SKyline Winter 2015 by South Kesteven District Council

WINTER 2015

THE MAGAZINE FOR

SOUTH KESTEVEN COUNCIL TENANTS

your council working for you

Pages 6-7

Everyone needs good neighbours

Page 8-9

Recycling over christmas

Let’s all enjoy our beautiful part of the county

t is both a privilege and a responsibility to be the portfolio holder for Housing. It is a privilege because I get to know the whole district and a responsibility because I am very aware that decisions I make can affect the lives of both present and future tenants. We have a superb housing team here in South Kesteven, with council officers I trust to handle individual cases and issues. I am, however, always happy to ensure that messages are passed to the relevant officers. Rest assured that I keep my eyes and ears open and if I spot a pattern that means that there might be some failure in the way we deliver the housing

service, then I discuss it with my executive colleagues and senior officers in an effort to resolve things. Personally I love gardening and although I own a small garden, I pack it with flowers and shrubs so that the colours cheer me all through the year. I would love to see all tenants add a little colour to their own lives. It need not be expensive as most gardeners are happy to split and share their plants and save seeds from their own garden. We all live in a lovely part of Lincolnshire with some rich heritage and interesting walks all around us, so I would urge you all to get out and enjoy what’s around us. We can be proud of our towns and villages but I would ask you to

Grantham: Council Offices, St Peter’s Hill, Grantham NG31 6PZ Stamford: 1 Maiden Lane, Stamford, PE9 2AZ Bourne: South Kesteven Community Point, Abbey Road, Bourne PE10 9EF

Skyline is produced by tenants and SKDC working in partnership. It is delivered to all council tenants in the district. This magazine is printed on paper produced from well-managed forests. To get in touch with us use one of the methods below or contact one of our offices:

Please contact us if you or someone you know would like to receive this magazine in a different format including audio tape, cd, large print or Braille.

@ skylinesubmissions@southkesteven.gov.uk www.southkesteven.gov.uk/getsocial

Cllr Frances Cartwright, portfolio holder for Housing

Market Deeping: Deepings Community Centre, Douglas Road, Market Deeping PE6 8PA

How to contact us 01476 40 60 80

help us to keep them attractive to visitors so that our shops and businesses can thrive and be there for future generations. I wish you all good health and happiness.

Cover shot: KEYS TO THE FRONT DOOR: Jessie Schein with son Milan, partner Matthew Laughton and Cllr Frances Cartwright. Full story page 5.

Eight million to be spent on new council homes “The first phase of council house building which saw us provide 24 homes in Stamford and nine in Grantham has been a real success story and has given those tenants somewhere to call home. This next phase of building will carry on the work and hopefully repeat that success.” As part of phase two there will initially be 18 affordable homes built on Trent Road in Grantham which will be a mixture of houses and apartments. There are also plans to build four flats on Earlesfield Lane in Grantham and five bungalows are planned on land at Westry Close in Barrowby village in conjunction with parking improvements in the area. Cllr Cartwright added: “The mix

Save on your energy bills

oin the Lincolnshire Energy Switch Scheme – and potentially save hundreds of pounds on your energy bills in 2016! Tenants and residents across our district could make the great saving simply by registering your details at www.lincolnshire. gov.uk/switch and seeing if the winning energy supplier at an auction offers you a cheaper rate than your existing energy company. You have until 11pm on February 15 to register and if you’re not able to do so online, you can register offline until 5.30pm on the same day at SKDC’s offices or by calling 0800 048 8439.

Households who have already switched have collectively saved over half a million pounds between them to date. Anyone can register, whether you rent your home or own it and all that is required is your annual gas or electric statement or bills covering the last 12 months to hand. Once registered energy suppliers will then be invited to compete with their best offers at an auction. Offer letters stating the potential savings will then be sent to your address or by email and you could be saving hundreds of pounds with lower bills to pay. It’s open to all energy users,

of property types will suit tenants of all ages and some will meet the specific needs of people with disabilities. “As well as providing much needed homes in our district, our plans to build will generate construction jobs and secure many more with suppliers, through the purchase of materials and services.” We are building on council owned land which has been cleared of former buildings. High energy performance is a key factor, providing affordable warmth for residents, and the new homes will meet the key provisions of the ‘Lifetime Homes’ standards; suitable for tenants of all ages and with ease of access for those with a disability or requiring wheelchair access.

