New Year's Message

It is with continued pride that I serve and represent the people of Grange-de-Lings, Greetwell, Nettleham and Riseholme on West Lindsey District Council.

The obvious highlight of the year was the Royal visit in March to Nettleham of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent. He came to officially open the Bishop’s Palace Site which Nettleham Parish Council has been working to make into an amenity area. If you haven’t visited the site yet, it is well worth taking a stroll through.

In February I was very pleased to act as Agent for Conservative candidate Mrs. Pat Mewis in a by-election to the Scotter ward of West Lindsey District Council. I am pleased to say that Pat and her team’s efforts secured victory for her and we welcomed her on to the council, early in the year.

The Conservative administration at West Lindsey, acutely aware that the benefits of growth and an improving economy are not being felt by everyone, once again froze our portion of the Council Tax.

I was surprised, pleased and delighted to be elevated to the Chairmanship of the Governance and Audit Committee at West Lindsey District Council in May; having previously been Vice-Chairman in the preceding year. I continued my role as the administration Chief Whip. 

If there has been one issue that has been most prominent in 2014 it has been planning. Be it new homes to be developed, the Lincoln Eastern By-Pass or Wind or Solar Farms; they have all generated considerable interest from local people. As a member of the Planning Committee at West Lindsey I have tried, within the constraints of the planning system, to get the best possible results. Planning decisions must always be determined on planning grounds. The best representations that we receive at the committee are when people come armed with our local planning policies and demonstrate how a proposed development conflicts with those policies. Based on the number of appeals, which have been upheld by the Planning Inspectorate, in the council’s favour; I think we are doing a very good job for our residents.

It was with sadness that I learnt of the death of Nettleham Parish Councillor Allan Bonney in October. He will be much missed. I have been pleased to support and welcome his successor Mr. Richard Porter to the council, who will formally sit with us for the first time this January.

As we approached the end of the year my time, and that of my colleagues, has become increasingly focussed on getting the district council’s budget to balance. It has not been easy. Tough decisions continue to lie ahead and that means that the local elections in May will be terribly important. They will be a choice between a competent Conservative administration that has weathered the choppy waters of austerity and has a plan for the future or the risk of the untried and untested alternatives. 

I have very much enjoyed the past two years as a district councillor for the Nettleham Ward. I hope that local people will be kind enough to re-elect me in May so that I may continue to keep our community at the forefront of the minds of local decision-makers.

For each and all I offer my sincere wish for health, prosperity and happiness in 2015.

No Council Tax Increase in West Lindsey

West Lindsey District Council has announced it will not increase its share of the Council Tax for 2014/15.

The freeze was announced in the council’s budget report, submitted to council on Monday, March 3, which also included plans for more than £2 million investment towards major projects. Leader of the council, Cllr. Jeff Summers said:

“We know times are hard for many people so we are delighted to be able to freeze Council Tax protecting residents from increased bills.”

The decision means that from April, residents will continue to pay the 2013/14 rate, meaning council tax has been frozen in three out of four y

Cllr. Jeff Summers, Conservative Leader
 of West Lindsey District Council

ears. Cllr. Summers added:

“The council’s entrepreneurial approach is being used to counter the continuing reductions in government grant with income generation and cost reduction offsetting the impact and allowing the council to freeze council tax. We continue to generate more income to avoid tax increases and are working hard to support communities and regenerate the district.

“We are also very pleased to be able to invest in major projects that we believe will help the district grow and prosper including rural transport, community and business grants and increasing housing availability.”

Those projects include:

• £250,000 grant funding available to invest in communities, providing finance in a way that helps people to help themselves
• £37,000 to support the Councillor Initiative Fund, which has already helped thousands of projects across the district
• £300,000 to develop a solution to rural transport connectivity
• £1.1m investment to return empty homes back into use
• £640,000 business relocation fund and commercial grant schemes to provide an attractive incentive to encourage business growth

It has also pledged its support to a new flooding relief scheme. It will offer 100% Council Tax exemption for up to one year, to support residents affected by flooding.

The council managed to find £1million of savings at a time when the budget allocation from central government is drastically reducing each year. However, the council is not complacent as it still needs to find £2million over the next two years to balance the budget. Cllr. Summers added:

“We recognise it is a testing time for public services generally but we are focusing on getting the job done. This means doing more of what local people value and protecting frontline services as we said we would.

