How to cut budgets in Lincolnshire

A Misconduct Hearing was held on 30th November 2021 at Lincolnshire Police Headquarters for former Special Constable Maisy Whittington who was based at Louth Police Station.

Former Special Constable Whittington was found to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of allegations in relation to:

1. Honesty and integrity
2. Discreditable Conduct

It was found that she had responded to a Notice of Intended Prosecution sent by Humberside Police to say that she was the driver of a vehicle involved in a speeding offence when she was not, and in an attempt to protect another driver from receiving points.

The Chair of the Accelerated Misconduct Hearing, Chief Constable Chris Haward, found that the former Special Constable would have been dismissed had they still been a serving Special Constable.

After the hearing, Chief Constable Chris Haward, said: “Honesty and integrity are the grounding for every constable. It is the very basis of everything we stand for.

“Former Special Constable Whittington tried to mislead Humberside Police and this is clearly unacceptable.

“The actions amounted to gross misconduct.

“The outcome of the hearing was that former Special Constable Whittington would have been dismissed had he still been a member of the police service. Her name will also be placed on the College of Policing barred list.

“She has a right of appeal to a Police Appeals Tribunal.”

A coronavirus outbreak has been declared at Lincat Limited in Lincoln and it is understood that around 40 employees are infected or self-isolating.

Several people close to the situation contacted The Lincolnite claiming not enough measures were put in place and that staff have been advised to “continue as normal”.

However, when we contacted the company for a statement of response we were told that nobody was available to comment.

The council’s health bosses say that the business has been taking all necessary precautions to avoid further transmission.

Natalie Liddle, Acting Head of Service – Health Protection at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We can confirm that our health protection team has been supporting this workplace with their outbreak.

“The setting has been very proactive in managing this outbreak and are currently taking all necessary precautions to avoid further transmission”.

Industrial catering and foodservice equipment company Lincat Limited was formed on Station Road in Lincoln in 1971. It moved to a new factory on Whisby Road in 1997, which was expanded to 100,000 square feet in 2001, and the company is still based there today.

A scandal-hit council has confirmed the candidates who will stand in an election to replace the seat left by its jailed former leader.

West Lindsey District Council will hold its vote to decide who will take the Nettleham seat, previously held by disgraced former Conservative Giles McNeill, on Thursday, December 16.

Mr McNeill was last week jailed for 14 months after admitting eight theft, fraud and forgery charges totalling £31,201.04 from his own party over a six year period.

Mr McNeill resigned as leader of the council in September 2020, prior to the allegations coming to light, and was later removed from his chosen party, but sat as an independent in the ward until a month prior to his sentencing.

According to documents on WLDC’s website the candidates for his seat are:

• Ben Loryman, Green Party
• Jess McGuire, Labour Party
• Jaime Oliver, Liberal Democrat
• Maureen Palmer, Conservative

Announcing his candidacy on Twitter, Ben Loryman said he wanted WLDC to declare a climate emergency, introduce a policy for planting (and caring for) more trees, and provide the best possible support for people to save hundreds on their energy bills by insulating their homes.

Jess’ candidate leaflet calls for new homes in the village to be “affordable for all” and calls for better social care support for elderly residents. She wants increased investment in community events and is campaigning for streetlights to be switched back on.

Jaime’s main focuses are on offering better bus services, controlling speeding traffic, ensuring vulnerable people are not isolated, improving access to healthcare and encouraging respectful parking. Her leaflet focuses on opposing changes to the planning process and action on climate and the environment.

The Conservatives, who last week said they were “looking forward positively and working to overcome” the damage Mr McNeill caused, said Maureen had a passion for children’s education, their welfare and development along with the environment, maintaining and improving the area. They said she wanted to protect communities from unsuitable development.

Residents have until midnight tonight (Tuesday, November 30) to register to vote online.