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Press Releases

East Lindsey now a Good Council?

 6th February 2009

Having had the results of the latest East Lindsey District Council CPA report, all of the parties, staff and partners can be relatively satisfied - but not complacent, with the outcome. The Labour group was pleased to have been able to play a major part in the overall improvement, but wants to see much more, and we will be pushing for further substantial progress for the residents of East Lindsey. We would also like to give a very big “Thank you” to the staff who made it all happen.

We recognise that since the last Audit in 2005, when the council was assessed as “Weak”, things have improved quite significantly, especially in some of the areas where the Labour Group has been pushing for change and where we felt the administration had been resisting our ideas. At the time of the previous CPA audit in 2005, there was little or no opposition within the council, but since that date, Labour have consistently been holding the administration to account and pushing them to be more accountable and open in what they do. - We feel vindicated by this latest audit.

However, there are a number of implications from the report that still need attention and some areas that are significantly low. Two areas still needing urgent attention are further improvements to overall partnership working, and much better co-operation and communication with Town and Parish Councils. Our feedback has been telling us this for some time, and the report confirms our findings are correct. We have been telling the administration this for some time, but the evidence is that so far they have refused to listen - up until now.

In reality, good communication and partnership working are two of the very basic things that any District Council has to get right and properly embedded into its working arrangements. Certainly we can see that despite pressure from their opposition, the administration has yet to make significant enough inroads in these areas. We have continually argued for the council to be more inclusive, and work closer with other elected local Councils and Members, instead of trying to do everything through an executive, which has presented its policies as a “Fait accompli.” Hopefully, now they can see what the results of ignoring local councils are and what local communities have to say, they will change. We will continue to pressure them to do so. For our part, we remain fully committed to work constructively with everyone to achieve a better East Lindsey, if allowed to do so.

With scoring only just in the range of good in many areas, it must never be a game of “Ticking boxes.” We are not complacent and we also believe there are many people within the district who will express surprise at the result, as their perception of the authority is not as good as the results convey. We must strive to win them over and it is clear there is still a long way to go. Our message therefore to the Administration is “Work with us and it will only get better.”

ENDS

Lumley Road facelift begins.

 2nd February 2009

The first steps towards enhancing the appearance of Lumley Started on Sunday 1^st February with work beginning on removal and replacement of some of the trees.

This work has been co-ordinated by Skegness Town Council under the watchful eye of Cllr Andy Delaney, Chairman of the Town Council’s Street Scene Working Group as a start to the efforts to brighten up the Town Centre. The Working Group was set up to oversee the appearance of areas of the Town and to co-ordinate with other Authorities and Organisations in order to raise the appearance and public perception of a Town we can all be proud of.

Cllr Andy Delaney said “It is never an easy thing to get all Local Authorities working together to achieve a joint effort, but we are pleased to achieve a start to the works on Lumley Road. This is the beginning of a long journey in which we trust the whole Town will benefit. Having the expertise of other local Councillors and having Cllr Phil Kemp on the Working Group as a representative of all three Local Authorities has been a big bonus for Skegness and this work from Lincolnshire County Council is an excellent example of what can be achieved. We look forward to moving even further ahead shortly with other planned works.”

The trees that are to be planted along Lumley Road are to replace some that have become too old, overlarge, misshapen and dead and will be replaced by a more manageable variety that were actually raised by a Hillier Nurseries which carries the “By Royal Appointment” seal. The new trees that will be planted will be Sea-Buckthorn and the same variety has been bred for use in Royal grounds. This will be a quality addition to Lumley Road.

Other works to improve Lumley Road are planned for later this year.

ENDS

Portfolio Holder for Degeneration

 20th December 2008

The latest Skegness Town Council meeting had a report by the Town Clerk on the latest position with regards to the proposed Sunshine Pool Play Area and how at the last minute Conservative Cllr Cooper had pulled the item from East Lindsey District Council’s Executive Board Agenda “for further information”.

