep up the good work.
Best wishes

P
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Re: Election
Oh Marianne I was soooooooooooooo disappointed for you.....you had both the votes from my house....PLEASE keep up the good work it is so refreshing to have a local person that actually cares about local issues.

Wishing you all the very best

H
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Good Morning,

Commiserations over the result but at least 3000 people have faith in you. Given the mess and wreck to come, you may be well out of it!

Thanks for the support for the …. Let's hope we get somewhere!

M
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Considering that the media (nationally and locally) just concentrated on the 3 main parties, you did very well. Yo have also made a case to support Lincolnshire and making farming an important issue. I was in Old Leake and Wrangle representing Sleaford on Sunday and this came out strongly.

Regards

J
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Tough luck Marianne in the election, I thought you might have had a decent chance this year, never mind you will have more time for Lincolnshire!

Regards
N

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Good Morning, Marianne
We would like to congratulate you on achieving the number of votes last Thursday and feel that it is an excellent beginning for Lincolnshire Independents. There is the strong likelihood of another General Election sooner rather than later and we are sure that the LibDem's support will evaporate and hopefully migrate to the LincsInds. We hope so anyway.
We were hugely disappointed that Peter Lundgren was just pipped at the post by a measily 107 votes in the NKDC local election, a loss we think to Branston as a whole. Better luck next time there is a vacancy.
Keep fighting!
Best regards
P & A

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Dear Marianne,

Under the circumstances I think you did extremely well - certainly much
better than Esther! - and should be proud of what you achieved. Alas,
the big party squeeze was too much even for Richard Taylor in
Kidderminster. But the overall result, quite by chance, seems to me to
be reasonably democratic.

Have a great and well-deserved party. Alas, I shall be in France
visiting grand-children.

All best,

Martin Bell
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