“This budget is about growth and investment, at a time when others around us are looking at reducing, cutting and stopping, but we recognise this is key to our future. We will continue to drive forward efficiency plans and streamline services to deliver what our customers value”

District Council Approves 2013/14 Budget

It is onwards and upwards as West Lindsey District Council continues to invest in local communities.
The dsitrict council has set its budget for 2013/14 at the Full Council Meeting held at the Guildhall, Gainsborough on Monday, 4th March 2013.

It has agreed to support the most vulnerable communities by investing £300,000 to help with issues such as fuel poverty, rural services and youth unemployment.

A further £1.6 million will be invested into the housing infrastructure and £2 million will be used to boost the economy and encourage jobs growth.

Conservative Leader of the Council, Cllr. Burt Keimach, said:

“Our budget has been set providing residents and business with real value for money services such as waste and planning. Now we have agreed the budget we need to put our plans into action and deliver what we have set out to achieve for our communities.”

The budget for 2013/14 will increase Council Tax by around 5p per week for the majority of homes in West Lindsey. This increase, the first for three years, will mean services that local peole rely on have been protected.

It means residents could pay an extra one and a half per cent for the district council’s share of the overall bill in 2013/14, an increase of £2.79 per year for a Band D property.

Cllr. Keimach added:

“If we have a very small moderate rise, which is acceptable, we will be able to protect the statutory services such as waste and planning, which are good value for money.”

 An extensive engagement exercise with communities and residents will take place over the spring and summer. It is an opportunity for people to inform future priorities and identify where the council could make cuts to the budget.

Councillors Act to Support Vulnerable and Bring Homes Back Into Use

West Lindsey District Councillors this week approved a local Ccouncil Tax support scheme that will protect vulnerable residents while encouraging owners of empty properties to bring them back into use.

Changes in Government policy announced as part of the austerity measures mean that in order to avoid a funding gap in council tax benefit of more than £1 million (split between West Lindsey District & Lincolnshire County councils and the Lincolnshire Police Authority). West Lindsey District Council has had to look closely at how much financial support can be made available to people who were previously in receipt of council tax benefit.

Following an eight-week public consultation, West Lindsey District Councillors approved a proposal at a full meeting of the Council on Monday, 28th January for a Local Council Tax Support Scheme designed to protect the most vulnerable people throughout the district while also being fair to all taxpayers.

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Burt Keimach, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward) said:

“In order to protect the most vulnerable residents of our district the decision was taken to change some of the reductions currently available to those who own empty properties and to charge an additional amount of council tax on properties that have been empty for more than two years.

“There are currently more than 1,500 empty properties in West Lindsey, and more than a quarter of these will have been unoccupied for two years by April 1, 2013.

“We need to encourage owners of empty property to put these back into use to help provide much-needed housing and minimise homelessness.

“The new scheme must, by law, provide protection for pensioners but by changing the empty homes reductions we are also able to protect those who receive a war pension, a disability premium and those who receive a carers premium.”

Under the scheme everyone of working age, unless they are in a vulnerable group, will be expected to contribute towards the council tax by paying 8.5 per cent of their council tax liability.

Second adult rebate will no longer exist for working age customers, all non-dependent deductions (where other adults live in the property who are not dependant on the claimant) will increase slightly and in order to receive the council tax support weekly entitlement must be £2.50 or greater.

The changes affecting empty properties will be:

• Any unfurnished property undergoing structural repair will receive a 25 per cent discount from the council tax for up to 12 months.
• Any unoccupied and unfurnished property will receive a discount of 100 per cent for two months followed by a full charge.
• Any property that has been unoccupied and unfurnished for two years or more will be liable for a premium of 50 per cent of the council tax, meaning the owner will pay 150 per cent. This latter change is to encourage owners of empty property to put them back into use quickly thereby increasing housing supply and minimising homelessness.

There are currently 1,583 empty properties in West Lindsey, including 444 properties that will have been unoccupied for two years by April 1, 2013, when the changes to council tax benefit will come into effect. Cllr. Keimach added:

“The council has been forced to make tough decisions regarding council tax support but we believe we have reached the best solution given the circumstances. We are committed to protecting our vulnerable residents, and we will hopefully see more empty properties brought back into use for our communities.”

