More Communities Offered Access to Super-fast Broadband

As more of Conservative-led West Lindsey District Council’s services being accessed online, such as paying for services and reporting issues – improving access to the internet is important.

The rural nature of the district means internet provision is sometimes patchy and limits resident’s access. Last year, the council teamed up with Quickline Communications to install wireless internet in thirty community buildings, known as hubs. Following the successful take up of the scheme, a new deal has been signed with the company to extend provision.

Conservative Deputy Leader of the West Lindsey, Cllr. Mrs. Anne Welburn said:

“Accessing services online is becoming more and more part of our everyday expectations. A lot of us already do internet banking and pay our bills online. Now we as a council want to put customers at the heart of our services and give access online for those customers that want to use it. Extending the wi-fi provision will reduce the number of ‘notspots’ and open up online services to more people.”

Mrs. Manjeet Gill, Chief Executive of the Council commented:

“We have been working to improve communications for our residents and I am delighted that the second phase of the scheme can now get underway.

“To compliment this we are also making improvements to our web site, including new electronic forms to make it quicker and easier for residents to access services online.”

Mr. Steve Jagger, Managing Director of Quickline said:

“Village halls provide a community hub of activity for rural communities and it is fantastic the council has invested additional funds to improve communications. I am delighted that we are able to offer wireless broadband which can reach locations that traditional telecoms are unable to reach.”

District Councillor for the Nettleham Ward, Cllr. Giles McNeill welcome the news saying:

“I know that in Nettleham, the Village Hall Committee are eager to access the benefits that this scheme should provide. Giving local residents high speed internet at a key community venue, like the Village Hall, can be an important step to ensure that our community is digitally inclusive.”

Other initiatives are being explored, and local businesses are urged to contact Steve Bolan on 01427 676551 for more information. For further information on Quickline, call 01482 247365 or visit www.quickline.co.uk.

Conservative-Led West Lindsey Wins Gold

Carol Smillie presents the awards to Cllr. Burt Keimach,
Manjeet Gill, the Chief Executive and representatives of
West Lindsey District Council

Conservative-led West Lindsey District Council has won gold at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) Service Awards 2012.

The award recognises the way the council managed roles within the authority to minimise cuts to service delivery. Officers and councillors have embraced the ‘entrepreneurial model’ and are keen to explore new ways of working for the benefit of local residents. This has helped the council avoid the level of services cuts that other councils nationally have made.

Six councils were selected as finalists for the Best Employee and Equality Initiative but the council’s Workforce Transformation submission captured the eye of judges.

West Lindsey District Council was named the winner at a glittering award ceremony in Glasgow. APSE also recognised the successful formula in a recent article they published highlighting how other councils can avoid service cuts from this way of working.

Over the last two years a lot of work has gone into developing the positive values, cultural changes, empowering staff and the development of leadership and skills.

This has led to:

• No compulsory redundancies
• Opportunities for people to develop themselves
• A stronger corporate one team ethos
• Working together across all departments to have a greater focus on results for residents

Presenter, Carol Smillie handed the award to the Leader of the Council, Cllr. Burt Keimach. He said:

"For the council to come first in the UK, from more than 300 councils overall to scoop the Best Employment and Equality Initiative Award, is fantastic. To me this proves that the way we treat people who work for us is the right and proper way. I would like to give a salute to everyone involved."

The APSE service awards are unique in the local government calendar because they reflect frontline service achievements ranging from refuse collection to council run leisure centres.

The council also picked up three other certificates for becoming finalists in three other categories:

• Best Public/Private Partnership Working for the way we work with parish councils and other partners on projects such as flooding.
• Best Local Democracy for the way our officers and councillors work together.
• Overall Council of the Year 2012. The council was shortlisted alongside Sheffield City Council and Nottingham County Council, which is an achievement as we were the only district council in this category.

Speaking about the awards APSE chief executive Paul O’Brien described the finalists as the ‘elite’ in the sector. He said:

"The winners of the APSE service awards 2012 are truly the gold medallists of local government. They have strived for excellence in service delivery and put in that extra effort to ensure that they deliver the very best in frontline services."

West Lindsey District Council Welcome Youngest Member

Conservative Giles McNeill, won the Nettleham by-election with 565 votes - a majority of 52 - and will take over from former councillor Raymond Sellars who passed away earlier this year.



