Chancellor George Osborne’s 2013 budget has been met with mixed reactions from political and business figures in Lincolnshire.
Described as a budget for “the hard-working”, the Chancellor laid out his budget for the UK, which halved growth forecasts and pushed back debt reduction targets.
To attempt to boost the economy, he announced reductions in business corporation tax, new housing schemes, a cut in National Insurance bills for employees, £10,000 personal income tax allowance from 2014, a 1p cut in beer prices, more spending on infrastructure and better deposit schemes for house buyers to name but a few.
Here are the views from Lincolnshire:
Conservative Councillor Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council
“I think the chancellor has unveiled a strong budget that contains a broad package of measures to help hard-working people in Britain.
“Living in a large, rural county like Lincolnshire I very much welcome the freeze on fuel duty. I support the help that was set out for small businesses, which will benefit both the national and local economy, and I am pleased that a further £3 billion will be invested in infrastructure projects.
“Overall, I think the budget will help to stimulate the economy and I will be putting forward a number of projects to make sure that Lincolnshire receives its fair share of investment.”
Councillor Marianne Overton, Leader of the Lincolnshire Independents
“There is no new money, but an additional £76bn borrowing already planned for HS2 train. The first half of the money is for a non-stop train from London to Birmingham, which is likely to drain investment out from the East Midlands. We equally need infrastructure for railways in other areas too.
“The housing proposals include measures aimed at increasing the supply of new housing through equity loans and mortgage guarantees. This uses public money to encourage people to borrow more and to buy houses they cannot afford. Wasn’t that what got us into this economic house of cards?
“We need a balance of jobs, housing and services, without damaging our rural environment. People across Lincolnshire are finding properties difficult to sell, even when the price has been dropped sharply. Subsidising new homes will not help us fill the empty homes we already have in all our villages and town centres.”
Labour Councillor Ric Metcalfe, Leader of the City of Lincoln Council
“Looking at the budget there are three main questions that need answering.
“Is there enough being done to encourage growth? Are there enough plans in place to improve living standards for people? And has there been a fall in deficit and debt?
“We have to also look at whether or not the rich are being favoured at the cost of our poorest people.”
Conservative MP for Lincoln, Karl McCartney
“This year’s budget rewards people who aspire to work hard and want to get on in life. It is for those that want to own their own home, secure their first job and who perhaps want help in starting up a business. It provides help in everyday life too, with another freeze in fuel duty and an increase in personal tax allowances.”
“The government’s plan is built on fiscal responsibility and this is reflected in the low borrowing rate, which ensures that we are not passing on our country’s deficit to future generations.”
Doug Balderson, Greater Lincolnshire Chairman for Federation of Small Businesses
“The FSB asked for a budget for small businesses and this is what has been delivered. This budget opens the door for small firms to grow and create jobs. The Chancellor has pulled out all the stops with a wide-ranging package of measures to support small firms.
“FSB says the housing initiative will help reinvigorate the construction sector in which many of our members operate and where confidence has been low.
“The National Insurance Contributions (NICs) cut goes beyond what we were asking for and we are pleased to see the 3p fuel duty rise due in September completely scrapped. We now look forward to hearing details on how the Government intends to take forward the Business Bank that will help provide much needed access to capital for small firms.”
Steve Kerby, Tax Partner for Nicholsons Chartered Accountants
“While we weren’t expecting anything major from this budget, the £2,000 reduction in employer NICs is a surprising, and welcome, measure. Not only will it take 450,000 SMEs out of employer NICs, it will give them the confidence to invest in their businesses.
“Further measures such as the extension in the CGT holiday for Seed EIS investments should also encourage investment in SMEs, while families will welcome the raising of the Income Tax threshold to £10,000, putting extra cash in their wallets.”
Michael Cope, Tax Partner at Duncan & Toplis chartered accountants
“The budget contained further encouragement for private business to fill the economic gap left by cuts in government spending. It also sowed the seeds of freeing up the Bank of England to do the same. The question is whether with business and consumer confidence at the current level it has done enough.”
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It has been a tragic week with three deaths on Lincolnshire’s roads after two male motorbike riders and a man on a pedal bike lost their lives.