Nettleham Parish Council Plan 1.5% Tax Increase

Nettleham Parish Council have agreed in principle to increase the tax taken from the local residents of Nettleham by 1.5%.

Councillors met yesterday for their annual budget meeting and discussed a range of programmes and facilities delivered by the authority. Whilst the Council's Clerk had put forward, for the second year running, a balance budget; Councillors agreed to an increase of £1,750 on the current year's precept (that portion of the Council Tax that goes to the Parish Council) of £114,886 to £116,636.

The additional revenue is to be used to 'future proof' the Council's reserves., which currently stand at £105,668. The 2013/14 budget will add £24,250 to the Council's reserves.

Parish Councillor Giles McNeill said:

"I think this is the wrong decision at this time. Whilst we may be back into growth it is too soon to take a decision to tax people more - especially when the money is being put aside for the future. I am pleased to say that I voted against this proposal, and was pleased to see that other colleague joined me in voting against."

Local Council's Budget Welcomed

Local residents will have warmly welcomed news from the Conservative-led district authority that Council Tax will be frozen for the second year running.

At the March meeting of the Council, on Monday, 5th March 2012, Leader, Cllr. Burt Keimach, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward), introduced the Conservative Group's Budget which received unanimous approval from all parties.

Central government is making big changes to the way local authorities are funded and this is having a big impact on local councils. This year alone has seen a cut of 24.7% in the money the authority receive from the government. Setting the current financial picture for fellow councillors, Cllr. Keimach said:

"This year we face new problems in the form of further government cuts that will stretch councils across the nation to meet their statutory obligations.  This is not too difficult to understand because the coalition government has vowed to eliminate the structural budget deficit by 2015 and to radically reform the way public services and benefits are provided. 

"This near catastrophe did not materialise by itself.  There were many national and international factors that played their nefarious parts.  But when it struck us here in the UK the Labour government of the day did not choose a corrective course.  Instead they kept up their near suicidal spending regime, to the extent that now we have a huge deficit that exceeds £120m per day on the interest charges alone."

Nevertheless West Lindsey is in good shape to weather the current storm. The authority have no debts. Have made no plans to borrow. There have been no redundancies, and no-one foresees any in the immediate future.

West Lindsey Budget 2012

Conservative Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Burt Keimach, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward), introduced the proposed budget:

"Just a year ago we gathered in the Chamber to approve a budget in the wake of the Comprehensive spending review – a government measure that daunted us all with its shock and awe at the extent of the cuts imposed. 

"I shall not do more now than remind councillors of the great uncertainty we faced, worried and concerned as we were about our ability to deliver services and embark on projects across the District. 

"This year we face new problems in the form of further government cuts that will stretch councils across the nation to meet their statutory obligations. This is not too difficult to understand because the coalition government has vowed to eliminate the structural budget deficit by 2015 and to radically reform the way public services and benefits are provided.

New Year's Message

Nettleham Parish Councillor, Giles McNeill, writes:

"Firstly let me begin with wishing you a Happy New Year.

"Recent years have been tough; tough on all of us. It is my hope that 2012 will be the year we turn the corner and get back to something like ‘business-as-usual’; even if it is somewhat anaemic.

"There is plenty to look forward to: I’m sure our community will rally together for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, already events are being planned, and I suspect in my own street we will be having a street party. The Olympic touch will pass through West Lindsey at Saxilby on its way to London 2012 games. I feel there is a lot to be optimistic about.

"In 2011 I began a four-year term as a Governor of Nettleham Infants School, already I have had a hand in making changes for the better, new provision of hot meals in the school should greatly improve the quality and dining experience of local children – gone are the plastic trays and real crockery and cutlery will be the order of the day. I expect there to be big changes in the school in 2012 and beyond.

