Undercover film shows crowded chicken farm conditions in Lincolnshire

There have been 121 new coronavirus cases and six COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on the first day of March, compared to 213 cases and six deaths on February 1.

The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 80 new cases in Lincolnshire, 22 in North East Lincolnshire and 19 in North Lincolnshire.

Four deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, two in North East Lincolnshire and -1 in North Lincolnshire. Fluctuations in data are usually due to some deaths in those areas being reallocated to other regions across the UK or a miscount. 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 and two at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.

National cases increased by 5,455 to 4,182,009, while deaths rose by 104 to 122,953. This comes as over 20.2 million have received their first COVID vaccine dose.

February saw half as many coronavirus cases, deaths and hospital deaths across Greater Lincolnshire than January did, demonstrating the effects of the national lockdown and vaccination programme in the region.

There were 5,412 coronavirus cases and 208 COVID-related deaths recorded in Greater Lincolnshire in February, half as many as January, which saw 10,667 cases and 426 deaths.

A Chapel St Leonards Bar owner is awaiting the results of a review of its license after police said a “business meeting” breached COVID regulations.

Walter Sheeran, director of Teen Spirit Limited and premises licence holder at Miller’s Bar appeared before East Lindsey District Council’s licensing committee on Monday.

Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate up to March 1 according to the government dashboard:

Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Feb 22 to Mar 1. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite

In national news, a hunt continues for a person in the UK infected with a coronavirus “variant of concern” from Brazil, with the government accused of “unforgivable incompetence” in managing Britain’s borders.

The COVID-19 variant, first seen in the city of Manaus, is feared to spread more rapidly than the original virus and could be more capable of evading existing vaccines.

Three cases of the P.1 coronavirus variant have been confirmed in England and three in Scotland, Public Health England said.

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Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Monday, March 1

Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.

53,604 cases (up 121)

• 37,835 in Lincolnshire (up 80)
• 8,066 in North Lincolnshire (up 19)
• 7,703 in North East Lincolnshire (up 22)

2,079 deaths (up six)

• 1,528 from Lincolnshire (up four)
• 299 from North Lincolnshire (down one)
• 252 from North East Lincolnshire (up two)

of which 1,226 hospital deaths (up six)

• 761 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up four)
• 41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
• 1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
• 423 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up two)

4,182,009 UK cases, 122,953 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.

A 45-year-old woman from Gainsborough has been jailed for fraud after stealing over £1.7 million from the company she worked for in North Lincolnshire.

Lisa Crawshaw appeared at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday, February 26 and admitted to stealing the money in order to fund her luxurious lifestyle, numerous expensive horses and equestrian equipment.

The theft had been going on for around five years. The owners of the North Lincolnshire company discovered the theft when they started to receive debt collecting letters following the sale of the firm.

DS Ben Robinson from Humberside Police’s Economic Crime Unit said: “Fraud can be an extremely distressing offence to become a victim of, especially when the level of offending is of the magnitude in this case.

“It is clear that Lisa Crawshaw had no regard for her employers and instead defrauded them to fund her own luxuries.

“With a habit of buying horses ‘more addictive than drugs’, as said in her own words, Miss Crawshaw not only destroyed a successful North Lincolnshire business, she also destroyed the owners’ years of dedication and future financial security.

“Investigators from our asset recovery team continue to make enquiries into any assets that have been gained as a result of Lisa Crawshaw’s criminality.

“She will now have the next few years in prison to reflect on her actions, and I do hope this goes some way to bringing the victims a sense of closure.”

South Kesteven District Council has approved a £5 council tax increase for 2021/22.

This will take the authority’s Band D share of the tax to £168.62 — a 3.06% increase.

Approval was given in the authority’s Full Council meeting on Monday afternoon, following scrutiny in its cabinet and joint overview and scrutiny committee early this year.

Kelham Cooke, Leader of South Kesteven District Council said in the meeting: “The budget setting process this year has been immensely difficult as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the pressure that it has put on our communities and businesses, and on the services we deliver as a council.”

A report before councillors said: “The scale of the financial challenges ahead are significant and largely as a result of the external environment namely a further delay in the national review of the local government funding formula and the detrimental impact the pandemic has had on the council’s resources.”

The report said the financial outlook for the district “remains uncertain”, however, notes a number of settlements and financial measures announced by government including the income losses compensation scheme.

A number of national reductions in funding means SKDC predicts its income will reduce from £18.5 million to £13.4 million by 2024-25 and, so money will have to come from elsewhere.

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.