News from County Councillor Rob Kendrick
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Big issues affecting the county
Three important issues have been very much at the top of our agenda at the council.
Devolution Deal
The first is the proposed devolution plan which had been submitted to the previous government. Since the general election senior council leaders from Lincolnshire, North and North East Lincolnshire have been meeting with new minister and top officials. We are awaiting the Minister’s decision as to whether or not he will give the green light to the plan.
Winter Fuel Payments
The second has been the governments decision to stop winter fuel payments to pensioners. At last week’s meeting of the full council a motion was proposed to a) ask the government to reconsider its decision and b) request that the council publicise benefits that eligible pensioners can claim. The motion was carried by a majority vote with only 5 councillors abstaining.
North Hykeham Relief Road (final part of the Lincoln ring road)
The third is the possibility that the government may withdraw £110 of funding earmarked for the North Hykeham relief road . This was agreed with previous government and construction was due to start in the next year or so. The incoming government is reviewing funding for capital projects nationwide and there is a chance that the funding may be pulled. Needless to say, the council is working hard to secure the funding. Local MP Dr Caroline Johnson has pledged support, and the council has also reached out to Lincoln’s new MP and the transport secretary, urging them to safeguard this vital project to ensure our area does not miss out.
In all cases I will advise of developments as soon as I have them.
Parking penalty scam
The council warns all to be wary, don’t respond to texts, deal with parking ticket details directly. A scam trying to get money fraudulently via text messages about parking fines is doing the rounds in Lincolnshire.
Starting with words along the lines of ‘Parking Penalty Charge Notice’ text messages are being sent out claiming that an outstanding parking ticket is due to be paid. It warns of an increase of 50% to pay if the PCN fine is not paid within 28 days, and that the receiver of the text will be prosecuted and may also face court costs.
Thankfully, this text message is nonsense. If you, or anyone you know, is sent one of these messages then ignore it. Any parking charges are to be paid or contested via the details on the back of the actual ticket itself. Do not try to resolve a parking issue, or pay a PCN charge, via any other route. You will NOT be contacted by text message regarding a PCN charge in this way - ever.
LCC Parking Manager Matt Jones said: “This scam is trying to get money out of anyone it can, regardless of whether or not they have had a PCN filed about their parking. "It is working on a fear of prosecution and payment and is entirely false. I would strongly advise everyone to ignore it. “Any genuine parking charge can either be paid, or contested, through the channels that are clearly laid out on the back of the parking notice itself.
"There will never be any sort of text message issued about payment of a PCN charge in this way. “I would suggest that anyone who receives a text message like this takes a screen grab, including the phone number it is sent from, and sends it Action Fraud as soon as possible.”
To get in touch with Action Fraud go to: actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040. It’s also possible to forward a scam text message to 7726. For more guidance go to: Report a scam text message - NCSC.GOV.UK
Can’t make it let them know.
I have mentioned in the past the impact of missed appointments at Church Walk Surgery, Metheringham. This is not a problem just for one surgery but across the NHS. Though locally to put missed appointments into context Metheringham Surgery has lost an average of 64 appointments each month throughout 2024. As a consequence that means 515 people could have had an appointment more quickly had the missed appointment not occurred. Not only that but 105 hours of clinicians' time was not fully utilised.
So if you can’t make it to your appointment do let the surgery know – there will be no probing into the whys and wherefores – just an acceptance the slot needs to be re allocated.
Road repairs going ahead
Last month I reported about the massive amount road works going around the county including our area. August was a busy summer month for LCC’s Highways team. Over 6000 potholes repaired, hundreds more roads surface treatments happening and hundreds of other work schemes completed in Lincolnshire, too.
In what was in part a wet August, Lincolnshire County Council managed to keep up the pace of road improvements across the county with thousands of road and footpath improvements completed over a four-week period.
Over 6,000 (6,105) potholes were taken care of as part of the local highways authority’s ‘On the road in ’24’ commitment to deliver improvement works across the county.
It's not just potholes that got another huge raft of repairs either. 163 roads have also been surface-dressed, 28 roads resurfaced (nearly one road a day), 34 footpaths rebuilt (more than one a day), 58 footpaths resurfaced, and seven drainage schemes completed.
Elsewhere our crews have repaired 485 streetlights and tended to 347 call outs for tree or other vegetation problems on the highway. As always the recommended way to report road defects is via the free app: fixmystreet
Autumn events
I know a lot of events are being planned across the area with volunteers putting a lot of hard work to make them happen. One of only two Fayres & Feasts in the county takes place on 19th October in Metheringham. I am sure the parish council would welcome people to come forward to help. I will aim to get to as many events as I can as I like to take the opportunity to chat with residents at local events. Please do let me know of any events in your area.
Cllr. Rob Kendrick
Member for Metheringham Rural Division
Lincolnshire County Council, County Offices, Newland, Lincoln LN1 1YL
Twitter: @robkendrick53