"Serving on Nettleham Parish Council, I continue with my calls to keep local taxes low. It is my understanding that the Parish Council will be taking an extra £3.05 in tax from the average Band D property in 2012; pushing the Parish Council’s component up to £88.21 for the average household, I am also saddened that the lowest paying band, Band A, will this year pass the level the average Band D were paying when I joined the Parish Council in 2006. The increase in the tax households are pay to the Parish Council represents a massive 52.4% since 2006. I am convinced that once again Nettleham Parish Council will be out of step with other local authorities – the district & county councils – who will keep their portions of the Council Tax frozen. There are of course reasons why they can do this, support form the Conservative-led coalition government means that an increase of 2.5% or less is absorbed by the Department of Communities and Local Government. Nettleham Parish Council can not qualify for this funding; nevertheless the increase is greater than 2.5%. In a poll conducted on this blog, 58% of respondents said that raising the Parish Council’s portion of the council tax was the wrong decision.

"As Chairman of the Mulsanne Park Users Committee I have watched with interest, over the boundary hedge, in recent months, the earthworks being undertaken at the new Lodge Lane home of Lincoln Rugby Club. The earthworks appear complete and seed will no doubt be planted in the spring.

"Politically, with the change at West Lindsey District Council to elections every four years, I was expecting 2012 to be a quieter year. However, across the county, we will all be back to polling stations on Thursday, 15th November to elect Lincolnshire’s first Police and Crime Commissioner. Coming from a family of Policemen – father, grandfather, great-grandfather – I was surprised by this in the Conservative Party’s 2010 manifesto. I think there are potentially great benefits to having a directly elected person responsible for policing locally – Ken Livingston and Boris Johnson (the Mayors of London) have to some extent proved this, but the supporting role of interrogative committees, consisting solely of councillors from local authorities, seems a regressive step, back to the post-war era of the 1950s.
"I wish each and all health, prosperity and happiness for the coming year."

Anger at Parish Council's 14% Council Tax Hike

Local residents of Nettleham have been reacting angrily to the arrival on their doormats of Council Tax bills showing 14% increases in the portion of Council Tax taken by Nettleham Parish Council. One local resident described their reaction as 'astonishment'.

Whilst other local authorities that cover Nettleham, such as the Police Authority, and the Conservative-controlled County and District Councils, have managed to freeze their portions of the Council Tax.

Another local resident enquired:

"I wonder if you could explain to me why Nettleham have a 14% increase in the Parish precept this year after an 8% rise last year? It does seem an unusual increase, considering the austerity measures being taken by district Council."

The 8% rise last year was not an increase in the amount of precept requested from by the Parish Council (full explanation here). In the Spring 2011 edition of the Nettleham News the Parish Clerk, explains that:

"This represents an increase of less than £9 per annum per household (1,570 households). This increase is due to the loan repayments for the re-roofing of the village hall, the removal by West Lindsey District Council of the ‘per capita’ subsidy (£3,021), Parish Elections costs (£2,000) due to WLDC decision to implement Whole Council Elections in 2011 (despite the fact that Nettleham held parish elections in 2010), the Parish Council’s decision to set aside an additional allocation to project reserves of £3,500 and necessary inflationary increases on utilities."

This explanation, whilst not inaccurate, does attempt to muddy the waters. Most people care about the percentage increase in the bill not the specifics in cash terms and a decision was taken to omit the '14%' figure from the release to the Nettleham News. Secondly, the per capita subsidy had been introduced many years ago to ameliorate the fact that Gainsborough did not have it's own Town Council. This changed in 1993 when Gainsborough Town Council was established. There is broad cross-party agreement that at that time the per capita subsidy had come to the end of it's natural life and should have finished. Thirdly, since 2005 the Parish Council has precepted £2,800 for Election costs, yet has only spent £404 on election costs in the same period. The £2,000 put into the 2011/12 budget could have been taken from reserves and the £2,396 which has been accumulated has gone into the general reserves. At the start of February the Parish Council's General Reserve stood at £29,934 and had £74,935 in Capital Reserves.

A significant number of incumbent councillors voted, earlier in the year, to approach West Lindsey District Council and extend their term of office to five years. Whilst other councillors took the principled view that election should not be avoided.

Nettleham Parish Councillor, Giles McNeill said:

"I understand local people's anger. I am proud to say that I opposed the budget for 2011/12. I also put forward my own proposals which would have achieved all the aims my colleagues identified - such as re-roofing the Village Hall - and would have led to a slight reduction in your Council Tax bill.

"Some of my colleagues it seems just don't get finance; in the 2010/11 budget I managed to ensure that we didn't put tax up any more to cover the cost of the burial ground and at our last meeting I was vindicated as the figures showed for the year to date the site had generated income.

