West Lindsey’s Conservatives Dedicate Benches to Former Colleagues

Conservative Councillors on West Lindsey District Council have had two benches in Marshall’s Yard, Gainsborough dedicated to the memory of former colleagues, Christopher Underwood-Frost and William Parry who both represented the Scotter Ward.

Double sadness struck last year when Cllr. Underwood-Frost lost his long-term battle with cancer in October and then a few weeks later, in December, Cllr. Parry also passed away.

Conservative Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Jeff Summers, paid tribute to both men saying:

“Both Chris and William were real gentlemen; Chris with his determination and courage to fight for what he believed in and William with his gentle patience and resolute nature. They are both missed very much by their colleagues on the Council.”

The Conservative Group on the Council wanted to ensure a memorial to the two councillors was in a public place. It was agreed that benches close to the Guildhall would be a fitting location and following consultation with the families two benches were identified near Next and a form of wording agreed for the plaques. Cllr. Giles McNeill, who was Agent for both men in their recent election campaigns said:

“I cannot think of a better site, nor a more fitting tribute to William and Chris. Both men were very different characters. I had the enormous privilege of knowing both of them, helping them with their re-election campaigns in recent years. We are diminished by their loss, but strengthened by their memory.”

Energy from Waste facility Puts Down Rroots

A special tree-planting ceremony is taking place this week to officially celebrate the start of the construction phase of the county’s new Energy from Waste (EfW) facility.

Above: An artistic impression of the Energy for Waste faclity

Lincolnshire County Council Chairman, Cllr. Peter Bedford, Conservative (Boston Costal Division), will lead the ceremony on Thursday, 12th May 2011. The planting of the tree represents the first of more than eighty new trees that will be planted as part of the landscaping scheme for the site.

Confirmed dignitaries attending include Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Cllr Martin Hill, Conservative (Folkingham Rural South Division); Chairman of the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership, Cllr Lewis Strange, Conservative (Ancholme Cliff Division and & Keley Ward); Chair and Vice Chair of the local EfW Community Liaison Group, Cllr. Matthew Fields and Mr. Ron Blow; Mayor of North Hykeham, Cllr. Mrs. Suzanne Sampson and Director of FCC Projects at Waste Recycling Group, Mr. John Plant.


Executive Member for Waste Services and Chairman of the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership, Cllr.Lewis Strange, said:

"This is a truly momentous occasion, symbolising the county’s move away from costly landfill sites as a way of getting rid of the waste that residents produce.

"We already have one of the top recycling levels in the county, well exceeding government targets, and I’d urge people to carry on recycling all they can. The EfW facility works hand in hand with our marvellous recycling efforts, as the electricity it produces means we recover something useful from the waste that can’t be recycled. We’re confident that Waste Recycling Group will construct a spectacular facility that residents will be proud of."

Mr. Paul Taylor, Chief Executive at Waste Recycling Group, commented:

"We are very proud to be playing our part in helping the people of Lincolnshire deal sustainably and effectively with the waste left over after recycling. Lincolnshire County Council have certainly put themselves at the forefront of good resource management in the UK and we are fully committed to delivering this ground-breaking facility for them."

Scunthorpe based Clugston Construction, who along with technology partner CNIM, have been chosen by WRG to build the new facility and are currently involved in site preparation works prior to the main construction commencing in early June. Clugston’s Managing Director, Steve Radcliffe, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this project which will enable us to draw on our local resources and knowledge”.

The contract between Lincolnshire County Council and Waste Recycling Group who are designing, building and operating the facility was signed on Friday, 4th March 2011. The construction phase started at the end of April.

The 150,000 tonne EfW facility will supply eleven megawatts of electricity to the National Grid. It also has the potential to supply heat to the local community - as existing EfW facilities do in Sheffield and Nottingham - and work is ongoing to explore similar opportunities here. The facility is expected to be up and running by the end of 2013.

The Rasens Recycling Centre Marches to Opening

A new facility will soon be opening its gates in Market Rasen. Construction commenced in May 2010 and will open on Friday 4th March 2011.

The site will be open on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays. The site is closed at all other times, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

The Rasens will provide a user friendly site for residents to bring their household waste. The Household Waste Recycling Centre will be able to receive approximately 30-35 types of waste to maximise recycling and minimise landfill tonnages. The types of waste it can receive and redirect for recycling include:

• Green waste (grass cuttings/ hedge clippings, etc)
• Waste engine oil
• Cooking oil
• Car Batteries
• Small batteries
• Fridges and Freezers
• Electrical Appliances
• Wood (MDF/ Laminate etc)
• Rigid Plastics
• Cardboard and paper

Leadership Contest Final Furlong

Update to 'Leadership Contest Speculation Begins'.

The battle to become the Leader of the West Lindsey District Council Conservative Group will reach the finishing post today.

