Newsletter No 30.
Winter 2011
NORTH HYKEHAM WELCOMES TWO NEW COUNCILLORS
COUNCILLOR ANDREA CLARKE
MILL WARD
I was born and raised in Canada with my loving parents and brother, I obtained my first degree a BSc. Chemistry from Brock University in Ontario.
I came to the UK in 1998 where I studied Law at the University of Birmingham as a Rotary Scholar and was the recipient of the Atchison Memorial prize for leadership in 2001. I was called to the UK Bar in 2002 and was admitted to the third Appellant Division in the State of New York in 2005. As a criminal defence lawyer I strongly believe in honesty, integrity and fighting against injustices. I opened a law firm with my two other partners in 2008 and we continue to grow our practice in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norwich. Having resided in Lincolnshire since 2005 I have always thought it important to take an active and integral part within the local community. It is with great pride that I join the council as a representative for Mill Ward I hope to be a strong and considered voice within the council over time, ensuring that many local issues and concerns are raised and satisfactorily addressed.
It is important to ensure that taxpayers’ money is properly used and accounted for, and that in these times of austerity we conserve as much as possible both financially and environmentally. I support economic growth and employment whilst being aware of the need for proper infrastructures locally to accommodate the increase developments. I would like to see waste minimisation whilst maximsing energy efficiency.
When I am not in Court, seeing clients or working for my constituents I enjoy travelling, going to the theatre and working out.
I look forward to making myself available and approachable by letter, telephone and email to local residents.
COUNCILLOR MARK REYNOLDS
MOOR WARD
I was born in Lincoln in 1962, before moving to North Hykeham in 1965. After spending my childhood with my parents, in Station Road, I subsequently purchased my current property in 1985 on the Millmoor Estate.
My initial schooling took place at the old village school, which was located on Water Lane, prior to attending All Saints School from the period of its opening. Aged 11 years I enrolled at Robert Pattison School where I remained until my schooling was completed.
After leaving school in 1978, I joined the rail industry as a Trainee Train Driver (every little boys dream) well mine anyway! This is where I remain to the present day.
Over the years, whilst growing up in North Hykeham, I have enjoyed the facilities that we have in our town, the local parks at St Aidens, Glebe Park, Memorial Hall and the Village Green as well as the sporting facilities at Witham Fields and the North Hykeham Youth Centre where I became a regular and active member. Some of you may remember me as a local disc jockey for 18 years.
Now, at 49 years of age, I feel it is time for me to put something back into our community, north Hykeham has grown in many ways over the years and the Town Council have done a good job with moving with the times whilst being sympathetic to its development, along with the provision of the extra recreational facilities, including the Skate Park and the new Performance Area. I now relish the task of my position on the Town Council and to be a part, in which to provide for the people of our town.
INTERESTED IN BECOMING A TOWN COUNCILLOR IN MAY?
WHAT DO THEY DO? DO THEY GET PAID? HOW MANY HOURS ARE NEEDED? Getting involved in the local community and helping with local issues is a very worthwhile way of making a contribution to the area in which we live and work. Do you have young children or teenagers and are interested in things that affect their lives? Are you concerned about our environment? How do you feel about planning issues? What about public transport? Local housing? Are you interested in local government finances, and where all our money goes? What can we do about anti-social behaviour? Do we need more local amenities? TO FIND OUT MORE CONTACT THE TOWN CLERK: 01522 681537 OR
2011 CENSUS
Takes place on the 27th March 2011. Please complete your form which can be returned online or by post.
Remember that Government funding to our town depends on the accuracy of these figures. We do not wish to miss out because residents do not complete the forms. Also jobs available for the Census – www.censusjobs.co.uk
YOUNG PERSON OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Do you know a young person who has worked hard for the town or its residents in any way?
You are invited to put their name forward with a brief outline of their achievements to the Council.
CHRISTMAS TREES ON SHOPS
The first year for this incentive produced 18 illuminated trees on shops around the town. These were solar powered and LED bulbs to protect the environment. The Council hopes you enjoyed them and hope that more shops will support the scheme next year.
ANNONYMOUS CORRESPONDANCE
Please note anonymous correspondence cannot be dealt with be the Town Council, please ensure when writing to the Town Council you put your name and address on all correspondence.
FINANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE REPORT
At this time last year I said that the previous year had been a difficult one financially but that we had managed to achieve what we had set out to do in that year.
The Council then calculated its precept for the financial year 2010-11 and managed to reduce the Town Council Tax by a small amount thus ensuring no increase to residents.
In spite of no increase we have again managed to complete the projects and tasks we set out to do and maintained our usual standard.
We have a big challenge ahead for the coming year 2011-12.
We know that things like National Insurance will cost more and that interest rates will remain low, certain costs have to be met such as wages, employees expenses, loans, gas, water, electricity, insurance, street lighting, open spaces and play equipment maintenance, the cemetery and various other items.
The intention to keep expenditure to a reasonable level has been the aim of all councillors and staff and we have worked hard to produce a council tax that will be welcomed by the residents. This year we once again keep the tax slightly below that of last year.