"I have long felt that a number of my colleagues are profligate with public money and have a 'the village can afford it attitude'.  But I think of the little old lady, living on her state pension, alone, having to find extra money, I know that is wrong.  Many residents would no-doubt be shocked to learn that the Parish Council often has a surplus at the end of the year. This year a surplus of £5,600 (5.5%) is expected.

"I hope that if there is a contested Parish Council election this year people will take it seriously and consider what they really want from the people who serve the local community on Nettleham Parish Council."

West Lindsey On Track For Balanced Budget

West Lindsey District Council already has a lean budget, thanks to changes made by Conservatives who took control in May 2008. It is now apparent that most of this year's spending will be balanced by efficiency savings and income, with no services being scrapped.

The authority currently has one of the lowest charges in the country and is also debt free.

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Burt Keimach, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward), said:

"We received the worst district council settlement on government funding in Lincolnshire and among one of the worst in the country, but we are proposing no council tax rise.

"We still have a lot of work to do, but early indications show we will be able to balance our budget for this financial year without impacting on key services, making expensive redundancies or increasing council tax."

The council needs to save £2.5m over the next two years and another £250,000 as a result of other pressures, such as inflation. Although the council's budget will not be officially agreed until Monday, 7th March 2011, there is cause for optomism.

When Is An 8% Increase Not An 8% Increase?

Related content: 'Nettleham Parish Council Budget 2010/11' and 'Nettleham Parish Council Agree Tax Freeze'.

On Wednesday evening at the Nettleham Parish Council meeting held at the Mulsanne Park Pavillion a member of the public enquired as to how the comments made by Cllr. Giles McNeill, on behalf of the Parish Council, in the most recent winter edition of Nettleham News that:

"The Parish Council met towards the end of October and provisionally agreed to freeze the level of tax charged through West Lindsey District Council to local residents, known as the precept."

Could be reconciled with Council Tax bills issued by West Lindsey District Council that show an increase in the Parish Precept of 8% for the average Band D property.

The article continued and talked about the reduction in two subsidies, one for the operating costs of the burial ground, the other known as the 'per capita subsidy' which has traditionally been £2 per elector.

Under the Local Government Act 1972 s.150 the Parish Council raises most of its income through a separate chargeable levy on the parish, known as the precept, issued to the council responsible for collection of local government taxes, locally that falls to West Lindsey District Council. A parish council is a local precepting authority and may issue a precept each financial year.

The member of the public was correct that thier Council Tax bill from West Lindsey District Council shows an 8% increase in the level of Parish Precept charged as a component of the Council Tax to local residents. £74.01 in 2010/11 which is an increase on the previous year from £68.52 in 2009/10.

In the current financial year, 2009/10, the parish council has received £101,243 as precept income. This comprised of £90,358 as precept collected through the Council Tax, £4,967 as burial ground subsidy, £100 as the automatic base per capita subsidy - all parish and town councils currently recieve £100 - together with £5,818 being £2 per elector within the parish.

The figure quoted in the booklet, which accompanied Council Tax bills, for 2010/11 shows a precept of £98,222 collected through the Council Tax, but excludes £100 as the automatic base per capita subsidy together with £2,921 being £1 per elector within the parish, which is collected through the council tax, but found from West Lindsey's part of the Council Tax. The total being a precept requirement of Nettleham Parish Council of £101,243 the identical amount as the current year.

The increase shown on Council Tax bills is therefore not an increase in the amount of money precepted by Nettleham Parish Council but in fact is caused because revenue that used to be collected through the District Council's portion is now being accounted for through the Parish Council's portion of the Council Tax.

Cllr. McNeill has said:

"I apologise if this was not clear; the term 'freeze' applied to the level of precept income received and not the level of taxation charged to residents."

District and Parish Councillor Cllr. Alf Frith, Liberal Democrat (Nettleham Ward) noted at the meeting that the per capita subsidy had been introduced many years ago to ameliorate the fact that Gainsborough did not have it's own Town Council, which changed in 1993 when Gainsborough Town Council was established. Cllr. Frith also noted that at that time the per capita subsidy had come to the end of it's natural life and should have finished.

A senior official at West Lindsey District Council has indicated that:

"I know of no other authority in the country that has a per capita subsidy like this."

