Sleaford Boxing Day Meet Event

Controversial or Not 

This event always seems to attract publicity and controversy. I attend most years and for one reason or another the weather, for the time of year, is generally Fair. This year was no exception. However these Hunts do comply with the  law to my knowledge. The Law in brief.

I have put it on Facebook but also done an edited video of scenes prior it it formally commencing at around 11.30 am. 

Either click on the image or go to this YouTube link. 

Council Budgets and Pressures on Resources: Sleaford and North Kesteven

I went to the Sleaford Budget Focus Group (one of three venues) to look at issues which will affect how our local taxes, and those from more central Government,  are spent. 

To help, I took along a camcorder to record what was said. Other members of the public were there as were Officers of NKDC and 2 Councillors.

One other item which may affect the size and use of our Council taxes is the debate about care for the elderly. This was also discussed in the House of Commons at Prime Ministers question time.  The BBC website have pages showing the cost of care in different areas. This (hopefully) is the Lincolnshire link. 

However there are many services that need to be delivered in a time of reducing overall input from Central Government. That is how I understood it. However the talks by the Chief Executive and Head of Finance and Resources are now on Youtube. 

The quality on the Youtube video is varied so I hope it is not too distracting. Still very useful however and many complex issues to be resolved especially in view of future population expansion. 

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Chief Executive Ian Fytche) 

Head of Finance and Resources (Russelll Stone) 

Jeremy Corbyn Visits Sleaford as By-Election Looms

Post Note The Richmond Park By-Election just shows how volatile by-elections can be: here is the Guardians take. Richmond is strong;y in favour of staying in Europe whereas Sleaford and North Hykeham are anti. However a similar principle applies. 

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 I went down to Boston Road Rec to see what the Leader of the Labour Party had to say! On the stump of a felled Tree he was surrounded mainly by well-wishers. He was in Sleaford to support the Labour Candidate in the forthcoming by-election. It was well attended with lots of Camcorders and other devices (including the local press, radio and TV) to record the event. 

At least, for once, Party Leaders are taking the area seriously although I suspect the London based Politicians need briefing as to where we (Sleaford & Norh Hykeham) actually are located. There are ten candidates and the link can be found on the NKDC web-site. I

How many other candidates will arrange similar events is open to question but this one seemed to work. At least the forecast rain seemed to abate so it was just the cold that didn't help. Facebook and YouTube links have already appeared showing the event. I put one up myself and a photo (see below) but there are much better recordings and I have used one of those for this Blog.. My own shots were at the back with other Camcorders and the like in the way. Here is the recording that I think is best. The photo is one of Jeremy Corbyn arriving somewhat late near 3.00 pm. Click on the Image JC below for the video Camcorder recording.

Image JC

Holdingham Representation at the Sleaford Town Council

I often place video recordings on Facebook and occasionally on this Blog.

Often decisions made reflect on Holdingham: whether or not the activity is elsewhere in Sleaford. This weeks Sleaford Town Council was no exception as topics included: Skate Park investment on Boston Road: Allotments at the end of the Drove (Westholme Ward) and the Strategic Plan.

I have annotated the video to help steer through it: so hopefully it will be of use. The Video was taken using a low cost Camcorder which has maximum recording time of 1 hour 20 minutes. With editing this video lasts for 1 hour.

Sleaford Town Council 16 November.

Interesting meetings at the Sleaford Town Council

The next week or so has two meetings: one is a public Town meeting tonight  2 November (not really a Council meeting but open to all citizens).

The other, behind closed doors, is next Tuesday. It relates to Boston Road according to the agenda.

Here are the links. Wednesday 2 November and Tuesday 8 November.

An edited YouTube recording of the Sleaford Town Meeting is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JpFynhB1o8

Litter Picking: Holdingham (and Sleaford): Fast Food

How much should we rely on users and the producers?

Every so often I (like everyone else nearly) complain about unsightly litter. Mostly cartons containing the food. Whether on the Roadside or in the Park areas (wherever). The Holdingham Roundabout was cleared recently as, after cutting the grass, all the litter was visible. Not nice.

NKDC (environemntal Health?) were quick off the mark and went to clear it up. Meanwhile, at times, it starts to look messy down the Lincoln Road and in He Play Areas.

The Town Council cleaning services do a good job but there are some demarcations as to who does what, when  and where.

Wherever you get fast food takeaways it seems you get litter which is just thrown down by those eating it -- or just thrown out of car windowss which must be the explanation for o much rubbish at the side of the Roads - including Holdingham Rounabout. What is vexing is that litter is dumped only feet away from a bin.

Anyway I went along to see the Manager of McDonalds to check that they still do litter picks. They do, and it is part of (embedded in) their Company Corporate rules. 

They certainly di a liter pick over the weekend. Maybe there is a case to extend this policy from all Food take-away outlets. Some do already but it is amazing how far it travels.

Just a thought.

Problems with intensive Livestock Farms: Sleaford take note!

Interestingly a new study has appeared pouring cold water on the idea of locating Livestock Farms near populated areas - and in the UK generally for that matter. The study has been done by Dr Lidwien Smit an environmental epidemiologist at Utrecht University. 

This might have ramifications for Lincolnshire including Sleaford. This refers to livestock mind!

Here is the report featured in the Financial Times: it was also covered in Private Eye as an "The Agri Brigade " feature. The original research is from This article refers also to Poultry see below! 2The countryside is supposed to offer a healthy escape from the blight of city smog, but new research suggests this is not the case for people living near a lot of pig, cow or chicken farms. The air around farming “hotspots” can be as risky to breathe ...".

Considering applications for large farms within Lincolnshire (not just those officially Livestock) then such research needs to be taken very seriously. 

The Agri Brigade feature specificall says "The messaage may at last be getting through to UK Policy makers. Huge Pig and Poultry Farms and Super Dairies are completely inappropriate in a densley populated country like Britain". Touche!