KDC will build another 27 council homes following on from the completion of the first phase of council house building which finished in the summer. More than £3million has already been spent building 33 new homes in Grantham and Stamford as part of a council house building programme, the first of its kind in South Kesteven for more than a decade. The last project to be completed was on Lincoln Road in Stamford and included 20 homes. SKDC’s portfolio holder for Housing, Cllr Frances Cartwright, said: “SKDC is committed to providing new social houses within the district to try to provide affordable homes for our residents.

whether you are on dual fuel, electric only, pay monthly or quarterly or have a prepayment meter. There is no obligation for householders to accept their personal offers, but if they do it’s easy and straightforward and the new provider will take care of the whole process. The scheme is organised by SKDC, Boston Borough Council, City of Lincoln Council, East Lindsey District Council, Lincolnshire County Council, North Kesteven District Council and West Lindsey District Council and is administered by the UK’s leading collective switching expert, iChoosr Ltd.

Giving you a property you can call home

emand for housing in our district is high, like many places across the country, but we ensure we act fairly when it comes to letting properties to give you and your family a place you can call home.

Give us your information

Contact Customer Services by calling 01476 40 60 80 - and ask for a housing application form or visit www.southkesteven.gov. uk/applyforhousing and download an application form to send to us. You can post or hand deliver your form to us at one of our offices: Grantham - St Peter’s Hill, Grantham NG31 6PZ Bourne - 3 Abbey Road, Bourne PE10 9EF Stamford - 1 Maiden Lane, Stamford PE9 2AZ Deepings - Deepings Community Centre, Douglas Road, Market Deeping PE6 8PA

Last year we had over 500 properties allocated to tenants, catering to the needs of the many individuals and families who require specific types of properties to lead their lives as comfortably as possible. Our allocations policy sets out

We assess your application

If you are eligible for housing, we will assess your housing needs and place you in a band. Generally priority is given to people who have a connection to South Kesteven and are in housing need. People who live in the area, work or have close family in the area may be considered to have a local connection. Generally applicants should be 18 years old or over. If you are 16 or 17 and are homeless, or have support from Lincolnshire County Council’s Children’s Services, we may accept your application. If you have pets please check our website to see if they are suitable under our tenancy agreement. For more information visit: www.southkesteven.gov.uk

how we prioritise applications but some social landlords also have their own waiting lists. You can make an application to apply for a property in three easy steps. This will help make your application as quick as possible.

We tell you the decision We will write to you to tell you which band your application has been placed in. You may request a review of a decision about your housing application. Requests should be made in writing within 21 days of the date of the decision. The review will be carried out by an officer who was not involved in the original decision.

New homes and a new life for Stamford tenants

or Jessie Schein, her brand new twobed council home in Stamford is ‘a blessing’. She and partner Matthew Laughton and son Milan have been living in a one bed flat, with Milan confined to a travel cot in the front room. “It was pretty claustrophobic,” said Jessie, one of the first residents to collect their keys for SKDC’s newest housing development - College Close.

“Now he can have a bedroom to himself and we can have friends round after seven o’clock without worrying about waking him,” said Jessie. “It’s a new beginning for us all and a blessing that we have been given this opportunity,” she said, echoing the sentiments of all who are moving into SKDC’s new cul-de-sac development off Lincoln Road in Stamford. At the nearby flats, keys

to her new home mean that 19-year-old Kirsty Brader is ready to move in. “It’s great,” she said. ”I have been living with my mum but it will be good to be more independent.” She met her new neighbour Adrian Southwell, who was looking forward to a better quality of life after renting a small noisy flat in the private sector. The one-bed flats are for single people or couples, with the youngest aged 19 and the oldest in their late 50’s. On the other side of the road are seven Lifetime Homes which have been created around people’s specific needs as part of the council’s new homes building programme. College Close has been a year in the building and promises a community feel, said Cllr Frances Cartwright, portfolio holder for Housing, who was on hand to welcome the first tenants to the development’s first phase of five two-bed homes and eight one-bed flats. “It’s a very special day,” she said. “It’s great to share the excitement of new tenants getting their keys to brand new houses and flats and to hear how much they are looking forward to moving in. “These properties are a quality build and very much fit for their different purposes. With the lifetime homes across the road it already has the feel of a community.”