Labour City Councillors Attack Discounted Council Tax Rate for Pensioners

Labour councillors on the City of Lincoln Council have attacked a decision made by the cabinet of the Conservative-led council to keep a specific council tax reduction for pensioners.

The City of Lincoln Council has announced it will stick with a scheme which sees elderly residents pay the previous year's council tax rates, currently saving pensioners the lowly sum of 50p a month.

The authority, which sets the rate, believes that it means 'pounds back in the pensioners' pocket', giving them a fairer deal.

However, Leader of the Opposition, Cllr. Ric Metcalfe, Labour (Gebe Ward), has attacked the reduction at a council meeting on Tuesday. 5th January, calling it 'completely useless' scheme.

Directing his attack to the Leader of the Council, Cllr. Metcalfe addressed the meeting saying:

"I wonder if you or your colleagues realise what a completely useless scheme this is.

"If this matter went before council, we would ask for it to be deferred. You could utilise money used for this for a concerted take-up campaign to identify pensioners not claiming the benefits they are entitled to."

Council Tax bills have increased by more than the rate of inflation, and many people on fixed incomes find the increase in the council tax difficult to afford. Independent studies have identified that pensioners are amongst this group of people. The Conservatives decided to introduce the reduced rates to the elderly last year, deferring one year's rise in council tax and providing a significant saving of, on average, around 4% this year.

Cllr. Metcalfe, presented an argument suggestng that because the total council tax bill will go up a year in lieu, this means they could pay more one year than regular taxpayers. Unfortunately that is simply not true, at worst if the deferrment was halted - as the Labour Group propose - then the elderly would be paying the same rate as other council taxpayers.

Cllr. Ms Karen Lee, Labour (Carholme Ward), also attacked the decision, saying:

"This 'saving' for pensioners is a huge con. You obviously haven't got the nous to work this out properly."

The freeze only applies to the City of Lincoln Council's share of the tax – not the county council or police authority's share. The final council tax rate for the coming year has not been set.

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Darren Grice, Conservative (Bracebridge Ward) said it was a justified move.

"Labour would cease the pensioner discount scheme, because they don't think it is warranted.

"We think any pounds we can get back in the pensioner's pocket is better than in the pocket of city hall. They don't agree with that. They're going back to their tax and spend policy which got the council into the mess we are now sorting out."

City of Lincoln Council have produced this helpful video:

Giles McNeill’s New Year’s Message

Earlier in the year I was pleased that Conservative led administration at West Lindsey District Council introduced the new ‘triple bin system’ which seems to be working well – delivering on our election promise in the 2008 local elections to provide a free green bin to every household that wants one. The three-bin system helps to reduce the amount of rubbish that goes to landfill which is really good. Some local residents contacted me about having been charged the annual fee for the green bin shortly before they became free, I raised this with colleagues on the district council and the Conservatives have acted to ensure that a refund system is now in place.

The recent flooding in the North of England has brought back memories of the flooding that Nettleham suffered in the summer of 2007 and then again in January 2008. I have been working with colleagues at all levels to ensure that this threat is properly assessed and where possible mitigated. A few days before Christmas I and other members of the Parish Council met with two representatives of the Environment Agency to discuss our concerns about increased risk of flooding in the village. The meeting was very productive and has offered a number of reassurances and new avenues to follow-up. Highway drains are also now being cleaned more regularly.

The biggest issue of 2009 was the proposals of Lincoln Rugby Football Club to move their training ground to the village. The two public meetings held by the Parish Council demonstrated how much strong feeling there is in the village. I believe that there was little to object to on planning grounds in the Rugby Club’s planning application. West Lindsey District Council’s planning department has entered the spotlight in recent months with several stories related to planning in the Lincolnshire Echo. A number of problems have been identified and are now being put right. A new departmental manager is being recruited and I am optimistic that the service will be greatly improved in 2010 and beyond.

2010 is going to bring significant challenges. There will be cuts in public spending regardless of which party wins the general election. It is a testament to many long evenings spent pouring over the figures, that I was able to secure, at the current level, the precept – the money collected through Council Tax that goes to the Parish Council – so no increase on the 2008/09 budget.

