South Holland District Council. | Photo: Daniel Jaines for The Lincolnite
South Holland District Council is to break-up with a Norfolk district council after 10 years of shared services.
The authority has been in partnership with Breckland District Council -50 miles away – since 2010, even sharing some leadership until last Autumn when Anna Graves stepped down.
However, they are both now going their own way.
Council leader Lord Gary Porter said: “Over the past decade, Breckland and South Holland District councils have successfully developed and operated a shared management and joint working arrangement – focused on putting local residents, communities and places first.
“But the local government landscape has changed considerably over the past year or so, and both councils have recognised the need to review their partnership and explore the case for changing the way our councils work together.”
He said the authority was looking for arrangements that would keep “delivering great outcomes” but that were also flexible and adaptable.
“The best way to do this would be by pursuing a new local strategic partnership at each council, bringing to an end the long-term and successful current shared arrangement which has served both councils well over the last decade.
South Holland District Council leader, Lord Gary Porter.
SHDC’s cabinet has already agreed to the measures, and a further report is set to go before a monitoring panel next Tuesday ahead of a final decision by full council on February 24.
Agenda reports praise the work the partnership has undertaken over the past 10 years, referring to a “pioneering spirit” and a “continued focus on evolving” a successful shared management and joint working arrangement model.
However, they said that “as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic” a “temporary uncoupling” of shared managers saw two locally-focused management teams created and their existence extended until March.
It adds that the previous chief executive has not been replaced and will not be until a review of the partnership has been completed.
“Both leaders are keen to explore the opportunity this now presents, in terms of the potential next steps for the partnership,” said the report.
A Breckland Cabinet meeting on Monday saw councillors there agree to ending the partnership.
Councillor Sam Chapman-Allen, leader of the Breckland council, said: “At no point is this a reflection on the officers or the members, and a failing of the partnership.”
The move comes as the district looks to strengthen ties with its East Coast neighbours in Lincolnshire.
Later this month neighbour Boston Borough Council is set to decide whether it will buy into another 10-year-old public services partnership company between South Holland and East Lindsey District Councils, which is hoped to save £849,000 over the next five years.
The leaders of all three councils joined other Lincolnshire districts in hitting out against a county council bid to restart devolution talks in 2020.
Council leaders in Lincolnshire butted heads over devolution plans in 2020.
Lincolnshire County Council chief Councillor Martin Hill, jointly with the leaders of North and North East Lincolnshire Councils asked government to look again at plans to reorganise local government across the region, but were roundly rejected.
District councils hit back at the move claiming it was “not the right time” and ministers appeared to agree with them.
Lord Porter recently told his cabinet the Breckland partnership did not “place us very well for conversations about reorganisation inside Lincolnshire”.
He added: “I do understand that the fire under that agenda has been somewhat smothered at the moment, but I think given the nation’s finances, it won’t be long before somebody blows them flames back again.
“We need to protect our people and our residents to make sure that we’re in the best position possible going forward.”
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HMP Lincoln has launched a new education programme for prisoners with learning needs in a bid to cut crime and reduce the £18 billion spent on reducing reoffending each year.
Prisoners at HMP and YOI (Young Offender Institution) Lincoln with learning needs such as dyslexia, autism and ADHD will receive tailored education.
The new pilot will take place in five prisons – HMP Bristol, Berwyn, Lincoln, New Hall and Swaleside.
Figures show that prisoners who take part in learning while behind bars are 9% less likely to go on to commit further crimes compared to those who didn’t, according to the Ministry of Justice.
A new team will also work to ensure prisoners with neurodivergent needs such as dyslexia and autism are identified earlier, so they can receive more tailored support as soon as they arrive at the prison gates.
Andy Burton, Acting Governor at HMP & YOI Lincoln, said: “I’ve seen for myself the difference it makes when prisoners fully engage with formal education.
“That’s why I’m confident that through this initiative, we will bring learning and education to even more prisoners in a way that will really improve their chances of rehabilitation.”
Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland said: “I’m determined to transform the education on offer inside our prison system because it plays a huge role in rehabilitating prisoners.
“Increasing the support for those with diverse learning needs will create safer streets, fewer victims and ultimately ease the financial burden of further offending on the law-abiding public.”
Lincolnshire’s patch of sunshine could be about to end, with forecasts of thunderstorms in the county this week.
Yellow warnings of thunderstorms have been listed for the majority of England and Wales from Wednesday until Saturday by the Met Office.
There are also expected to be very high pollen levels this week, not good news for hay fever sufferers.
Very high pollen levels and thunderstorms could be on their way. | Photo: Met Office
Highs of 26°C have been forecast for Wednesday, dropping below 20 for the rest of the week, with showers predicted for Thursday and Sunday.
Overnight the temperature will still be in double figures for degrees celsius, and the mornings will be incredibly humid, sometimes over 90% in the early hours.
With the thunderstorm warnings come small risks of flooding and damage to buildings, as well as power cuts and potential road closures if the weather gets particularly bad.
The vast majority of England is at risk of storms. | Photo: Met Office
England’s eagerly anticipated Euro 2020 match with Scotland on Friday night has heavy rain forecast throughout the evening, so you might want to find somewhere to watch the match indoors.
Sixteen cancer nurses from Lincoln will take on a 26 mile ‘Mighty Hike’ for charity and have already gone above their initial target by raising over £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Lincoln woman Polly Johnson, 39, and her colleagues from the Waddington Ward at Lincoln County Hospital wanted to do something positive after surviving one of the most stressful years of the their career.
Many of the group know someone affected by cancer and some were even treated on their own ward, so it is a cause close to their hearts.
They will take on the ‘Mighty Hike’ across the Lake District for Macmillan Cancer Support on Saturday, June 19 – make a donation here.
Polly Johnson (right) with some of her nursing colleagues training for the ‘Mighty Hike’.
Polly said: “We chose Macmillan because we work with a lot of Macmillan nurses and have two on our walking team, so we see the benefits of the Macmillan funding. Quite a few of our nurses have loved ones who have been affected by cancer and some have even been treated on our ward, so it is a cause close to our hearts.”
“The last few months have been extremely difficult for all healthcare workers. We’ve had a lot of very poorly patients and a lot of our nurses have recovered from COVID too. So training for this walk has been good for our wellbeing and mental health as well. It has been a great bond for us all at a difficult time.
“Taking on this challenge has embedded walking into our lives. Some of the group have done triathlons, some of us have never really walked before so we have varying levels of fitness. It’s been lovely training together, we’re really excited to be doing something positive.”
The 16 nurses have been training together over the past few months.
The Macmillan Mighty Hike 2021 series is being held in coastal and mountain locations across the UK between June 5 and September 11.
COVID-19 forced the cancellation of Mighty Hikes in 2020, losing the charity fundraising income, and Polly and her colleagues were among those participants who were forced to defer their entry for 2021.
Nurses from the Waddington Ward at Lincoln County Hospital have already raised over £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Helen Hancock, Macmillan Mighty Hikes Senior Programme Manager, said: “Mighty Hike season will be a time of renewed optimism with people seizing every opportunity to get out there and live their life and make a difference. This is what Macmillan Mighty Hikes are all about.
“We are determined to make this a success for the thousands of Mighty Hikers who were forced to cancel or defer their 2020 places – and for everyone who is joining us for their first Mighty Hike.”
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