One wonders how much information he and fellow Conservative Executive Board Member Cllr Edginton needed, as they had both received all the minutes and papers that the Town Council have been working on with East Lindsey District Council for the last 2 or 3 years. Have they ever read their papers before voting along with it?

We are given to understand that there is no chance of us having the site, as it may be required for further development and the play area would be a blight to further development. Does this mean that the other existing facilities are also a blight to further development?

As a supposedly experienced and knowledgeable man, Cllr Cooper should be aware that the Grant Funding that the Town Council had already secured would be site-specific and could not be just transferred at a moments notice to another site – even if there was another one available. The alternative site he suggested has already been earmarked for further development, going to prove just how much the Portfolio Holder for regeneration really knows about his job and what is going on in the town he is supposed to represent. The proposed lease, if he had actually read it, was a win-win situation, so the excuse of trying to get a better deal for Skegness was met with much derision.

Cllr Cooper should, with his experience, also know that if work were not started on the site very soon, the grant would be lost. If this grant is lost, do we really believe they would look kindly on us for a further application on a different site? If Skegness loses the grant, the knock on effect at this late stage in the year is that the grant is no longer available to anyone else that may have had a use for it.

Under his portfolio, Skegness has already seen the flower beds on Castleton Boulevard dumped by East Lindsey (fortunately, the Town Council had the good sense to take them over) and with the Sunshine Pool having been reduced to flower beds for a few years now, one wonders how even these would fare under his hands. We all know what has happened with the waterway since he took over. This is not regeneration this is degeneration! It seems he is earning his reputation as Portfolio Holder for Degeneration.

Every year, Skegness seems to suffer from cuts of some sort at the hands of East Lindsey and it is clear that things have to stop. It also seems very clear that Cllr Cooper is not the man to deliver regeneration to the coast, let alone the town he is supposed to represent.

Skegness Town Council have no alternative at this late stage to reaffirm the wishes of Skegness townsfolk and be committed to the development of a free to use play area on the site of the old Sunshine Pool.

Ends

Skegness Goes Green.

20th June 2008 

The recent Skegness Town Council meeting saw the presentation of a paper from Skegness Labour Councillors Gary Ellis, Phil Kemp and Steve Kirk entitled “The Skegness Declaration”.

Council unanimously adopted the principle of the paper and sent it to the Management Committee to finalise some detail before a big official launch, and signing ceremony, hopefully in August.

The whole idea came from a private conversation between the Councillors who believed that the Town Council should be doing more to ensure it works as environmentally soundly as it can. From this has come a whole document and supporting paperwork with guidance notes and help for others to hopefully sign up to, to ensure that Skegness becomes a better place to live. With advice on how to tackle litter and anti social behaviour as just a few points of interest, the Councillors hope that this will take off and that businesses and organisations throughout Skegness will also wish to sign up officially and play their part. The whole essence of the document is to take more care of our environment and empowers the local community to do just that.

When asked about the Skegness Declaration, Cllr Ellis said, “This is a move for Skegness to take more control over its own environment and we all have a part to play. As a Council, we can help the local Communities within our town to have more authority to tackle some of the things that upset them directly. We are more than happy to help. Conservatives have used a phrase before about the environment, but so far have only been seen to play lip service to environmental issues. We are doing something about it, not just talking. It seems you have to actually vote red to go green in Skegness. Voting blue only gives you the blues.”

Ends

FLYING IN THE FACE OF DEMOCRACY

17th March 2008

East Lindsey Conservative arrogance was once again shown recently when Skegness Councillors received an email that was sent at 4.31pm on a Friday afternoon to them informing them that a trial of pleasure helicopter flights would be taking place over Easter on the Skegness Southern Foreshore.

The email goes on to ‘explain’ “Time limits preclude our normal written consultation process with ward members etc.” and that if all departments are happy, ELDC will be looking to create a licence for the season to operate. It sounds like a license will be granted anyway doesn’t it?

