Work to start next year on 133 new Saxilby homes

Police have yet to charge anyone over a month after the tragic death of an 11-year-old boy in Lincoln, which remains under investigation.

The 11-year-old boy was found unwell at the scene after police were called to a house on Geneva Street on St Giles in Lincoln at 10pm on Friday, January 22.

He was taken to hospital for treatment, but was pronounced dead a short time later.

A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and a 32-year-old woman on suspicion of manslaughter.

They were both later released on police bail without any charges.

At the time, police said the death was unexplained and it was being treated as murder.

Police said on Wednesday that they were continuing their investigation and were not able to release the name of the victim at this stage.

Anyone with information that may help with the investigation should contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting incident 472 of January 22.

North Kesteven District Council has unanimously approved a £4.95 annual council tax increase for 2021/22 – just under 10p a week.

This means residents in a Band D property will pay £174.60 annually for the district council’s precept share, up from £169.65 the previous year.

This 2.92% increase in council tax was given the go ahead in Tuesday evening’s Full Council.

Cllr Richard Wright, Leader of North Kesteven District Council said in the meeting: “The council’s financial plan underpins all that we do as a council and projects a positive yet cautious future.”

He added that the “relatively small” council tax increase “will ensure the council continues to deliver its services and invest in a future that will provide a clean environment, and invest in the economy.”

Cllr Marianne Overton, Leader of North Kesteven Independents, said: “I am delighted to say that all of our requests are included and we are happy to support the budget.”

North Kesteven are expecting to receive approximately £1.5 million in grant support for 2020/21, which will still leave an expected deficit for the council’s general fund for the year of approximately £678,900 (as of December 31, 2020). This is to be financed from the Income Volatility Reserve.

This week, City of Lincoln Council and Boston Borough Council also approved a £5 council tax increase for 2021/22 and West Lindsey District Council agreed on a £5 council tax rise.

By Wednesday evening, all Lincolnshire councils will have agreed on their budgets and council tax increases for 2021/22.

City of Lincoln Council’s leader said there are “no quick or easy fixes” to the authority’s financial woes as councillors approved a 1.9% rise in council tax on Tuesday evening.

The meeting of the full council voted in favour of the increase, which will see Band D properties pay an extra £5.31 a year – a total precept share of £285.39 as part of the budget for 2021-22.

Council bosses predict a budget gap of £1.75 million by 2023/24 due to reduced central government funding.

They said that although the budget looked to “rebuild the foundations” there were “still financial challenges ahead”.

Labour leader Councillor Ric Metcalfe said the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions had “led to significant additional costs and a dramatic drop in many traditional sources of income”.

Due to the pandemic’s impact on government funded reliefs, empty properties and business closures, the authority estimates it will only retain £5.1 million of the £42 million of business rates generated in the city.

“For an authority like ours that historically has been extremely well managed financially, we have had to work hard to be able to stabilise our position,” said councillor Metcalfe.

“There are no quick or easy fixes, we will not be able to do all of the things that people have come to expect the council to provide as a matter of course,” he said.

“Our financial problems did not begin with COVID-19, nor will they end with it,” he added.

“We did an outstanding job in very difficult circumstances and it was a reminder of how important this council, and others like it are to their local communities.”

He said council leaders had “ambitious” plans for the future, including their Vision 2025 programme, the Western Growth Corridor and tackling climate change.

Council housing rent will increase by an average of 1%, while council garage rents will increase by 3%.

As part of the plans, allotment charges will also see most tenants pay between £58.70-£78.30 per year from 2022, an increase of between 38p and 51p per week.

Opposition leader Conservative Councillor Thomas Dyer called for the council to consider a more “diversified investment plan” with a variety of local revenue streams, noting a decline in car parking income during the pandemic.

He also called for further conversations around local government reorganisation.

He said his party “reluctantly” supported the council tax rise, but said it should only be done as a last resort.

Councillor Dyer warned the council to “proceed with caution”, however, over potential plans to close public toilets.

“We must ensure that our high street is accessible and support businesses and residents alike,” he said.

Councillor Dyer called for more to be done over housing, electric vehicles and public transport.

Opposition amendments including: increased enforcement fines for litter and dog fouling; car parking charge freezes; one hour free parking at Lincoln Central; freezing office rents and staff pay above £30,000; establishing a City of Lincoln Big Clean; increasing discounts for Christmas Market stalls to be plastic free and a new play park in the Brant Road area were all rejected.