Council

  This powerful new cleaning machine is being used by South Holland District Council in the fight against litter on our streets. The Glutton vacuum is highly effective at cleaning up cigarette butts, drinks bottles and chewing gum. A pavement sweeper is also being used in conjunction with the Glutton machine to clear dirt from walkways. The electric and silent machine ...

A defibrillator has been installed in Moulton Chapel. Moulton Parish Council has been able to supply the potentially life-saving equipment thanks to fundraising efforts by Moulton Chapel residents and ward district councillors Anthony Casson, Rodney Grocock and Andrew Woolf. The defibrillator is in a yellow cabinet on the outside wall of The Jolly Farmer pub. The equipment – which can ...

The proposed reform to business rates has been welcomed as good news for South Holland. District council leader Gary Porter admitted to surprise at councils being able to retain the full 100 per cent by 2020. He was at the Conservative Party conference to hear Chancellor George Osborne announce that, in new rules to be introduced by the end of this Parliament, ...

A complaint about noise nuisance in the neighbourhood set Coun Jack McLean’s phone ringing at 1am. Another followed at 3.30am. But neither bothered him. He sees it as part of his role as a South Holland district councillor to help and represent the residents in Spalding St John’s ward around the clock. At 20 years old, Coun McLean is the ...

A new £50,000 furnace has enabled a Spalding Common firm to improve output, become more efficient and safeguard jobs. South Lincs Pattern Shop and Foundry’s second furnace is making a big difference to the niche work which the business attracts. Foundry owner and managing director David Harriman said: “We do a lot of work with prototype people, who might be ...

A transfer of adult home care provision has been criticised as chaotic and upsetting to some vulnerable users. Lincolnshire County Council says it has changed its contracts to ensure the market can continue to support the ever-growing demand. There are now 12 prime providers rather than the 70 which the council used to contract. In Gosberton, one elderly man was ...

South Holland district councillors have been asked to accept a 2.2 per cent pay increase. An independent panel of four members has made the recommendation to a meeting of the full council tonight (Wednesday). The increase would see a councillor’s basic allowance rise from £6,000 to £6,132. Councillors have been canvassed for their opinion on the level of payments. A report ...

Even after almost 40 years on South Holland District Council, Bryan Alcock still gets the same satisfaction out of a being a member – coupled with a dose of frustration. The satisfaction comes from achieving results; the frustration from the often protracted time in getting them. Strategy is his favourite part of the role, rather than the day-to-day tasks. One ...

The dedicated work of council staff who rescue and re-home stray dogs across the district has been recognised with an award. South Holland District Council recently won a Silver RSPCA Community Animal Welfare Footprint Award – 12 months after being awarded a bronze accolade under the same scheme. The award is for the council’s stray dog service as a whole ...

Six new classrooms are planned at Spalding’s Parish Church Day School to cope with increasing demand. The PAN (published admission number) in reception for this academic year rose by 30 to 90. And by 2021, the total roll will increase from the current 450 to 630. A new kitchen, extended hall and extra parking spaces are also in plans submitted ...

Parish council work in Holbeach gave Coun Paul Foyster the desire to go further and secure a place on the district council. And he achieved that in May this year, one of two members to be elected to represent UKIP on the local authority for the first time. “I like being in local government because you get the opportunity to ...

New technology is set to make winter road gritting more effective and efficient. The new county-wide system is able to monitor the temperature of individual roads, meaning gritting can be more targeted to where it is needed. Preparations are already under way for the winter, with Lincolnshire’s fleet of 43 gritters venturing out from their depots on a test run ...

Anyone who owns an empty home which could be used to house Syrian refugees is being urged to come forward. Although it is not yet known what impact the Syrian crisis will have on South Holland, the district council is working on contigencies in case of an influx of refugees. And it has urged anyone who could offer an empty ...

by Jess Horn – community development officer at South Holland District Council This month will see Hate Crime Awareness Week take place and our team is keen to spread the word. Research suggests that over 80 per cent of hate crimes are not reported to the police. We want to raise awareness of this project and do what we can ...

There cannot be too many people for whom a 20-hour working day is not just a regular occurrence, but the norm. Hardly a “sell” for getting involved in local government in Local Democracy Week (October 12-19) but, like the late former Prime Minister and fellow Conservative Margaret Thatcher, little sleep is normal for South Holland District Council leader Gary Porter. “I usually only sleep ...

South Holland District Council has vowed to “make improvements where necessary” in light of complaints about changing rooms cleanliness and water temperature at Spalding’s Castle Sports Complex swimming pool. But officers did not say whether any changes had been implemented in the three weeks since issues were first highlighted in The Voice on September 17. 1Life runs the Castle Sports ...

A Spalding off licence caught selling smuggled alcohol has had its premises licence revoked. The action was taken by South Holland District Council’s licensing committee after Lincolnshire Police requested a review of the premises licence for Global Foods, based in Winsover Road. At a hearing last week, the committee was told that police officers visited the store on June 19 ...

A Spalding business owner who made alterations to its premises without planning consent has had his retrospective application refused. South Holland District Council’s planning committee went against their officers’ recommendation and voted 13-1 in favour of refusing Zagros Abdullah’s application for the former Station Gates pub in Spalding, now known as International Food. Much of the property is Victorian and ...

Sutton Bridge Parish Council wants a judicial review over planning consent for a second power station. Last month the government said EDF Energy could build the plant, known as Sutton Bridge B. The development is said to lead to around 1,500 new jobs during construction and around 50 permanent positions once operational. But the parish council – backed by 98 per ...

South Holland District Council has teamed up with other Lincolnshire authorities to launch a joint crackdown on fraud, starting with false applications for council tax discount or support. The Lincolnshire Counter Fraud Partnership is made up of all seven districts and the county council. The group takes the issue extremely seriously, and have come together to raise awareness, share resources ...