I am constantly encouraged by the strong community spirit in Nettleham. For my part I will continue to do my best on behalf of local residents in the months ahead.

Wishing you the best for the New Year,

Giles McNeill
Nettleham Parish Councillor

Taxpayers Footing £1,000,000 Bonus Bill

Bonus payments to top policemen and tradesmen in Lincolnshire have cost more than £1million in taxpayers' cash.

The Lincolnshire Echo has reported that the City of Lincoln Council and Lincolnshire Police have been paying the cash to staff over the last five years, on top of their basic salaries.

The bonus bill at City Hall totalled £940,876 between 2005 and 2006, when the council had a Labour administration, with the biggest single payout amounting to £15,001, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Officials from the authority say the practice was stopped in June 2006 and the bonuses were given to tradesmen as part of a national pay agreement.

Lincolnshire Police has paid out £224,693 in the same period within the 'executive', which includes the six chief officers such as the Chief Constable and the Deputy Chief Constable, receiving the majority of cash.

In 2005, the force only paid out £8,297 in bonuses but this has since soared to £43,999 in 2006, £51,560 in 2007 and £60,997 in 2008.

The figures disclosed to the paper for 2009 was £59,840, as of Monday, 7th December 2009. Within the last 12-months the Lincolnshire Police executive has received £52,140 of the total bonuses issued with staff lower down the hierarchy securing the remaining £7,700.

North Kesteven, West Lindsey and East Lindsey district councils and Lincolnshire County Council say they have not paid a single penny in staff bonuses in the same period.

City of Lincoln Council director of housing and community services, John Bibby, said there was no intention to bring them back.

West Lindsey's Council Tax Rise Less Than 1%

Next year's Council Tax increase from West Lindsey District Council will be less than 1%. That is the pledge from the ruling Conservative Group made by Acting Leader of the authority, Cllr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward), following consultation meetings with local residents.

"We have spoken to householders who told us quite clearly that their budgets were under pressure in these difficult economic times and they wanted the lowest level of increase we could reasonably levy.

"Bearing this in mind, we have looked long and hard at our figures and because we made some difficult decisions last year we are now in a position where having an increase of less than 1% is sensible and will not lead to a reduction in key services or to massive cuts,"

Cllr. Duguid said that the foundations had now been laid for low council tax increases for the foreseeable future, but this did not mean that new projects and improvements would not be carried out.

"We set our priorities in August to do all we could to be a prosperous district and grow the economy in these difficult economic times.

"Our plans to build a swimming pool in Market Rasen remain on track and the project to make £3 million worth of improvements to Gainsborough town centre - funded by the Council and many other partners - will start on January 11th."

The meeting of West Lindsey District Council that will set the level of Council Tax is scheduled to take place on March 7 2010.

Residents in Nettleham will also be helped during the recession as Nettleham Parish Council has frozen the parish's precept - that part of the Council Tax raised for Nettleham Parish Council.

Leader of Lincolnshire Council Council, Cllr. Martin Hill OBE, Conservative (Folkingham Rural Division), recently has said:

"At the county council, we are preparing for substantial cuts in government funding, as the economic outlook for all local councils in England is the bleakest in decades."

It is expected that the increase in the proportion of the Council Tax collected for the county council will be around 2.5%.

Green Wheelie Bin Overpayment Rebate

One of the central campaign promises of the Conservatives when they won in the Local Elections in 2008 was a promise to scrap the £24.50 annual charge for Green Bins, initially for pensioners and when council finances permitted, for all users of the service.

The introduction of free green bin collections to everyone in the district means that those who had paid in advance have effectively overpaid. The Conservative administration of the Council have now decided to reimburse those who have been disadvantaged.

The cost of the refunds is being met from the savings that are being achieved by the triple bin waste collection. Repayments will be for as little as £2 up to more than £22. Because of the relatively small amounts involved, customers are being urged to allow their refunds to be credited against their Council Tax.

To make your claim please use the form here.

Purchase of City Hall to Save Taxpayers £230 million

Lincoln City Council has agreed a deal which will save taxpayers in Lincoln an estimated £230 million, following a decision to purchase the leasehold for City Hall. The council have owned the freehold for the land, but following a unanimous decision by councillors on Friday, the authority will buy the building for £13 million, doubtlessly utilising money from the public works loans board or a bank.