A band ‘D’ property will pay £77.55.
The Town Councils total precept will be £359086.
It will not be easy to do all that we plan to do but I am confident we will be successful.
My thanks to our staff both in the office and outside doing the ground work. We are lucky to have such conscientious people looking after us. Thanks also to the councillors who give their time freely and manage to get the job done and keep the costs down. They receive no pay or expenses for doing their duty except travel costs and the Mayors civic duties expenses.
This May there will be an election for The Town Council and if you feel you would like to become a councillor and serve the town then please contact the Town Clerk Mrs Mary Silverton on 01522 681537 for details.
My best wishes to you all for the coming year. Cllr Ted Singerton Committee Chairman.
PLANNING COMMITTEE REPORT
A Happy New year to all in North Hykeham from your Town Council Members.
Since the sad death of Ken Smith I have stepped into his shoes, albeit very large ones which I am unlikely to fill, as Chairman and continued Ken’s work, part of which was North Hykeham Town Council policy to fight for recognition that the expansion of North Hykeham which continues apace, should be tempered by consideration and appropriate action regarding the road infrastructure, which is totally inadequate for current and future needs of the Town. North Hykeham is a tier 1 development area which means development and building will be focussed here for the future.
The Town Council has made strong representations at District Planning meetings and seminars to raise the profile of road needs and infrastructure. This was particularly evident during the Teal Park proposal: EFW plant on Whisby Road and Lincoln Castings on Station Road.
Despite our efforts we were only moderately successful in as much as there will be duelling of the A46 bypass from Doddington Road to a new roundabout joining Whisby Road and duelling to a new roundabout on Whisby Road joining Teal Park.
This did give a measure of success; however I feel this does not go far enough Whisby Road should be “improved” from the bypass to Doddington Road with a roundabout joining Station Road but although there are murmurings that this may happen, more traffic lights are favoured on Station Road. This road urgently needs upgrading and widening at least to cater for our ever increasing demands.
At NKDC planning meetings both Cllr Little and Cllr Lee were forthright in their aims to get roads upgraded with the development of Lincoln Castings.
Time will however reveal the full impact of these three major proposals for the area.
The committee has also input into the Lincolnshire Empty Homes Strategy which is looking to prevent the derelict and empty homes remaining so.
The minerals and waste strategies for the area affect the town, standing as it does on a vast deposit of sand and gravel.
The ‘Central Lincolnshire Core Strategy’ which links Gainsborough, Lincoln /Hykeham and Sleaford is a major project, considering the future management of the growth of the area and the needs of communities.
The project is in the early stages and is not coming to fruition until 2012.
Of course the Town Council also deals with the continuous stream of building proposals, however small – only as a consultee and inputs opinions to the application.
As a final word it is with regret that the Town Council lost another member in December. Cllr John Cooper passed away after a battle with cancer.
A SCOPING STUDY FOR NORTH HYKEHAM – Cllr John Marriott
From a small village of 551 people in 1901 to a small town of just under 12,000 today – that has been the story of North Hykeham over the past 110 years. However, some things never change, like the main road network for example, which the inhabitants of 1901 would probably still probably recognise if they were around today.
Most of us know what North Hykeham’s problems are and hindsight is a wonderful thing. However, you can’t turn back the clock and so we have got one final chance to give our community a recognisable identity in conjunction with the North Kesteven District Council.
NKDC has tried before to shape North Hykeham’s development. Some of you may remember the North Hykeham Appraisal of the late 1980’s (rechristened reprisal by one local cynic), or the Pieda Study several years later. All these appeared to produce was more and more new housing.
Now, following an initiative from the Town Council, NKDC has agreed to spend around £24,000 on a scoping study to assess the impact of continued development and growth on North Hykeham and to assess the town’s capacity and potential for sustainable, ’planned’ development in the future.
The Economic Development Team from NKDC believes the main question to be:
What assets should North Hykeham seek to protect, re-capture or gain as a result of future growth and development which the town has failed to gain or lost as a result of historic development always bearing in mind the advantages and disadvantages presented by its proximity to the City of Lincoln.
For the Town Council, this could mean an opportunity, in collaboration with NKDC, South Hykeham Parish Council and local landowners, to develop a viable Town Centre, with business, retail and other commercial outlets, together with some housing and road infrastructure improvement which could take away much of the through traffic which currently uses roads such as Chapel Lane, Moor Lane and Station Road as an unofficial bypass.
Four companies have tendered for the contract to undertake the study and a decision will be taken over the next few weeks as to which one is best placed to undertake the work, which will almost certainly involve asking many residents and organisations for their views.
Let us hope that, even in these difficult economic times, something really positive will emerge that will make North Hykeham an even better place in which to live.
SKATEPARK
Cllr Fields Chairman of the Committee
After two years of discussions the refurbishment of the Skate Park will commence on the 17th of January 2011 which means the Skate Park will re-open in time for the better weather.
Scooters will still be banned from the Skate Park. After the recommendation from the Skate Park Committee to the Parks and Recreation committee it was agreed to accept the quotation from Ramp Child. We hope the refurbished park will be more challenging.