Not satisfied with having an atrocious record with regards to consultation, ELDC now seem to be deciding things without due process of consulting with any statutory employees, any parties that would be directly affected by such proposals, a full and proper risk assessment, consultations with the Emergency Services etc. This is a licensable operation and would need a licence to operate. Due process has not been followed. Is it legal?

Skegness Labour Party are gravely concerned over this blatant abuse of powers to override due process and will be urgently requesting that this process is followed and the “trial” cancelled until such time as the proper procedure has been followed. Cllr Cooper is reminded of his statement with regards to the foreshore when he said: “I would like to reassure residents that, on my watch, there will be meaningful consultation with the residents.” When will he start?

So far there have been no negotiations with any concerned parties at all that we have been able to identify and one wonders how many of the parties affected will react when they hear a helicopter roaring overhead. Considering, amongst a number of other issues, including that this is next to a Site of Special Scientific Interest, close to Gibraltar Point Nature Reserve and near an RAF training area, one wonders how much thought has gone behind this.

Whilst we support new ideas, and welcome innovations, we wonder why consultation has been ignored. Risk Assessment is always needed and consideration needs to be given to this being the most suitable area to operate, being the quiet area of the foreshore. Do Skegness residents want to accept everything that ELDC tells them is best for them?

ENDS

East Lindsey Budget 2008

28th February 2008

Unfortunately for the residents of East Lindsey, the Conservative administration decided against an alternative to their budget, which would have saved residents 1% on the rise in their Council Tax Bill, along with a reduction in the proposed increases in car parking charges throughout the District.

Labour Councillors understand that residents have had enough of being over-charged for perceived ever-decreasing services. Concern is often expressed about deprivation in the District, yet seems to be a different matter when it comes to charging residents more. Acceptance of the amount of deprivation throughout our District must mean an acknowledgement of the ability to pay, and this was the reason for an alternative budget proposed by Labour Councillors who recognise the very real problems residents have when paying their Council Tax.

This comes at a time when East Lindsey is also restructuring itself to cope with the demands of modern day governance, resulting in the loss of a number of posts through redundancy. This will surely add more to the list of those with worries about making ends meet.

This is yet another example of how out of touch with the resident they claim to represent, the current administration really is. We suspect that those who chose to penalise our residents in such a manner will have no such difficulties in paying their own Council Tax bill.

This was a wonderful opportunity to show the residents of East Lindsey that their concerns are taken seriously and it was abandoned in favour of politics.

ENDS

 A new Branch Chairman

30th January 2008.

At the recent Annual General Meeting of the Skegness Branch of the Labour Party, a new Chairman was elected.

Cllr George Saxon is now the new Branch Chairman and a unanimous choice by Branch Members to lead the Skegness Branch forward for the next 12 months. His plain speaking, easy manner and approachability, made him a natural choice.

George said: “The Skegness Branch has been growing steadily over time and with recent local elections returning 12 local Councillors to the Town Council, Skegness citizens have given their seal of approval to what we have been doing over recent years. I am proud to be a part of such endorsement. I am looking forward to the challenges of the next 12 months and will continue to work hard with my Labour colleagues to ensure the best deals for Skegness residents wherever we can. If other like-minded local people would like to join with us, please contact me on 764933.”

George Saxon (centre) is congratulated by fellow Town Councillors Phil Watson (left) and Andrew Delaney (right).

ENDS

 Where is all the money going?

5th January 2008

Skegness residents and Councillors, asked the following question (amongst others) to Labour Councillors:

“Why was Skegness Chamber of Commerce given £1,000 by the Chief Executive of ELDC to help stage a commercial parade to mark the re-opening of Grand Parade after the devastating fire at the Parade complex?”

We have failed (so far) in getting satisfactory answers from ELDC. We are now attempting to get these questions scrutinised by Council.

