Conservatives take Saxilby Ward!

The Conservatives have gained one of two district council seats in the Saxilby Ward from the Liberal Democrats.

The Result

Jackie Brockway, Conservative 722
Steve Pearson, UKIP 62
Dean Woolley, Liberal Democrat 407

Turnout 28.3%

Lincolnshire County Council Result

Well my prediction was that we would see Conservatives 64 (Up 19), Labour 13 (Down 13), Liberal Democrats 4 (Down 5), Lincolnshire Independents 1 (Up 1), Boston Bypass Party 1 (Up 1), Independents 0 (Down 3)

It is 5am. Sixty-Six seats have declared and currently we stand at: Conservatives 50 (Up 17), Labour 3 (Down 16), Liberal Democrats 5 (Down 3), Lincolnshire Independents 1 (Up 1), Boston Bypass Party 1 (Up 1), Independents 2 (n/c)... so at this early stage very much in line with my prediction.

Election Day 2009 - Noon

Well I was out this morning doing my bit to Get Out the Vote. A large number of activists were out in Lincoln West droping off Polling Day reminders. In this most marginal of Divisions, held by Rob Parker (Labour (Group Leader)) the turnout was very slow at four or five polling stations I saw.

One of Rob's Tellers reported that the turnout seemed to be mainly from 'Castle' area which is good news for the Conservatives who took a seat in the ward at last years City Council Elections.

I have just returned from my polling station in Nettleham and it seemed to be quite busy. So a very direct contrast to what was going on in Lincoln.

Keep up-to-date on the results here.

Polls open in twelve hours

I have to admit, I never thought that this close to the European and County Council elections Gordon Brown's position would look so fragile.

Five Ministers went public yesterday, including Jacqui Smith - Home Secretary, that they would be resigning at the next reshuffle. The Guardian have decided to publish a editorial this morning blasting Gordon Brown, then Hazel Blears resigned, giving no support to Gordon Brown's premiership. At PMQs Alistair Darling didn't get any meaningful support from the Prime Minister. LabourList reported that two Ministers may resign this afternoon. Rumors abound that John Reid has been sounded out for the position of Home Secretary and apparently a coup is underway to get the 70 Labour MPs to break cover and call for a Leadership Contest.

Tomorrow will be really important not just for who we elect, but for the impact it will have on Gordon Brown's Premiership.

I suspect the odd on Gordon Brown still being Prime Minister by the end of the year have narrowed shortly.

Updates will be live as soon I can put them up from the Count at Gainsborough. I also hope to feed into Ian Dale's coverage on Friday.

Don't forget to vote. Polls open 7am and close 10pm.

Lincolnshire County Council Election Prediction

It is five days before polling day. And whilst every politician will tell you that the only poll that matters is the one on Thursday 4th June - and they are right to do so - here is my prediction of the seats which are most vunerable and could change on the night.

Boston Fishtoft
Boston Northwest
Mablethorpe
Skegness South
Lincoln Birchwood
Lincoln Bracebridge
Lincoln East
Lincoln Hartsholme
Lincoln Moorland
Branston & Navenby
Deeping St. James
Grantham Barrowby
Grantham East
Grantham South
Bardney & Cherry Willingham
Gainsborough Rural South
Market Rasen Wolds
Nettleham & Saxilby
Welton Rural

An election pledge we're not getting anywhere else!

Cllr. Alistair Williams (Con. Lincoln Castle), Conservative Lincolnshire County Council candidate for Lincoln North Division has decided to keep politics fun and interesting.

In a statement sent out via facebook to his supporters, in the small hours of May 27th, he has promised to have his legs waxed if elected on June 4th as a County Councillor.

Cllr. Williams says:

"Lets put politics aside for one moment and let me have a moment of madness!

If I get elected on the 4th June for Lincoln North then I hereby promise to have my LEGS WAXED! to help raise money for the new Women's Refuge in Lincoln!

