Top 10 stories from our local democracy reporters in 2019.
Council chiefs receiving big payouts, councillors misbehaving and residents taking matters into their own hands over controversial decisions, are just a few of the local democracy stories that made the headlines in 2019.
Some of the tales made an impact in communities, while others were outrageous and scandalous.
With that in mind, here’s a rundown of the top 10 local democracy stories from this past year.
Kexit fallout
It started in November 2018 when rumours began to circulate that Keith Ireland, only recently appointed chief executive of Lincolnshire County Council, had left the authority.
Former Lincolnshire County Council Chief Executive Keith Ireland.
And it was true, Mr Ireland lasted just four months as CEO. But the saga didn’t end there.
He received a total package of £292,263 which included his agreed salary, £975 in outplacement services, £8,901 holiday pay and £14,637 in employer’s pension contribution and his compensation payment.
To add to the drama, Mr Ireland was awarded an OBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours list for his services to local government.
All in four months work.
People power: Spalding Western Relief Road
Catherine and Frank Roberts outside their forever home on Bourne Road. Photo: Daniel Jaines
That’s what Catherine and Frank Roberts of Bourne Road, Spalding, did this year when their £300,000 Tudor home was threatened to be flattened to make way for the Spalding Western Relief Road.
The authority had lined up plans to spend £40 million on the central route, which would have taken out nine homes on the street.
But, Catherine and Frank were not to be deterred and took the fight to the council.
After what they described as “the summer from hell,” councillors relented and offered to change the route to avoid the homes.
It’s a victory for all the families on Bourne Road, but the decision has still to be signed off by the council’s executive in the New Year.
Councillors on the naughty list
Former North East Lincolnshire Council Labour leader Ray Oxby on his way into the court. Photo: Daniel Jaines
Several councillors across Lincolnshire woke up to a lump of proverbial coal on Christmas morning.
Some came under fire for selling golliwog dolls, others have landed themselves appearing before council disciplinary hearings.
The town council had planned to spend £7,500 on a tree for the town centre ahead of the festive period.
But the decision came under fire from local councillors after it was revealed the tree was coming from China and raised concerns over the environmental impact.
As a result, the previous decision to approve the spend was brought back before the town council.
The issue caused widespread debate and uproar in the town, with councillors lamenting that the decision “made the council look stupid”.
At the council meeting, the debate got heated, councillors shouted across the room at each other and others walked out after the final vote was tied.
In the end, it was resolved that a local tree would be donated for the town centre.
A sensible resolution to an unexpected row.
A U-turn on Toll Bar Roundabout
Toll Bar campaigners Anne and Peter Herring, Michael O’bee, David Cowell and campaign lead Roger Breed pictured in September 2018. Photo: Daniel Jaines
The problem of what to do with Toll Bar roundabout seems to be a never ending story.
After years of debate, petitions and rows over removing the roundabout for traffic lights, the saga continued into 2019.
In May, the Conservatives took control of North East Lincolnshire Council at the local elections and newly appointed leader, Philip Jackson, put an immediate halt to the plan.
This was met with celebration from campaigners who had fought the previous Labour group’s plan to tear up the roundabout.
The hospital also remains in special measures after a CQC visit this year. The next decade is going to be a vital one to turn around the trust’s fortunes.
All that remains in the hands of new chief executive, Andrew Morgan, should he remain beyond his interim basis.
Lincolnshire-by-the-sea
Flooding in Wainfleet in June. Photo: Chris Dower
Climate change dominated a lot of the news agenda in 2019 with Extinction Rebellion warning of “point of no return” over extreme weather events.
It’s fair to say that Lincolnshire bore the brunt of a lot of extreme and unprecedented rainfall, leaving home owners evacuated from their homes.
County councillor Colin Davie said it was clear that the council needed to look again at how it defends homes from flooding.
He said that the extreme rainfall would become frequent – just like campaigners warned.
Democracy in action
The Lincoln Debate which was hosted by The Lincolnite and BBC Radio Lincolnshire during the General Election 2019 campaign. Picture: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite.
It was a year of votes in 2019.
People headed to the polls three times in eight months to cast their ballots in the European elections, local elections and a general election.
In North East Lincolnshire, the Tories took control of the council for the first time in its history and Grimsby returned a Conservative MP for the first time in 74 years.
Scunthorpe also returned a Conservative member of parliament, unseating the Labour Party and completing a clean sweep across the region.
As for local authorities, the City of Lincoln Council is the only authority which Labour controls in the county.
The weeks following local polling day also saw fresh faces fronting councils in Lincolnshire.
West Lindsey, North East Lincolnshire, Boston and South Kesteven all elected new leaders.