Cllr. Giles McNeill with Manjeet Gill signing the
Declaration of Acceptance of Office at the Guildhall

 Giles, who works for local parliamentarian Edward Leigh MP, said he became interested in politics whilst studying in his sixth form at De Aston School in Market Rasen. He said:

"I am delighted to have won this by-election; and to join the council as its youngest member is an added bonus.

"I believe it is important that the council reflects the people of West Lindsey. Whilst older members of the council bring experience, younger councillors bring a different world-view.

"I am looking forward to learning from my colleagues, just as I hope to add value to the council with my own perspective.

"Ray Sellars was a good and popular councillor and very much appreciated by the community for all the work he did. His death was a sad loss. I have big shoes to fill."

Giles has lived in Nettleham since 1990 and studied at Hull University for his politics degree.

Local MP Edward Leigh said:

"Giles is a hard-working and committed individual and I am sure he will bring his talents to the council, delivering for both the people of Nettleham, Greetwell, Riseholme and Grange-de-Lings and all the residents of West Lindsey."

West Lindsey District Council Chief Executive, Manjeet Gill, said:

"We are pleased to welcome Cllr McNeill to the council and wish him well in this position.

"It is good that young people are getting into local politics, they can make a real difference to the district."

Former Council Leader Receives An Apology & A Substantial Sum in Damages

Above: Mr. Theobald in the Council Chamber when he was
Leader of West Lindsey District Council

The Lincolnshire Echo has today published an apology to Mr. Bernard Theobald, the one-time Leader of West Lindsey District Council, for linking information about the council's operations, a planning application by Mr. Theobald and the dismissal of a member of the planning department. The paper summerised there apology saying:

"We apologise unreservedly to Mr Theobald for any distress or embarrassment caused by this error."

Although the periodical spent, however, the preceding seven paragraphs quantifying their apology and blaming a press release from the Council; apparently the connection between 'potential fraud and mismanagement' and Mr. Theobald's planning application was made, relying on a press release from West Lindsey District Council dated 24th September 2009.

Mr. Theobald, who was singer Barbara Dickson's manager before entering politics, brought proceedings in the High Court, in London. The former Leader of West Lindsey District Council and Chairman of the Planning Committee, was caused serious distress and embarrassment by the stories, said his counsel, Mr. Ronald Thwaites QC. The first article appeared in December 2009 and alleged there were good and solid reasonable grounds to suspect Mr. Theobald had committed fraud in relation to the application, which he had made the previous June. Three days later, the allegation was repeated and it was also claimed that Mr. Theobald had lied in denying the newspaper's claim that his planning application had resulted in a council officer's suspension and investigation by the Audit Commission. A third article appeared in January 2010.

Mr. Thwaites said:

"There was nothing to justify the allegations as published. The allegations made against Mr Theobald were completely false and should never have been published."

On behalf of the publisher, Mr. Manuel Barca QC, said it apologised 'fully and unreservedly' for the publication of the false allegations. It is understood that they have agreed to pay Mr. Theobald a substantial, yet undisclosed, sum in compensation and his legal costs.

Conservative-Led West Lindsey District Council Scoops Top National Award

West Lindsey District Council which helped 130 young people to find jobs is celebrating after becoming the only local authority to win a prestigious UK Social Enterprise Award.

The national competition, organised by the Social Enterprise Coalition, recognises the work and achievements of the UK's most inspiring and successful social enterprises.

West Lindsey District Council was crowned Social Enterprise Partner of the Year at the UK final of the Social Enterprise Awards which took place at The O2 in London hosted by actor and comedian Alexander Armstrong. The Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, was also at the event to present one of the seven awards.

The Council was nominated by a social enterprise in its district called Hill Holt Wood in recognition of its support for local social enterprises.

Together the partners worked with the Future Jobs Fund to help youngsters - some at risk and some excluded from school - into jobs including forestry assistants, gardeners, joiners, sawmill operatives and furniture makers.

West Lindsey's Chief Executive Manjeet Gill said: "We are an entrepreneurial council and that philosophy means we have a strong commercial and social conscience and it is very encouraging that many people have told us that they hope more local authorities will embrace the way we are working.

"Lots of people do similar things to what we have done, but I believe we have won this award because we have involved so many other people in our vision, plans and future challenges."