The Women's Refuge is currently short of £35,000 and is in desperate need of funding. so if you want to support me on June the 4th or you want to support Women's Aid or if you want want to see a politician (a male politician!) having his legs waxed for a good cause then please come on Vote Williams.

Just to end this is not a gimmick! I beleive in this cause, and if not elected i will still look for ways of fund raiseing but i wanted to raise awareness to my friends and supporters of this cause and ways in which we can help and also I wanted to give myself a chance to show that there is still some politicians that will do whatever it takes to help others and do the job that we promise to do!"

County Council Election Prediction

12/05/2009
On Monday 11th May 2009 the Returning Officers published the list of persons nominated to stand as Candidates for Election to Lincolnshire County Council on Thursday June 4th.

After much number-crunching Giles McNeill is pleased to announce a first prediction, based upon YouGov's poll for 'The Times' conducted on 8th/9th May 2009 using a moderated uniform swing.

Conservatives 64 (Up 19)
Labour 13 (Down 13)
Liberal Democrats 4 (Down 5)
Lincolnshire Independents 1 (Up 1)
Boston Bypass Party 1 (Up 1)
Independents 0 (Down 3)

European Parliamentary Election Party Political Broadcasts

Labour's Party Political Broadcast (5th May 2009)


Conservatives' Party Political Broadcast (6th May 2009)


United Kingdom Independence Party's Party Political Broadcast (7th May 2009)


Liberal Democrat's Party Political Broadcast (8th May 2009)

Vote for change on 4th June

David Cameron has today launched the Conservative Party's local election campaign and urged people to "vote for change" on 4th June.

He accused Labour of:

"running our country into the ground... [by] borrowing eye-watering amounts of money, presiding over social decline, [and] letting our politics descend into the quagmire."

He highlighted the 'national importance' of these elections and urged voters to

"give this weak, useless and spineless Government a message it won’t forget" on June 4th:

"With every Conservative vote, that message will be simple: 'Enough is enough. You’re the past.'"

Mr. Cameron stressed that Conservative councils offer value for money and provide 'more for less':

"They are delivering more of the safe, clean and green streets that are so vital to everyone’s quality of life for the less tax that is so important for everyone struggling in Labour’s Debt Crisis."

He promised to instruct Conservative councillors, new and re-elected, to

“go through the books, page by page, line by line, to see what savings you can make and do everything you can to get council tax down and help people in Labour’s Debt Crisis.”

And he stressed that Conservative councils are greener, helping to improve the local environment and protect green spaces, cleaner, with lower levels of the graffiti, fly-posting and fly-tipping, and safer, with lower levels of crime, anti-social behaviour and vandalism.

"Of the councils with the top twenty highest ‘overall satisfaction’ ratings by residents, sixteen are Conservative and none are Labour or Liberal Democrat controlled. This shouldn’t surprise anyone."

A key theme of the Local Elections campaign will be how councils are working to combat the recession, in Lincolnshire's case supporting local businesses, helping protect local jobs. Working with others, Conservative councils have introduced a range of innovative schemes to keep local firms in business and local people in work.

When Siemens, a major local employer, was looking to relocate its gas turbine production from Lincoln, Lincolnshire County Council acted swiftly to protect local jobs and avoid a huge blow to the local economy. Working in partnership with two district councils, the county council persuaded the company that a site, which they had identified for potential development into a business park, could be a suitable location. A state-of-the-art factory and offices are now under construction. In the last few years, projects led by the council’s economic regeneration section, have helped to create 2,000 jobs.

Not Getting Anywhere - Ray Sellars

County Councillor Ray Sellars (Nettleham & Saxilby Division, Liberal Democrat) admitted at last night's Nettleham Parish Council Meeting that thoughout his two terms, or eight years, on Lincolnshire County Council he had been unable to make any real difference or progres

A resident of the village attended the meeting and raised the issue of the current state of the roads in the village and later in the meeting Cllr. Evans, giving a report on the Parish Plan Committee's progress raised the issue again.