The West Lindsey District Council Conservative Group will meet this evening and elect a new Group Leader and Deputy Group Leader. These two councillors will then, by convention, become Leader and Deputy Leader of West Lindsey District Council, following the resignation or Cllr. Bernard Theobald (Wold View Ward) and Cllr. Adam Duguid (Market Rasen Ward) who, it is understood, is not contesting the Deputy Leadership.

Since Cllr. Theobald's suspention from the Conservative Party, preceded by his surprise resignation as the Council's Leader, Cllr. Adam Duguid has been Acting Leader of West Lindsey District Council, it is understood that Cllr. Ian Fleetwood was made interim leader of the group. Nominations for the post were to be recieved by the Agent yesterday and it is believed that both positions will be contested elections.

Cllr. Ian Fleetwood, Conservative (Bardney Ward), emerged as favourite to secure the top job. One member of the Conservative Group confided in me last week:

"We know, it's going to be Ian."

Cllr. Fleetwood previously held the position of Conservative Group Leader at the authority and is also a Lincolnshire County Council member representing the Bardney and Cherry Willingham Division.

The Lincolnshire Echo also suggested Councillors Lewis Strange, Conservative (Kelsey Ward), and Chris Underwood-Frost, Conservative (Scottor Ward), whilst I predicted that former Deputy Group Leader, Cllr. Mrs. Meg Davidson, Conservative (Fiskerton Ward) and Chairman of the Council, Cllr. Mrs. Jessie Milne, Conservative (Lea Ward) might also be in contention.

There was some speculation that the Group may decide to have two Deputy Leaders of the Council, although the Group's constitution only allows for one Deputy Goup Leader. Based on conversations with Conservatives at West Lindsey it is thought that Cllr. Fleetwood's leadership style may not be too dissimilar to that of his predecessor Cllr. Theobald and so the likelihood of a triple leadership team seems to be receeding.

Leadership Contest Speculation Begins

The Lincolnshire Echo is reporting that A former Conservative Group Leader has emerged as the favourite to take control of the West Lindsey District Council Conservative Group. Apparently, sources described as 'close to the Echo' - whoever they are - have revealed that Cllr. Ian Fleetwood, Conservative (Bardney Ward), is the front runner to replace Cllr. Bernard Theobald (Wold View Ward) as the Leader of West Lindsey District Council.

Cllr. Fleetwood previously held the position of Conservative Group Leader at the authority and is also a Lincolnshire County Council member representing the Bardney and Cherry Willingham Division. The Lincolnshire Echo have clearly forgotton that whilst Cllr. Fleetwood may have once been a contender it is hard to fathom how, following the suspension of his driving licence for a drink-driving offence earlier in the year, he emerges as front runner. Cllr. Fleetwood also represents Lincolnshire on a number of committees at the European level and so is often out of the country.

The Lincolnshire Echo also suggest Councillors Lewis Strange, Conservative (Kelsey Ward), and Chris Underwood-Frost, Conservative (Scottor Ward), as also being considered for the top job.

Cllr. Strange, who is County Councillor for the Ancholme Cliff Division, is an unlikely choice following publicly defending the achievements of Cllr. Theobald leadership although he is genteel, personable and one of the longest serving members of the Conservative Group, it is unlikely that as a portfolio holder on Lincolnshire County Council he has the time to commit to also being leader a district authority.

Cllr. Underwood-Frost is certainly known to have some limited ambitions in direction of the leadership, he would likely make a good leader in the inter-rim but may lack a desire to steer the council in the long term.

According to the Lincolnshire Echo's report Acting Leader Cllr. Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward) and former Gainsborough Constituency Conservative Association Chairman until March of this year, has ruled himself out of the running for the leadership but said he would continue as a 'caretaker' until a new appointment is made.

The paper omits a number of other likely contenders who would make good Group Leaders: Former Deputy Group Leader, Cllr. Mrs. Meg Davidson, Conservative (Fiskerton Ward) and Chairman of the Council, Cllr. Mrs. Jessie Milne, Conservative (Lea Ward).

The Lincolnshire Echo suggest that a new leader could be confirmed at Monday's extraordinary council meeting or be left until the new year. I suspect that a Group Meeting will not select a new leader until after Tuesday, 22nd December 2009 and most likely not until the new year.

One change that is expected is to have two deputy leaders rather than the current system of just one. Following the Conservative Group's victory in the May 2008 local elections Cllr. Theobald was elected by the group as leader, Cllr. Mrs. Davidson was elected as Deputy Group Leader and Cllr. Theobald appointed Cllr. Duguid as Deputy Leader of the Council so having two deputies is not so unusual. If the leadership of the group changes there is also the possibility that other officers - such as the Chief Whip - may also be re-appointed.

The paper quotes Cllr. Burt Keimach, Conservative (Market Rasen) as saying that an announcement would be made

"when the time is right".

"We have had a meeting about it and that is all I can say."

"We are satisfied with the progress made. We wanted someone with good political experience and all the qualities necessary for good leadership - lead by consensus and democracy rather than any other less inclusive qualities. We don't want anyone to take executive decisions."