The roads are now busier again after further lockdown restrictions were eased on April 12, but since then three men have sadly died.
A man died after falling from his pedal bike in Branston on Wednesday, April 14 and police said his death is not being treated as suspicious.
On the same day, a 34-year-old male died after a crash involving two motorcycles near Gainsborough.
The man who lost his life in the collision was riding a silver Wuyang motorcycle. The second motorcycle was a blue Suzuki being ridden by a man in his 30s, who was taken to hospital with suspected serious injuries.
A 54-year-old man from North Lincolnshire also died after his motorbike crashed with a Royal Mail post van on the A631 near Glentham at around 4pm on Thursday, April 15.
This comes after it was revealed on March 11 that for the first time in over three decades nobody had died on the county’s roads in the first months of the year, according to Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership.
Lincolnshire Police revealed earlier this week that between 2018 and 2020 twenty five motorcyclists lost their lives on Lincolnshire’s roads.
There have been 285 coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire and eight COVID-related deaths so far this week – a 7% drop in cases and one less death from the previous week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on Friday recorded 32 new cases in Lincolnshire, eight in North Lincolnshire and three in North East Lincolnshire.
On April 16, three deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and none in Northern Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported two hospitals this week so far, compared to none this time last week.
On Friday, national cases increased by 2,596 to 4,383,732, while deaths rose by 34 to 127,225.
In local news, Lincolnshire health bosses expect COVID-19 cases to rise in our region as lockdown is eased, but are optimistic that if numbers are kept low enough, then people will be free to enjoy the summer.
Andy Fox, Deputy Director of Public Health at Lincolnshire County Council, said the lifting of coronavirus restrictions this week had not caused any specific concerns yet.
Since Wednesday, Greater Lincolnshire has again seen a decrease in its infection rates overall, against an increase nationally.
All districts have seen a fall in their rates, except small increases in North Lincolnshire and South Holland. Lincoln has stayed the same and has the lowest rate in the region.
Boston has the highest infection rate of COVID-19 in Greater Lincolnshire and is ranked 9th in the UK.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates up to April 16:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 9 to Apr 16. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
England’s R number has dropped slightly to between 0.7 and 1 according to the latest data this week. This means for every 10 people infected with COVID-19, they will pass it on to between seven and 10 others.
The new Indian variant of the COVID virus that’s been detected in the UK has all the hallmarks of a very dangerous virus.
It has two new significant mutations in the spike protein that help it infect cells and evade the immune system.
People are “likely” to need a third dose of the coronavirus vaccine within 12 months of getting the first two, Pfizer’s chief executive has said.
Dr Albert Bourla said a booster jab could be necessary “somewhere between six and 12 months” after the second one – and every year thereafter.
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Friday, April 16
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,919 cases (up 43)
41,028 in Lincolnshire (up 32)
9,275 in North Lincolnshire (up eight)
8,616 in North East Lincolnshire (up three)
2,185 deaths (up three)
1,613 from Lincolnshire (up three)
304 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
268 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (no change)
810 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
450 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
4,383,732 UK cases, 127,225 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.
Plans to demolish part of a former play centre and Chinese takeaway to build 41 new student flats, have been submitted to the City of Lincoln Council.
Killingbeck PLG has applied for permission to demolish “most” of the existing facade of the former home of Imagination Station and Big Wok, on Beaumont Fee, and rebuild it as part of the development.
The main hall, a warehouse and a recently built “link block” to the rear of the building will also be demolished, and will be completely replaced with a new extension.
In documents to the council, the applicant describes how the 41”study bedrooms” will be en-suite and open off a central circulation area.
The build will form part of the Iconinc post-graduate residential units development next door and will sit opposite the Park Court student accommodation on Park Street.
It will include 12 apartments on the ground floor, 11 at first and second floor and seven units on the third floor.
How the build could look.
The application said: “There is a clear need for good quality, post-graduate, city centre, residential accommodation and the economic case for the redevelopment of the site is reinforced by the fact the site can be linked with the new Iconic development so amenities can be shared.
“The demolition of the existing property and the proposed redevelopment will bring positive benefits to the area economically and aesthetically.”
As part of the build, residents will gain shared access to existing facilities including the gym.
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