Specifically addressing the matter of the state of the roads in the village Cllr. Sellars said:

“I pursue the matter everytime and I never get anywhere.”

Giles McNeill, also a Parish Councillor, later commented:

"You really do have to wonder what makes people keep standing for office election, after election when they make statements like that. I know that if I were elected as the County Councillor for Nettleham on June 4th I would be doing everything in my power and not just declaring defeat and hoping for a quiet retirement."

More help needed for Lincolnshire’s small firms during the recession

Call to make business rate relief automatic for small firms

Giles McNeill today welcomed Conservative plans to cut taxes and paperwork for small shops and small firms. In a new initiative, small business rate relief would be given automatically to firms across England, rather than making businesses claim it and complete time-consuming forms. Giles McNeill was speaking as Parliament discusses a Conservative Private Members’ Bill to change the law in this way.

Small business rate relief was introduced in 2005, allowing small firms to claim up to 50 per cent off their business rate bills. However, firms have to fill out paperwork to claim the rate relief, despite the fact that Whitehall’s tax inspectors know precisely which firms are eligible.

• According to the most recent figures, 736 firms claimed small business rate relief in West Lindsey.
• The Local Government Association has estimated that some 870,000 firms are eligible for the rebate but less than half have claimed. The take-up rate is estimated to be 48% in the Midlands.
• By contrast, in Wales, small business rate relief has been automatic since 2007.

After rent and staff, business rates are typically the next biggest cost to local firms. Business experts have warned that 32,300 businesses will fail in 2009. Firms face a hammering this April from the Government thanks to soaring business rates:
• Business rates are to rise by 5.0 per cent in April 2009, despite RPI inflation forecast to be negative this year. This is because of a statistical quirk in the way business rate rises are calculated.
• Transitional relief from the 2005 business rates revaluation has expired, pushing bills up further for many firms in April 2009.
• The Government has slashed back rate relief on empty properties. As the recession bites, firms are unable to rent out vacant property, and have to pay rates in full without any income from rent.

Giles said:

“Small shops and businesses across Lincolnshire are facing tough times in Labour’s recession. These firms, from our corner shops to local pubs, are the lifeblood of our local community. A responsible government would do more to help them.

“Yet Gordon Brown is making it difficult for small firms to claim the tax relief to which they are entitled. He is adding to their misery by finding new ways to drive up business rates by stealth.

“Conservatives would ensure that small firms automatically receive rate relief, cutting their paperwork and tax bills, giving many of them a fighting chance to stay afloat.”

Job Done - Bus Timetables

Residents in Nettleham will hopefully be increasingly aware that there is now a Bus Service operating through the village on Sundays and Bank Holidays, supported by the Conservative run Lincolnshire County Council.

On resident brought to my attention that unfortunately, despite the new service begining on Sunday, 1st February 2009, new bus timetables showing the new services hadn't gone up, well following a little investigation on part I am pleased to report that new bus timetables have now gone up at the bus stops in Nettleham. So another little job done.







Giles McNeill
Local Conservative Action Team Co-Ordinator (Nettleham & Saxilby)

Job Done - A46 'French' Drains

Good news; following one local resident getting in touch with me about his concerns over the standard of the drainage on the A46 near Danby Hill I am pleased to report that a team from Highways was there this morning doing some remedial work.

Ministers push ahead with plans for councillors to vote from the pub

Labour plans could undermine trust in Lincolnshire County Council warns Giles McNeill

Councillors throughout Lincolnshire will soon be paid for voting from their sofa or from the pub, the small print of Government documents revealed this week. Labour Ministers are to push ahead with changing the law to let councillors skip town hall meetings but still cash in on their council tax-funded salaries and pensions. This is despite overwhelming public opposition to the plans in a formal consultation.

