New Years messages from the leaders of your councils

The leaders from the district councils across Lincolnshire have released their New Years messages...
Gary Porter, leader of South Holland District CouncilGary Porter, leader of South Holland District Council
Gary Porter, leader of South Holland District Council

Paul Skinner, leader of Boston Borough Council - I find it hard to believe that we are about to celebrate Christmas, COVID 19 has changed the way all of us work bringing extra tasks around delivering the same jobs and services both at the council and the private sector, the year has passed with so much uncertainty for many in the blink of an eye… a year in which we as an authority have had to make many changes in the ways we work and tough decisions along the way.

The New Year I hope will hold more of a reassurance that things are going to get back to some kind of what we call normality in the coming months. The council will hold challenges around budgets, as an alliance I am determined that we will manage our finances well in the face of all that is set before us.

We as a council strive to continue to maintain the best of our services we possibly can following the steps in our corporate strategy, for the people, for future prosperity, for environmental awareness and for delivery of high quality services.

Councillor Craig Leyland, East Lindsey District Council leader.Councillor Craig Leyland, East Lindsey District Council leader.
Councillor Craig Leyland, East Lindsey District Council leader.

Over the festive period we all have choices and responsibility. Just because we can doesn’t mean we should. Our actions can have unintended results on the vulnerable and the NHS.

As leader of Boston Borough Council, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Richard Wright, leader of North Kesteven District Council - The pandemic at many times made 2020 feel a tough and turbulent year for us all.

If condensed into a book, however, it would surely be an inspiring story about the strength, caring and resilience shown every day across our communities in response.

Paul Skinner, leader of Boston Borough CouncilPaul Skinner, leader of Boston Borough Council
Paul Skinner, leader of Boston Borough Council

As we look ahead to 2021, there’s an opportunity to take back the narrative from Covid and write our future once again.

Our Council continues to invest in the District and there’s much in the pipeline for 2021. For example, we can’t wait to show you the results before summer of our £1.2 million programme to extend the National Centre for Craft & Design in Sleaford.

And in November we submitted proposals for our £56 million Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park, bringing together potential for 500 jobs with measures to respond to climate change.

I would wish 2021 to be a time we not only focus on our health, with the roll-out of Covid vaccines and redoubling our own efforts to protect each other while this takes place, but a year we make significant progress on our planet’s health.

Richard Wright, leader of NKDCRichard Wright, leader of NKDC
Richard Wright, leader of NKDC

We’re aiming for North Kesteven to be carbon neutral by 2030 and our Climate Emergency Strategy and Action Plan details steps towards that while delivering broader improvements in work and life. We’re also shaping our NK Plan 2021-23 setting out our vision in key areas including Our Environment, backed up by our Community Strategy. Check our social media @northkestevendc or sign up to e-newsletters at n-kesteven.gov.uk/stayconnected for updates on these.

Excitingly in early 2021 we also hope to adopt our Tree Strategy, increasing trees on Council owned land and with partners increasing tree canopy cover across NK.

There’s a long road ahead with Covid still, but there is much to look forward to together.

Owen Bierley, West Lindsey District Council leader - It is my sincere hope that by this time next year, I will have gotten used to attending meetings as leader of West Lindsey District Council in-person, and I will have had plenty of opportunities to engage with our local communities again.

Owen Bierley, West Lindsey District Council leaderOwen Bierley, West Lindsey District Council leader
Owen Bierley, West Lindsey District Council leader

I look forward with excitement to the day when I can attend and enjoy my lunch at the Keelby Lunch Club again, and when I can get out and about in communities across the whole of West Lindsey which I very much intend to visit in my relatively new role as council leader.

It has been mentioned many times, but this year has probably been the most damaging to our country since the World Wars. It isn’t just our district that has seen heart breaking damage to businesses and tragic loss and suffering to those whom the virus has left a devastating mark. I am sure the recovery response to the pandemic will continue to be a strong, joint effort from the country as a whole. On a local level however, our Council will continue to be here for you as much as we can, as we have been throughout this pandemic, and we will still be here for you when the pandemic is over.

I hope many of you are taking the time over Christmas and New Year to celebrate and relax if you can, safely and responsibly. Christmas truly is a wonderful time of year, and although we still need one more surge of discipline in what is hopefully the home straight to the end of this dreadful pandemic. I hope you are all taking the time to enjoy yourselves, have some fun and help yourselves physically and mentally. Don’t forget if you can’t be physically with loved ones, reach out and call them and check on loved ones who may have to spend this time alone.

West Lindsey is an excellent place to look after yourself physically and mentally. Going out for a good walk, run or cycle is never more than a few steps away, and getting out into the fresh air with a family member, or another household or two if the rules allow, and seeing the spectacular views around the district, the spectacular landmarks – or catching a few early-rising animals is never a bad thing, I find! We have a spectacular amount of outdoor space in this district – and maintaining and strengthening that in 2021 is something I will be prioritising going into the New Year. You may have already seen our plan to go carbon-neutral by 2050 – and I hope that, as I am, you will be immensely proud of the Council’s climate plans.

