South Holland leaders to approve £4.95 council tax increase
Another area facing £5 hike
South Holland District Council. | Photo: Daniel Jaines for The Lincolnite
South Holland District Council leaders will approve a £4.95 rise in council tax for 2021/2022 on Tuesday.
The draft budget, which includes the 2.75% increase in the district’s precept, will go before the authority’s cabinet.
It is the higher of the two options available to councils before a referendum is set and will take band D tax in the district to £184.68.
Earlier this week, Lincolnshire County Council members unanimously rejected a 5% hike in council tax for 2021/22, but agreed on a 1.99% increase instead to plug budget holes.
From 2nd to 341st: How Boston halved its COVID infection rate in a month
50% fewer patients at Pilgrim hospital
Boston Pilgrim Hospital | Photo: ULHT
In just over a month, Boston’s COVID infection rate has halved, coming down from the second highest in the UK to 341st.
At the end of November 2020, Boston had the second highest infection rate in the UK, according to the government coronavirus dashboard.
However, in just a few weeks, its infection rate has more than halved from 515.9 per 100,000 people on November 30 to 240.8 on January 6.
Part of the reason for Boston’s low ranking is actually a large increase in infection rates in other parts of the UK, such as in the Barking and Dagenham district, which has overtaken Boston with an infection rate of 1,546.2 (as of January 6).
Wallaby and baby die of firework fright at Lincolnshire sanctuary
Call to address impact of loud noises on animals
Female wallaby Sheila and the joey in her pouch sadly died. | Photo: ARK Wildlife Park & Exotic Animal Sanctuary
A female wallaby and the baby joey in her pouch sadly died after suffering fright from fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
Ark Wildlife Park & Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Boston announced during the evening of Thursday, January 8 that it received the post mortem results back after it discovered on New Year’s Day that one of its female wallabies called Sheila had passed away.
The Mariners have signed Sam Habergham on a deal until the end of the season. | Photo: Grimsby Town FC
Former Lincoln City full-back Sam Habergham has joined Lincolnshire rivals Grimsby Town on a contract until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old will be eligible for the Mariners’ trip to Port Vale on Saturday, January 9 after becoming Paul Hurst’s first signing since taking over as manager.
Habergham helped Lincoln City to promotion back to the English Football League in 2017, but he has not played since having surgery on a knee injury in 2019.
He was released from his contract at Lincoln City after having not played a game during the 2018-19 season and became a free agent.
South Kesteven proposes £5 council tax increase this year
And the budget will still be short
South Kesteven District Council is proposing a £5 increase in council tax for 2021/22.
Two meetings of the authority, cabinet and the joint overview and scrutiny committee, will examine the plans next week on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
The increase is the higher of the two options available to councils before sparking a referendum, and will take the authority’s Band D share of the tax to £168.62 a rise of 3.06%.
A report before councillors said: “The scale of the financial challenges ahead are significant and largely as a result of the external environment namely a further delay in the national review of the local government funding formula and the detrimental impact the pandemic has had on the council’s resources.