Bransby Horses, a charity near Lincoln dedicated to rescuing horses, ponies and donkeys, are celebrating a rehoming milestone.
To date, the charity in Bransby has been able to find 200 equines a new foster home.
Bransby Horses helped thousands of horses in need since 1968, and in 2014 69 horses entered its care and 44 rescued Bransby Horses found their Friends for Life – the charity’s rehoming scheme.
For the charity, it means the more homes available, the more horses that can be rescued and rehabilitated at the sanctuary, especially as horse abandonment is high.
The charity are thanking those who have given donations or held fundraising activities in order to help them look after for the horses permanently in their care and helping others find their new homes.
External Welfare Manager Ryan Rouse said: “We are extremely proud to announce that we have reached our target of 200 equines placed in to homes under our Friends for Life scheme.
“The whole team works really hard to ensure that the right equine is matched with one of our superb fosterers and this is the best reward we could ask for.
“Rehoming enables us to free up space across the two sites and help other animals in need. The current welfare concerns nationwide puts a lot of pressure on Bransby Horses and we are always looking at ways to help.”
Shrek when he was rescued, and Shrek now! Photo: Bransby Horses
The 200th horse to be rehomed under Bransby Horses’ Friend for Life was Shrek, an 11 hands high Dartmoor pony.
He was found abandoned as a youngster in poor condition when rescued buy the Herefordshire team.
Ryan added: “Shrek is a special pony for both our sites. When he was originally rescued the Stroke Prior team concentrated all their efforts to re habilitate him and get him to good health. He came to our Lincoln site to finish his education.
“We wish his new fosterers all the best and can’t wait to hear updates on his progress.”
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West Lindsey District Council has approved a £5 council tax rise as part of its budget for 2021/22.
The move is a 2.3% rise and the maximum allowed without sparking a referendum. It will see the average band D property pay £222.74 to the authority.
The council has a net budget requirement of £13.279 million – down from £14.357 million – with £6,710,800 of that coming from council tax.
Council leader Owen Bierley said: “With future uncertainty, and the expected long-term recovery of our income streams, it is appropriate that we take the opportunity this year to maximise our council tax increase.”
He told councillors there would have been a “difficult year” ahead due to the COVID response, but praised government funding and other plans for enabling the authority to set aside extra funding for environment, climate change and health.
He said it was “hugely ambitious” but achievable.
“The dedicated deliberate and steady, long term approach to policy is designed to make the council’s financial position more resilient at a time when central government continues to reduce funding, and considers limiting our ability to find innovative solutions to fund the frontline services that local people expect and rely on from this council.”
Opposition leader Councillor Trevor Young, however, questioned whether the council’s budget was “ambitious enough”.
“This isn’t a normal year, so we’re going to see a very difficult question in terms of whether we’ve been aspirational enough for how we’re going to kickstart the economy […] I just don’t see it within the existing budget.”
The government has granted the council £2.225 million this year. The authority will also be able to retain £1.989 million in business rates.
A further one year settlement means the council can spend £1.1million to support COVID-19 response.
It hopes to spend £20,076,045 over the next five years on its capital programme.
Boston Borough Council has approved a £4.95 council tax increase for 2021/22.
Band D properties in Boston will go from £192.96 to £197.91, a 2.57% rise.
This amounts to a 9p per week precept increase for band D properties and a 6p per week rise for Band A properties.
The council’s budget was controversially voted, with 15 members for and 10 against.
Cllr Jonathan Noble, portfolio holder for the budget said in the meeting: “In the difficulties this country’s faced in the last year, I’m pleased to say the council’s finances remain in a relatively healthy position.”
A proposal was made for a 0% increase in council tax in the authority’s Full Council meeting on Monday evening, but this was rejected – nine votes to 16.
In the meeting, Cllr Anne Dorian asked the council if there was a way the council could honour the work of Boston-born Professor Jonathan Van-Tam (JVT), Deputy Chief Medical Officer.
Cllr Skinner said he would be willing to take part in anything to honour JVT, who was The Lincolnite’sPerson of the Year.
On Monday, South Kesteven agreed on a £5 council tax increase for a Band D property, amounting to 3.06% extra a year, and similarly in West Lindsey on Tuesday.
Last week, North Lincolnshire Council approved a 3.48% council tax increase for 2021/22, which works out as a 45p weekly increase for a Band D property in the authority.
It’s neighbour, North East Lincolnshire Council has approved a 4.98% council tax increase for 2021/22 – with 3% going towards adult social care. This will see a £1.52 per week increase for a Band D property – £79.04 annually.
By Wednesday evening, all Lincolnshire councils will have agreed on their budgets and council tax increases for 2021/22.
Nationally, Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, will announce details of his spring budget on Wednesday, where he is predicted to extend the furlough scheme until at least May.
All Lincolnshire schools are preparing to reopen next week, with most primary school pupils returning on Monday, with teachers and staff getting tested ahead.
Only children of key workers attended lessons in the latest national lockdown, some 25% of the total number of pupils in Lincolnshire. Now all students will begin to return to face-to-face education from Monday, March 8.
There are several key measures to keep everyone safe from COVID-19:
All primary school children will return on March 8. Primary school staff will continue to take two rapid COVID-19 tests each week at home
All secondary school and college students will take three COVID-19 tests as they return to the classroom from March 8 at existing school testing facilities
Schools and colleges will have discretion on how to test students over the week to enable their return to the classroom.
After the initial programme of three tests in school or college, students will be given two rapid tests to use each week at home.
Secondary school and college staff will also be provided with two tests to use each week at home
All staff at private, voluntary and independent nurseries will have access to tests to use twice weekly at home
Childminders can continue to access community testing
Wraparound childcare for primary and secondary pupils will resume from March 8 where necessary to enable parents to access work, education or medical care.
Meanwhile, university students on practical courses who need to access specialist facilities and equipment can return to in-person teaching and learning from March 8.
Twice weekly testing will continue to be available for all students and staff on campus.
Martin Smith, assistant director for education at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “All schools are currently working towards reopening next week.
“It’s likely that most primary school pupils will return on the Monday, but we expect many secondary schools will have to adopt a phased return over the first few days so pupils can be tested in a managed way.
“All schools are committed to getting pupils back, but each is likely to have its own approach and will be informing parents of how this will work.
“We’re sure that schools are looking forward to welcoming back their students and will continue to use appropriate safety measures to reduce the potential spread of the virus.”
Colette Morris, Louth Academy Science Technician and now retrained Testing Supervisor, with Principal Philip Dickinson at the Academy’s lateral flow testing stations.
How a multi-academy trust is getting ready to reopen
Tollbar Multi Academy Trust is preparing to test 4,000 students during a phased return to school, beginning on March 8.
All secondary students will be tested every three to five days to ensure that they can safely return to the classroom for the first time since Christmas.
The logistics of the phased return will be slightly different at each of the Trust’s four secondary schools – Tollbar, Cleethorpes, Louth and Somercotes Academies – due to the size of the individual premises and the number of students.
All children with a negative test result will be back in school on Friday, March 12.
Students will have three tests at the academy supervised by staff. Parents will then be offered the opportunity to carry out two lateral flow tests at home per week. However, there will be provision for testing in school for students who may find this difficult.
All students will be expected to wear face masks in corridors and classrooms or any areas where social distancing is not possible.
The Trust’s three Primary Schools – Reynolds Academy in Cleethorpes, Pilgrim Academy in Immingham, and Theddlethorpe Academy – will all return to full-time schooling from March 8.
There is no requirement for testing of primary school children.
Contact your school or education provider to find out more about reopening and testing requirements.
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