I sincerely hope that we can continue to invest in areas that make the most powerful impact in the lives of residents – particularly if it helps in the recovery from the pandemic. In 2021, the town of Gainsborough will continue to see significant regeneration, thanks in no small part to the National Lottery Heritage funding, which will see many buildings in the town centre rejuvenated. Significant housing builds will reach completion in 2021 all over the district – as will the new depot near Caenby Corner which I am immensely proud of, and recently had the pleasure of going to the ground breaking ceremony.

2021 is also the year of the National Census – an incredible opportunity for us to get an insight into where best to put our resources, and of course, be a part of history.

Next year is also a local election year, with many seats up around the County – I hope that all residents will continue to play their part in an important local moment of democracy. Work is already underway with regards to polling stations and making them as safe as possible – but there is always Proxy and Postal voting, which residents can apply for now already.

Finally, I just want to wish all residents a very Merry Christmas. To be appointed as Leader of the Council is a gift I will treasure from this year and I sincerely hope I do the council – and all of you – proud. We are in tough times, but I hope that by prioritising communities, and working together, we can come back from this stronger – and as one mightily powerful district.

Lord Gary Porter, leader of South Holland District Council - As we move to 2021 and beyond, being asked to take the time to reflect upon the year that was 2020 could easily be seen as a masochistic pastime. It would be fair to say that when I and other Lincolnshire leaders and councillors were putting the tree up and penning our reflections on the distant memory of 2019, coping with the pressures of a global pandemic was not top of our wish list for the year ahead.

However, it is important to look back and realise how as councils, residents and other workers we have coped with this unprecedented time. We have shown community spirit and fortitude to help protect the most vulnerable among us and to keep delivering the key services, such as weekly waste and weekly recycling collections, which help keep a district working.

We’ve also been there for our local businesses and economy, distributing around £19m to over 1,500 businesses most in need of our help and helping South Holland continue to prosper. COVID also hasn’t stopped important steps being taken on the creation of the industry leading Food Enterprise Zone in Holbeach, which will help put the District at the forefront of the international agri-tech sector with cutting edge technology and innovative new businesses.

All of the Council’s teams have continued to go above and beyond to provide our residents with a quality service, having to adapt to new ways of working and even new roles entirely as we have had to redeploy to cover priority areas. Their continued enthusiasm, energy and positivity has been a credit to the Council all year, and I cannot thank them enough for all they continue to do. I hope they can take the time over the coming weeks to take some well-deserved respite before we start again in January.

It has been an incredibly hard year for us all, but it has also brought out the best in so many people. I have seen more acts of kindness, thoughtfulness and self-sacrifice this year than ever before. With encouraging news about the vaccine rollout it feels like the end is finally in sight and we can look ahead to a time when we can return to the things we have had to give up over the last ten months, from hugging loved ones to the simple pleasure of a pint at the pub.

Despite this, we cannot let our guards down now, and it is important we continue to be considerate of the health and safety of ourselves and others, follow the guidelines for our tier (however unjust its allocation has been) and keep on adhering to those three key words: hands, face and space.

As local leaders we will continue to fight the corner for our district and county to make sure we receive the restrictions and support we feel is most fitting from the Government. Our local and community insight is crucial in helping the next steps be decided on, and it is important that this is not forgotten or ignored moving forwards.

In the meantime though, I would like to wish you all the best festive period possible. I hope you all get the opportunity to take a break, relax, and spend time safely with those who mean the most to you. Thank you for your continued help and cooperation and let’s hope 2021 brings us plenty of positivity.

Councillor Craig Leyland, East Lindsey District Council leader - We are still living under the yoke of Covid-19 and it is not an exaggeration to say that the pressures on societal cohesion and the economy probably have not been experienced since the end of WWII.....equally I doubt that there has ever been an occasion since then, that has witnessed the emergence of the most incredible and sustained community response we have ever seen.

Neighbours have become friends and so many community groups have given vital support to some of our most vulnerable residents. This has been something to behold.

The worth of the volunteer is priceless - thank you. Many of our residents will have also suffered personal tragedy this year becomes of the virus. We should never forget that but as this difficult year comes to an end we must now begin to look to the future.

The vaccine rollout gives us hope. We are excited about the prospects for our Connected Coast Towns Fund bids...the tourism economy has great potential across the whole district as we anticipate staycations for some years to come. Our ambitions for our market towns will look to support the ‘high street’ in these challenging times.

Our Strategic Alliance with Boston Borough Council is exciting as we attract investment to both areas. Our ambition to improve access to skills training will hopefully be delivered in Horncastle and Skegness. There is much to be optimistic about.In the meantime, let’s keep our defences up against Covid-19, and let’s look forward to a peaceful Christmas and a happier new year.