• Councillors to stay put on their sofas: In July, as part of a widely-derided ‘Community Empowerment White Paper’, Labour Ministers announced plans to allow “remote” voting in town halls. Lincolnshire's councillors will not have to turn up at meetings. They will be able to vote by phone or internet, from their home, their place of work or the local pub. The White Paper also included plans to introduce free doughnuts and prize draws for voting in elections; to remove controls on town hall propaganda; and to undo anti-sleaze laws brought in to stop ‘jobs for the boys’ corruption.

• Anger at Labour Government plans: The small print of the responses to the Government’s consultation, published on 26 January, reveals widespread opposition to the changes. Less than a quarter of town halls backed the plans, warning that the move “erodes public confidence in democracy” and is “lacking transparency and accountability”. The responses note that “concerns were also raised about the practicality and cost of remote attendance and voting”, and stresses that “citizens want to be able to attend public meetings and see their councillors at work.” Alarm was also raised over the increased risk of expensive legal challenges to controversial decisions, such as planning applications. But the Government has simply ignored this opposition, and says it still plans to change the law, regardless.

• Green light to skip meetings as town hall salaries rocket: It is thought that permission to skip meetings is being proposed by Labour Ministers to make it easier for Labour councillors to hold down multiple jobs, on top of raking in their councillor salaries. Yet in recent years, ever since Labour’s Local Government Act 2000 and the widespread abolition of the ‘Committee’ system, councillor salaries have soared. Labour Ministers’ plans come as council tax bills from April are due to hit record levels, with the average bill in England rising by £48 to reach £1,421 a year on a Band D home (equivalent to almost £120 a month).

Giles McNeill, Conservative Candidate for Lincolnshire County Council in the Nettleham & Saxilby Division, said:

“Lincolnshire’s councillors work really hard and they have have a vital role in standing up for the many local communities that make up Lincolnshire. But local decision-making by Lincolnshire County Council must remain open, transparent and public.

“At a time when council tax bills are to hitting record levels across the country and people are working harder than ever to make ends meet, it is incredible that Labour Ministers are effectively pushing for some councillors to do less work for more money.

“I fear that Labour’s plans for armchair voting and voting from the pub will create real cynicism amongst hard-pressed taxpayers.”

Government to hike business taxes on local firms at time of recession

Average business rates bill in West Lindsey may hit £5,932 thanks to Gordon Brown

Labour Ministers in Whitehall were today accused of kicking local firms “in the teeth” as it emerged that the Government is pushing ahead with plans to increase business rates on local firms at a time of economic recession.

The Government is introducing a new law - the Business Rates Supplements Bill - which will allow town halls to increase business rates on local firms by leving a ‘supplementary’ rate on top of current bills. This comes at a time that business rates are already due to rise by a painful 5% in April.

• There are 2,572 premises in West Lindsey which currently pay business rates. The average bill in West Lindsey in 2008-09 was £5,417 raising a total of £13.9 million a year in tax in total from local firms, which is handed over to Whitehall.

• Due to the impending 5% rise, business rate bills in West Lindsey will hit an average of £5,688 from April. If a supplementary business rate were imposed on top, this could push the average bill on local firms to a record £5,932 a year.

• Supplementary business rates are likely to be used to fund local authorities’ current expenditure, rather than new infrastructure. Councils will be pressured into levying supplementary business rates to make up for funding pressures. Firms will not be given a proper vote on whether or not they support the new charge. According to the Government, supplementary business rates could increase taxes by up to £600 million a year if levied by every local authority.

• There will also be a business rates revaluation in 2010, which may increase the bills even more for many firms – especially shops, since retail property rents have risen sharply in recent years. Higher rateable values will worsen the impact of supplementary rates.

Giles McNeill said:

“I fear that supplementary business rates will be yet another backdoor way for Gordon Brown to hike taxes by stealth. At a time when local firms are struggling for their very survival, even higher business rates are a kick in the teeth from the Government.”