Prior to the exchange of contracts, the authority had been tied into a 127-lease that began in 1971. The estimated £230 million savings includes rental costs over the remaining lease period, less the cost of borrowing.

Leader of the City of Lincoln Council, councillor Darren Grice, said:

"We are now the masters of our own destiny in terms of what we do with City Hall.

"Thanks to this decision the city council will no longer have to pay an annual rent and even including borrowing costs this will save Lincoln taxpayers over £230 million.

"We have exchanged contracts at exactly the correct time, when property values are relatively low, and when borrowing is at an affordable level."

Had the council's lease run to its completion it would have ended in 2097.

In 1971 the rent was £62,000 a year. This figure has been reviewed on a seven year cycle and in 2006 was set at £619,656 a year. It is estimated that if the authority continued to rent the property, it would cost the taxpayer £762,099 by 2013 and over £9 million by 2097.

Beware Council Tax Scam

Residents throughout West Lindsey are being urged to be on their guard against fraudsters operating a council tax scam.

In other parts of the country there have been reports of people being approached on the doorstep or by phone by thieves who tell people they have either paid too little or too much council tax.

West Lindsey’s Revenues and Benefits Manager, Alan Robinson said:

“The scam works because people are asked to disclose details of their bank
account so that either a refund can be made or a fine for late payment
avoided.

“In reality all the fraudsters want to do is get access to
their victims’ bank details.

“We are investigating one case of
someone locally who may have been affected and I would urge everyone to on their
guard.”

There are a number of variations on the scam. People in Bury have been told they are due to a refund because their property had been rebanded and residents in the North East were offered a no win no fee service to claw back £1,500.

Mr Robinson added:

“It would be very unlikely that the Council would approach someone either on the
doorstep or by telephone with information relating to council tax.

“I would advise anyone who is approached to offer to ring us back
on (01427) 676676 to establish if the call is genuine or not.”

Parish Council's Tax Freeze Remains Solid.

Update to Nettleham Parish Council Agree Tax Freeze.
Related Article: Nettleham Parish Council Budget 2010/11.

Despite signs that the Freeze in the monies raised by the Parish Council through the Precept was cracking and melting under the heat and pressure of the loss of subsidy to the Burial Ground, nevertheless the Freeze has held firm and solid.

Tonight Nettleham Parish Council met at Mulsanne Park Pavilion for our November meeting. One of the key items to appear on the evening's agenda was item 11 - Burial Ground Matters - at out Budget Meeting at the end of October the Parish Council had agreed to look at the fees charged for burials and interments of cremated remains at the Burial Ground which following the withdrawal of a subsidy from the district council meant that the parish council needed to find several thousand pounds to cover the loss of this income stream.

I was concerned that one of the options presented to the councillors was to effectively increase the contribution made by taxpayers to the Parish Council by a 1.39%. In hard times, when people are facing the pinch of the recession, and inflation (RPI Measure) running at minus 1.4% that could represent a real terms increase of 2.79%. An alternative was to increase burial and interment fees by 50%

Fortunately the Parish Council felt convinced by figures I presented which supported keeping the fees at the current levels. Further, based on the figures for the first half of the current financial year, and the cuts made to the budget to run the burial ground I firmly believe we will be able to provide the burial ground service at no cost to local taxpayers in the future.

Nettleham Parish Council Agree Tax Freeze

Yesterday evening Nettleham Parish Council met for our annual Budget Meeting where the full council considers the council's budgetary arrangements for the coming year.

The good news for local taxpayers is that the council agreed to freeze the level at £101,243. A figure that represents quite an achievement in the light of the reduction in subsidy from West Lindsey District Council through the 'Per Capita' scheme - being cut in half this year, and lost totally in the year thereafter - and the ending of the burial ground subsidy.

I had proposed a small cut in the level of the precept to £100,850 but this was not supported by the other members of the council.

In the end Cllrs. Leaning, Evans, Hill, Darbyshire, Downs, Clayton and Spencer voted in favour. Cllr. McNeill voted against.

Cllr. Giles McNeill said:

"I would have liked to have reduced the precept - that part of the Council Tax that goes to the parish council - as a way of demonstrating that in these hard times of recession and deflation the council is firmly in step with local residents. I think that the freeze is not a bad result for local people.