Whilst we fully support what was a well-intentioned event, we assert that an ELDC committee should have agreed this expenditure. Other organisations have to fill in Grant Forms, why was this treated differently?

“Which budget has this money come from?” and “Is it normal procedure to give money to a commercial venture without asking to see their accounts?” remain unanswered at this time. What is clear is that £1,000 of Council Tax payers’ money has been spent on what many consider to have been nothing more than a publicity event by and for the Chamber of Commerce. Not all the businesses affected by this sad event where even invited to take part, let alone any Councils.

ELDC is coming under severe criticism for a planning application that has proved so controversial that it has already cost the Council Tax payer £30,000. Having also recently been served a writ claiming £50,000 in damages for defamation of character, it is clear that some decisions are proving rather costly for us all, the taxpayer.

ELDC LABOUR GROUP working for all ELDC residents.

ENDS

A day to remember?

14th November 2007.

Despite securing himself as much publicity as possible, a certain Councillor’s bid to get himself even more attention, failed when his motion did not impress even one other Councillor that attended the Council meeting. Even pleas for Councillors to ‘come clean’ by what seemed to be the chairman of his local fan club went unheeded as no Councillor apparently considered the motion worthy of seconding. So the date of 7^th November 2007 will go down in Skegness history as the date that nothing happened!

The first time this Councillor went running to the press on this matter, it was reported that he had passed on all the details of the alleged wrong-doing to the District Auditor. It appears that this was untrue and likely just another attempt at securing more publicity for himself. How do we know this? Because he says he will now report the matter. Rather than being intimidated by this, we would welcome their comments and act upon any recommendations they made. Independent specialist advice has already made it very clear that in their opinion Skegness Town Council has not been guilty of any unlawful act.

The saddest factor in the whole incident is that this has yet again cast a shadow over the achievements for the Town & Council by the former Clerk, leaving people wondering if that is the real motivation. Skegness Labour Councillors want to take this opportunity to reiterate their good wishes and thanks to the former Town Clerk and his wife.

ENDS

Paving, the way ahead.

 12th October 2007

In the first of it’s kind for Skegness, a deal has been negotiated with Lincolnshire County Council by Skegness County Councillors, Mark Anderson and Phil Kemp, securing £1 Million on footpath renewal in the town over the next 3 years.

For a number of years, the County Council has had a programme to change slabbed footpaths to asphalt, commonly called a “back to black” programme. Because of financial restraints on the budget, it has meant that the improvement programme has made little progress, concentrating mainly on repairs to existing slabbed footpaths in order to avoid accidents and subsequent insurance claims. With Skegness enjoying such a high profile, this has been considered a source of embarrassment despite the sterling work of all concerned. Finances have been the restraint. 

Cllrs Anderson & Kemp produced a joint plan for all Skegness, which they in turn presented to the Portfolio Holder who agreed and has released £1 Million to address the problem.

With this fantastic achievement, the benefits to the town should be immediate, bringing smoother footpaths for the pedestrian, parents with young children and mobility vehicle users alike, making things much more comfortable. Other benefits will include a financial saving over time and a positive effect to the environment with less need for harmful weed killing chemicals.

All in all, this is a positive step forward for Skegness, for the benefit of us all, thanks to the successful bid of 2 dedicated Labour Councillors.

ENDS  

Road improvement works in Skegness

21st July 2007

It is with the greatest pleasure we can announce that a new Pedestrian Refuge will be constructed on Wainfleet Road near the junction with Heath Road within the next 3 months. This is something that has been campaigned for by Skegness Labour Town, District & County Councillors for some time now and we are glad to see this coming to fruition.

The process has taken some time and necessitated the changing of the reduction of the speed limit in the area first and the addition of some parking restrictions in the area as preparatory works to the refuge. All these works are designed to improve pedestrian and driver safety in the area and to aid access to the Retail Park and the Wainfleet Road Memorial Playing Fields, as well as to Hawthorn Medical Practice.

