Council

Labour shortages in the farming industry could be linked to loneliness, members of Lincolnshire County Council have suggested. A report brought before the council warned that staff shortages in Lincolnshire will threaten the agricultural sector if they are not solved soon, writes local democracy reporter James Turner.It highlighted that farms across the county are struggling to hire new workers who ...

Understanding the structure of local government in Lincolnshire can be a daunting task for residents – even those “in the know”. With three tiers of authority, it can be easy to get confused about which authority carries out what responsibilities.It’s important to understand the roles and responsibilities of each level to effectively engage with local democracy and create positive change ...

Public tennis courts in Spalding are set to benefit from major improvements thanks to a national scheme. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has offered a £101,442 grant towards the scheme for the existing courts in Ayscoughfee Gardens.South Holland District Council had previously agreed to contribute £20,000 towards the project.“The funding on offer provides a unique opportunity to secure the refurbishment ...

A mayoral election for Greater Lincolnshire could be held as soon as 2025 if devolution plans progress. The leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Coun Martin Hill, has confirmed that discussions have re-started after the local elections, writes local democracy reporter Daniel Jaines.An agreement with the government could potentially be signed later this year, leading to new local authority in the ...

Money meant for the southern section of the Spalding Western Relief Road has been reallocated so it’s likely not to be funded for at least seven years while the only section being worked on is facing delays itself. The controversial project, the three middle sections of which are yet to be funded or be granted permission for, is meant to ...

The leader of South Holland District Council has unveiled his new cabinet which has met for the first time since the election. Coun Nick Worth (Cons) was officially unanimously voted into the role last week after 20 years as deputy to Lord Gary Porter.He named Coun Gary Taylor as his deputy.Coun Worth told the meeting he is launching a plan ...

A councillor says there needs to be a debate on the future of the nearly 100-year-old aviary in Ayscoughfee Hall’s gardens. Coun Gary Taylor says a decision needs to be made on the bird house which has been in the Grade II listed setting for 98 years.The aviary was brought up at a meeting of South Holland District Council by ...

The Pedals Spalding Cycle Action Group has expressed concerns that proposed £15 million improvements to two roundabouts in the town might create a greater risk to cyclists and pedestrians. The group has called on Lincolnshire County Council to include a footbridge or signal crossing as part of a “levelling up” initiative for the Springfields and Greencell roundabouts.However, council officers argue ...

South Holland residents have been up in arms about the local recycling centre – again – and a county councillor has suggested people ‘avoid weekends’ or ‘buy a compost bin.’ Traffic was queued back beyond the roundabout in Spalding’s Wardentree Lane at least two consecutive Fridays.The centre, at West Marsh Road, was busy over the weekend and problems soon became ...

After a campaign by senior politicians, South Holland District Council is to be given nearly £300,000 to cover drainage costs. It’s one of 15 local authorities announced to be sharing £3m of funding the government has allocated.That South Holland District Council has to pay so much of its share of the council tax it collects to drainage boards locally has ...

Road improvements lasting a year and costing £10m are planned for the A16 in Spalding later this year. Both the Springfields and Greencell roundabouts on the Boston-side of the town are due to have additional lanes.Springfields roundabout is first on the list with work due to start this autumn.“The aim of the two projects is to make each roundabout bigger, ...

Coun Nick Worth is set to be the new leader of South Holland District Council. He’s been elected for the position by members of the Conservative group who maintained control of the authority by winning 19 seats to the 18 taken by Independent candidates in last week’s election. One of the councillors they lost though was the previous leader Lord ...

Anglian Water say Wardentree Lane will be open in time for tomorrow’s (Saturday) Spalding Flower Parade. The route, close to one of the two park and ride schemes for the event, has been closed since Tuesday. A spokesman for Anglian Water told The Voice a team would be on site later today to finish the work, but the road will ...

The future of a three-council alliance may come under the spotlight following last week’s elections. The newly-elected Independents at Boston Borough Council are hoping to revitalise the town centre and festive events as they rethink the former administration’s policies, writes local democracy reporter Daniel Jaines.With Boston’s leaders gone, along with South Holland District Council leader Gary Porter, some have already ...

A group has taken over control of Sutton Bridge Parish Council.Sutton Bridge Deserves Better picked up nine of the 11 seats available after 24 candidates came forward.Only district councillors Michael Booth and Chris Brewis were non-members of the group voted on.Among those not elected were former chair Anne Scarlett and vice chair Rachael Goodwin while Olympian and coastguard Aaron Heading ...

It was a good night nationally for the Green Party but they are still waiting for their first seat on South Holland District Council. The closest they came was Amy Cook-Nykyforczuk who claimed 489 votes in the Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas ward.She said: “I cannot believe that I only lost my first election for The Green Party by 88 ...

Labour’s only candidate in the district ended up just 22 votes short of being its first councillor in South Holland for over two decades. Aidan Forman was fourth in a closely contested Spalding Wygate ward.“It was my first time standing in an election and I really enjoyed it and found it a great learning experience.“I have come away feeling proud ...

After 20 years as leader of South Holland District Council, Gary Porter was among several cabinet members ousted in a “terrible” night for the Conservatives. But it could have been worse had Margaret Geaney not got 35 votes more than South Holland Independent Simon Walsh in the Donington, Quadring and Gosberton ward. The rare gain ensured the Conservatives who were ...

Around 4am on Friday morning, while the count for the 2023 South Holland District Council was continuing, all of the Independent candidates went outside to raise a toast to the late Angela Newton. At that point they didn’t know they’d increase the number of candidates from 12 to 18, just one shy of the 19 needed to take full control. ...

Anglia Water says it’s ‘hopeful’ that the major road it’s closed will be open before this weekend’s Spalding Flower Parade as its organiser warned it will be a ‘disaster’ if not. On Tuesday the water company closed Wardentree Lane completely just past the roundabout junction with West Marsh Road.It’s just a few yards from one of the two allocated park ...