Karen Lowthrop of Hill Holt Wood said:

"I had no hesitation in nominating West Lindsey for this award because as an organisation they delivered far more than we could have expected. From the Chief Executive down they understand social enterprise and can see the opportunities of partnership. I am looking forward to working with the Council on many more projects."

Peter Holbrook, CEO of the Social Enterprise Coalition said:

"Congratulations to West Lindsey District Council on their win. The Social Enterprise Coalition received a record number of responses to this year's awards so to have come out on top is a truly remarkable achievement. We hope the partnership between West Lindsey District Council and Hill Holt Wood will serve as an example to other local authorities of the benefits of working closely with social enterprise."

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.

Go Ahead For 2,500 New Homes Plan

A major housing development which will help double the size of Gainsborough in the next twenty years has been given the go-ahead.

Leader of West Lindsey District Council, Cllr. Burt Keimach, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward), has welcomed the news. He said:

"This is excellent news for Gainsborough as it means the development that will support the regeneration of the town can be decided locally. It also fits in well with the Government's agenda for people to shape their own future

"We can now proceed to determine the application in line with the Planning Committee's decision and continue the regeneration of Gainsborough."

As previously reported, the council granted outline planning permission for 2,500 homes to be built on land south of Foxby Lane, in the South West Ward of Gainsborough.  However, because the scale of the development is different from the local policy, the final decision had to be approved by the Government.

This week, the council received a letter from the Government Office for the East Midlands. It read:

"In the Secretary of State's view, the proposed (application) does not raise issues of such wider significance as to require a determination by him and he has, therefore, concluded that your council should decide the application."

Plans for the development include two primary schools, shops, a doctors' surgery and a multi-use centre.

The development will be complemented with large open spaces and parks and access to nearby woodlands together with pedestrian and cycle routes.

Chief Executive of the Council Mrs. Manjeet Gill said:

"This new development is another positive sign of confidence in the future of Gainsborough. It will provide a major employment boost in the construction stage and will eventually support 1,500 new jobs in the business, industrial, retail and home worker sectors.

It's crucial we get the plans right by ensuring the right infrastructure and services will be in place to cope with the increase in demand and we look forward to seeing the details of the planning application."

The applicant will now need to submit further 'reserved matters' applications, to deal with the detail of the site.

The timescale for this and the start date for building is in the hands of the developer.

However, it is planned that the development will take 12-13 years to complete with about 200 new homes being added each year.

Full Details of New Chief Executive Appointment at West Lindsey District Council

Update to 'EXCLUSIVE: West Lindsey Announce New Chief Executive'.

A new Chief Executive has been appointed by West Lindsey District Council.

A meeting of the authority last night confirmed the appointment of the forty-eight year-old, mother of two, Mrs. Manjeet Gill who is expected to start her new job in May.

Right: West Lindsey District Council Chief Executive Mrs. Manjeet Gill.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Adam Duguid, Conservative (Market Rasen Ward) said:

"The selection panel was faced with the difficult job of selecting a candidate from a very strong short-list, but Mrs. Gill was the unanimous choice."

Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Reg Shore, Liberal Democrat (Stow Ward), added:

"The two-day selection process was very rigorous but I am sure an excellent choice has been made and that the whole district will benefit."

A delighted Mrs. Gill said:

"I am extremely proud to have been chosen to be West Lindsey's Chief Executive. This is a district with many strengths and challenges and I am looking forward to working with councillors and officers to build on the strengths and to meet the challenges.

"I was attracted to the job because the Council has a good track record and I am looking forward to developing the towns in the district and improving the rural economy."

Mrs. Gill's local government career began in environmental health with Leicester City Council. She has worked as Chief Executive for Salisbury District Council and her other senior posts include roles in Regeneration and Partnerships at Northamptonshire County Council.

She has also worked as a professional adviser on public sector leadership and on the role of the voluntary and community sector in society.

Away from work Mrs. Gill enjoys running in the countryside and cycling.

Mrs. Gill succeeds Mr. Duncan Sharkey who has taken a post with Worcester City Council as Managing Director.

EXCLUSIVE: West Lindsey Announce New Chief Executive

The New Chief Executive of West Lindsey District Council Has been named as Mrs. Manjeet Gill, believed to be from Leicestershire with a string of acting Chief Executive posts to her credit.

Mrs. Gill is to replace out going Chief Executive Duncan Sharkey who is off to take up a post in Worcester City Council as Managng Director.

More tomorrow.