With work being undertaken in the near future to enhance facilities at the Wainfleet Road Memorial Playing Fields that we should all benefit from, this is coming at the appropriate time. It has been with the safety of the resident in mind that these works have been pursued.

ENDS

A pivotal position?

4th June 2007

As Leader of the East Lindsey Labour Group I have been requested to put the record straight from Labour's’ point of view with regards to Cllr O’Connor.

I can confirm that talks had been very advanced between The East Lindsey Independent, Labour and Liberal Democrat Groups up until 1 week before the District Council AGM and that Cllr O’Connor had never even been considered as part of a “Rainbow Coalition”.

The numbers we were working with were ELIG 19, Labour 8 and Liberal Democrats 3 equaling 30. With a Chairman from one of these Groups we would have had a casting vote as well should the need have ever arisen. The system was only agreeable if there was a much different approach from the ex-Leader.

I have paperwork that show that Cllr O’Connor was never a consideration, at least from the viewpoint of Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Cllr O’Connor was never even considered as part of a “Rainbow Coalition” as he has always been considered a Conservative and since these talks collapsed, he has indicated that he will be voting with Conservatives, probably giving an indication of where his politics really lie. It would be interesting to know why the Conservatives did not offer him any position at all.

However, it seems that the ex-Leader considered things were better with the Conservatives and went and did a deal with them, unbeknown to us and, it appears, to many of his own Group.

With regards to Cllr O’Connor leaving the Council meeting after about 25 minutes and then being absent from the Special meeting of the Council, how is this representing those who elected him?

We, as the Labour Group, will continue to be constructive in a common sense approach to the running of the District, arguing always for the benefit of the resident.

Cllr Gary Ellis

East Lindsey Labour Group Leader

  ENDS  

East Lindsey's New Tories

 23rd May 2007

We now have the official news that the Conservatives have done a deal behind closed doors to ensure that they are the ruling Party at East Lindsey District Council. Whilst they were only successful in securing 28 out of the 60 seats at East Lindsey, we have seen 18 "independents" immediately turn their backs on the people who have only just elected them and turn Conservative.

We are now eagerly awaiting the news that we will be receiving a weekly black bin collection. Having been promised this by the Conservatives we are looking forward to hearing how soon they will be bringing this in. We are more than happy that they have at long last listened to what your Labour Councillors have been saying, but they themselves initially resisted.

We are more than happy that they are already adopting Labour policies and look forward to them adopting many more. We would like to think that perhaps they would look next at another of our policies, equality of sports provision across the entire District.

We will of course, be insistent that they deliver on their election promises. Residents of East Lindsey can be assured that we will be doing all we can to encourage them to spend your money wisely and be openly accountable in all they do.

 ENDS  

Skegness is a Labour Town

4th May 2007

Skegness Labour Party is pleased to report a very successful election campaign resulting in 12 Labour Town Councillors and 4 Labour District Councillors.

With the National trend being one of going against Labour, we were successful in keeping the attention focused on the local scene and the residents of Skegness have given us their vote of confidence once again. We thank them for their confidence and we will be working hard over the next 4-year term to bring further improvements to public services in Skegness.

Each of the 4 wards in Skegness tell their own story and we are pleased that as a local Labour Party we are able to say we have the approval of Skegness people. With St Clements ward returning Mark Anderson with the highest vote and the highest percentage of the vote in the town, we believe we have the necessary mandate to take Skegness even further forward, and we will be getting on with this task immediately.

Skegness is on the verge of major new investments and developments and we are confident we have prepared the Town Council to be able to meet the challenges this will bring. With public consultations currently ongoing with respect to our Town Plan and the Sunshine Pool area, we would encourage as many that can, to take part and have a say in the future shaping of our town over the next 5 to 10 years. The resident is at the heart of what we do.

ENDS

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