Giles McNeill on the Start of Nettleham & Saxilby Division Campaign

Whilst for many the County Council and European Parliamentary Elections, to be held on Thursday 4th June, may seem a long way off; nothing of substance was ever achieved without hard work and to that end the Conservative’s campaign in Saxilby kicked off today with myself and Rupert Matthews, Conservative Prospective European Parliamentary Candidate for the East Midlands, out and about in Saxilby.

A good number of volunteers turned out to deliver leaflets to the majority of households in Saxilby, and for those of you who haven’t yet had a ‘Saxilby Matters’ it will be dropping on your doormat any day now.

Giles and Rupert inspect a 'Saxilby Matters' at the start of Milbeck Drive.

I was very pleased to have the opportunity to show Rupert around Saxilby. Rupert was curious about the Library and I was sorry to inform him that the hours had been reduced, but that, in my view, had Saxilby had a Conservative County Councillor – who would be listened to by the Council’s leadership – then the hours may not have been reduced.

It was really good weather to be out and about and meeting local people and chatting to them about the issues that affect them. Naturally the economy is at the top of everyone's minds and so I was please to outline what Conservative are doing at West Lindsey, County and National Level to help people.

After the morning session we went for a tour of a number of sites in the Nettleham & saxilby Division. We went to Odder, Burton Waters, Riseholme and to finally to Nettleham before heading into the City of Lincoln to meet with a local business owner who is having a particular problem with European Union regulation.

All in all a full day of activities and I am personally very grateful to Rupert for coming and visiting, campaigning and generally helping out for the day.

Next generation broadband could create next generation business

Jeremy Hunt MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, has promised a Conservative Government will focus on ensuring the majority of the population have access to the next generation of high speed broadband networks within 5 years.

The Shadow Culture Secretary argued that next generation broadband offers a great commercial opportunity to the UK, because of the strength of our creative industries. He announced that the Conservative Party would be launching a wide-ranging review of the UK’s creative and creative knowledge industries this Spring in order to inform our thinking:

"There is no question about our talent for creating digital content, content that can be traded and exchanged in Bill Gates’ global village square. The question is whether we seize the opportunity presented by that talent to build the next generation of global businesses based on the new technology platforms that are emerging."

Giles meets with Jeremy Hunt in Lincoln, discussing various points including the knowledge economy.

Jeremy stressed that the key issue in the provision of next generation broadband is creating a framework which allows private sector investors to get the returns necessary to make the huge investment required.

"This means creating a regulatory environment that stimulates investment both by large incumbent players like BT, or where they are slow or unwilling to do so, by more nimble newcomers. To do this we should oversee wholesale deregulation of the current broadband infrastructure."

Giles McNeill said:

"This is exactly the right sort of proposal for an economy in recession, it not only makes sense for companies & business but for local people and communities."

“It's time for change” - Giles McNeill’s New Year Message

Nettleham & Saxilby Division Conservatives
In Broadholme, Broxholme, Burton, Burton Waters, Grange-de-Lings, Greetwell, Nettleham, North Carlton, North Greetwell, Riseholme, Saxilby-With-Ingleby & South Carlton: It's time for change.

May I wish all of you a very happy New Year.

An important battle has been raging during 2008: the closure of the microbiology laboratory at Lincoln County Hospital which is set to close and all samples are to be sent to Scunthorpe, over 30 miles away. This is of such concern that the Health Scrutiny Committee, has used its ultimate power and referred the matter to the Secretary of State for Health.

Inspecting the sub-station housing at Riverdale in Nettleham.

2008 saw a change in political control at West Lindsey District Council. At the local elections on 1st May Conservatives gained 4 seats from the Liberal Democrats and took control of the Council. Since then, the new Conservative administration has been working hard to deliver on its election promises.
• Concessionary bus passes: in July the restriction on using bus passes before 9.30am was lifted and all day use restored.
• Flood prevention grants: a scheme has been put in place for victims of the 2007 floods to obtain up to 50% of the cost of flood protection devices for their homes.
• Green bins: as promised charges are scheduled to be scrapped for pensioner households from April 2009.