The Usher Gallery saga
Campaigners outside Lincoln’s Usher Gallery. Picture: Steve Smailes.
Earlier this year, Lincolnshire County Council tabled proposals to shake up how heritage services would be run in the county.
While some welcomed the idea of erecting a monument to Mrs Thatcher in her hometown, others were not for the turning.
Fears were raised that the statue, which was to be built outside Grantham Museum, would become a “likely target for politically motivated vandals”.
As a result, the plan included a measure to place the statue on a high plinth.
Councillors ultimately gave the go-ahead to the plan, but, as of yet, there has not been an installation date confirmed.
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There have been 259 new coronavirus cases and seven COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Monday.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 213 new cases in Lincolnshire, 28 in North Lincolnshire and 18 in North East Lincolnshire.
Some six deaths were registered in Lincolnshire and one in North Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England reported four new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust on Monday.
National cases increased by 22,195 to 3,669,658 — the lowest daily rise in cases since December 15, while deaths rose by 592 to 98,531.
A mass rapid testing centre has opened on Croft Street off Monks Road in Lincoln for people with and without coronavirus symptoms after relocating from the LNER Stadium.
Some 2,298 people were tested, with 42 positive results at the site on Sincil Bank between January 11 to 24.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is giving out more than £23 million to 60 councils across England including £494,800 to Boston Borough Council and £397,204 to North Lincolnshire Council.
In national news, the government will tell teachers and parents when schools in England can reopen “as soon as we can”, the prime minister has said.
MPs have called on the government to set out a “route map” for reopening amid concerns for children’s education.
Men in low-skilled jobs or caring, leisure or other service roles had the highest rate of death from COVID-19 in England and Wales from March to December last year, according to new figures.
The Office for National Statistics said 7,961 deaths involving coronavirus in the working age population (those aged 20 to 64 years) were registered between March 9 and December 28, 2020.
Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer is self-isolating for the third time since the start of the pandemic after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
This morning I was notified that I must self isolate after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
I have no symptoms and will be working from home until next Monday.
Greater Lincolnshire has seen an average fall in its infection rate, with just a small increase in South Holland but a spike in Boston from 168.2 per 100,000 of the population on Friday to 205.2 on Monday.
National infection rates have also seen a large fall over the weekend from 472.9 on Friday to 420.7 on Monday.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate up to January 25 according to the government dashboard:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Jan 18 to Jan 25. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, January 25
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
46,422 cases (up 259)
32,441 in Lincolnshire (up 213)
7,154 in North Lincolnshire (up 28)
6,827 in North East Lincolnshire (up 18)
1,787 deaths (up seven)
1,279 from Lincolnshire (up six)
275 from North Lincolnshire (up one)
233 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,066 hospital deaths (up four)
653 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up four)
33 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
379 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)
3,669,658 UK cases, 98,531 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.
Ten people from Boston have been given fines for breaching COVID-19 regulations by driving dangerously in supermarket car parks.
Officers were called after three separate reports of dangerous driving in the car parks of Lidl and Tesco in Wyberton Fen, as well as on Marsh Lane Industrial Estate in Boston.
All three incidents took place and were reported to police between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday, January 24, though it is unsure if they were connected at all.
When officers arrived, the drivers were seen doing donut manoeuvres and racing in the snow.
A total of 10 people were given £200 fines for breaking lockdown guidelines, but this will be reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days, due to all being first time offenders.
As well as the COVID-19 fines, two of the vehicles were also seized as a result of being uninsured, with drivers reported.
A traffic offence report was also submitted after one driver was seen to be driving not just dangerously but out of control.
Inspector Fran Harrod of Lincolnshire Police said: “We would like to thank the public for bringing these incidents of dangerous driving to our attention.
“This is not only extremely dangerous to those taking part but to others in these areas.
“While we continue to engage and explain with the public, this was a blatant breach of the restrictions which will not be tolerated.”
Grimsby Town have signed centre forward Stefan Payne on an initial deal until the end of the season.
Payne joins the Mariners after his release from Tranmere Rovers to become Paul Hurst’s fourth signing since taking over as manager.
The 29-year-old, who will be eligible for Tuesday’s trip to Barrow, has played for a plethora of clubs, including Fulham, Gillingham, and a two-year spell at non-league side Dover Athletic, where he scored 44 goals.
Payne returned to the Football League with Barnsley in 2016 and has also spent time at Shrewsbury Town, Bristol Rovers and Tranmere.
The new signing is already familiar with manager Hurst, who signed him on loan in January 2017 during his time in charge of Shrewsbury. He made 49 appearances and scored 14 goals for Shrewsbury.
Hurst will be hoping the striker can help to improve Grimsby’s form as the Mariners currently sit second from bottom in League Two.