Wishing you all the best for 2009,
Giles McNeill
Prospective Conservative County Council Candidate for the Nettleham & Saxilby Division

Sat behind David Cameron at the Conservative Party Conference

New blow to Lincolnshire’s housing market from new HIP fines and red tape

New Home Information Pack rules will hurt housing market

Giles McNeill, Prospective County Council Candidate for the Nettleham & Saxilby Division, expressed concern today at the announcement by the Government that Home Information Pack regulations will be tightened, pushing up the costs for Lincolnshire’s residents trying to sell their home. This will include forcing town halls to become more aggressive in issuing fines for breaching the burdensome rules. Home Information Packs became compulsory for all homes one year ago on 14 December.

Government research into Home Information Packs has recently found that there is minimal public knowledge and interest in HIPs; that the industry thinks they are a waste of time; that they duplicate costs and that buyers are not bothering to consult HIPs. Yet the Government has announced the following changes:

• Heavy-handed fines: Town halls will be instructed to “identify specific cases of non-compliance and enforce the requirements”. This raises the prospect that Lincolnshire County Council will be forced to start fining home owners £200 a time who do not follow the rules.

• Making it more difficult to advertise your home: From April 2009, the Government is cancelling the “first day marketing” provisions. These allow sellers to place their home on the market if a HIP has been ordered, but has not yet been completed. The cancellation will be mean that sellers will have to wait longer before they can put their home on the market. They will be fined if they advertise their property without a HIP.

• Gold-plating the Packs: The time to complete a Pack will increase, as sellers must personally fill out a detailed new ‘Property Information Questionnaire’ as part of the Home Information Pack. Yet this will be of little interest to buyers, who will instinctively treat information provided by the seller with a touch of scepticism.

Giles said:

“Home Information Packs have already harmed the market and discouraged sellers. The last thing Lincolnshire needs is the prospect of heavy-handed fines being levied by town hall officials.

“The housing market is on its knees and Labour’s response is to make it more difficult and expensive to sell your home.

“Conservatives will scrap Home Information Packs. If anything, Ministers should be using their emergency powers to suspend HIPs and provide a shot in the arm to Lincolnshire’s ailing market.”

Action needed to stop energy firms ripping off Lincolnshire’s households

Vulnerable families and pensioners need help in face of rocketing energy bills

Giles McNeill, Prospective Conservative Candidate for Nettleham & Saxilby Division’s County Council seat, called today for urgent new measures to help families and pensioners across Lincolnshire who are facing soaring energy bills and are struggling to make ends meet this winter. The average gas and electricity bill in the East Midlands has now soared to £1,264.00 a year.

One in five families is now estimated to live in fuel poverty. According to Age Concern, there are more winter deaths in Britain than in colder European countries‚ such as Finland‚ Denmark and Austria.

Conservatives have launched a series of proposals to tackle fuel poverty, which would:
• Cut the fuel bills of the poorest households by introducing tough new rules that make it illegal for energy companies to charge over the odds on pre-payment meters.
• Oblige every energy company to offer ‘social’ tariffs to vulnerable households.
• Make energy companies provide information on energy bills that shows customers whether they are on the cheapest tariff available – and, if they are not, makes clear how much they would save if they switched to the cheapest tariff, and how to do it.
• Reform Post Office Card Accounts so that people can pay their utility bills through direct debit style payments, cutting the energy bills of up to four million ‘unbanked’ people by £100 a year.

Giles said:

“With gas and electricity bills at record highs, people across Lincolnshire face their toughest winter for years. Without immediate help, many will have to choose between staying warm and going into debt.

“It is completely unacceptable that the most vulnerable people on pre-payment meters should be targeted by the energy companies to pay more than their fair share. That should be banned at once.

“And all customers should have the right to be told what the cheapest tariff is – instead of paying more because they are baffled by the complexity of what energy companies offer.

“The Government must end its dithering and act immediately to save the poorest from spending this winter worrying whether they can afford to keep warm.”