Kirsty Brader and Adrian Southwell with Cllr Frances Cartwright

Everyone needs good neighbours O

ver the last few years our tenants have been voluntarily signing the council’s Good Neighbour Agreement. That’s because they respect the people living near them and in the wider community, says Neighbourhood Services Team Leader Kathryn Palmer. “Signing up to the agreement is voluntary which in itself is a great testament to our tenants and helps us promote positive behaviour within local communities. “We believe that by being good neighbours they are helping us to stop nuisance and anti-social behaviour on our estates. “We want our tenants to live peacefully in their homes and neighbourhoods are committed to dealing quickly and firmly with those who behave in a way which threatens the peace and security of local residents.” WHAT IS THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR AGREEMENT? The agreement was written by a group consisting of residents, staff and members for all people applying for social housing with South Kesteven District Council. WHY WE INTRODUCED THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR AGREEMENT: • to give a clear indication to tenants that there is a commitment from the landlord and other agencies to tackle anti-social behaviour • to engage local residents

•

• •

•

and to encourage them to share responsibility for tackling nuisance behaviour and promote positive behaviour to use alongside a range of other tools to prevent and address anti-social behaviour to reinforce the tenancy agreement to reassure tenants and residents that reports of anti-social behaviour will be addressed to explain what it means to be a ‘Good Neighbour’ to share community standards and expectations around behaviour and to highlight the rights and responsibilities of tenants and residents (including children and young people), landlords and other services to contribute to the sustainment of local communities and community regeneration initiatives to contribute to wider antisocial behaviour strategies

AND IT WORKS: When researching the use of these agreements it was found that in other areas Good Neighbour Agreements have helped to make a difference in local communities by engaging with residents at a very early stage, promoting positive behaviour, informing residents of what their responsibilities

are, assisting with community cohesion and instilling pride and positivity within our estates. In South Kesteven it does make a difference; our tenants know from the start of the tenancy what they can expect from us and what we expect from them.

What we ask from our tenants Being a good neighbour We expect all our tenants, their families and visitors to treat others living in their neighbourhood fairly and in a way that they would like to be treated themselves. About this agreement We ask tenants to sign the agreement to show that they understand what ‘antisocial’ behaviour is and that they will not behave badly towards their neighbours or others in the community. By signing the agreement tenants are aware that if they are involved in anti-social behaviour they are breaking the terms of the Good Neighbour Agreement which could lead to further action.

Jamie-Lee lends neighbourly hand

terrifying ordeal for a young Grantham mother has led her to nominate a fellow tenant as a Good Neighbour. Stacie Clayton came home to find her Kinoulton Court flat on fire with emergency services tackling the smoke and flames. Not only did she have to deal with the resulting police investigation into what caused the fire and the hard work of cleaning up her home but also finding someone to help with her son Tyler, then a baby, while she did so. And that’s where Jamie-Lee

Spicer, who lives on the ground floor and is also a young mother, came to the rescue. “Jamie-Lee was just great. She let me stay with her and gave me brilliant support all the way. “She even looked after Tyler so that I could go up to my flat, get the damage sorted and get it cleaned up. When I moved back in I didn’t feel comfortable and Jamie kept popping up to see if I was OK or inviting me down for some company. I really owe her a lot. She’s been a wonderful neighbour.” For Jamie-Lee, offering a

helping hand was a natural reaction. “I am not one to stand by if someone needs help,” she said. “It was good to be able to support Stacie and we are now really close friends.”

Stacie Clayton (left) and son Tyler with Jamie-Lee Spicer

Good neighbour Lynne goes above and beyond to care for others

ur good neighbours scheme continues to shine a light on some of our most valued assets – people who really go above and beyond to care and consider others. One such lady is Lynne McKay who has been nominated for a good neighbour award for her help assisting residents in Greyfriars and Priory Court in Grantham. Nominated by resident Teresa Woodford, she stated Lynne sums up everything that is special about having a good neighbour to call on. Teresa said: “Lynne is a great neighbour to all at Greyfriars and Priory Court. She is always only a phone call away night and day and will help all, no matter what the issue. “She runs Greyfriars Community Centre with her

husband Don and organises functions that many residents enjoy. “That goes from bingo through to dominoes and lots of activities that we enjoy here. “She’s such a valuable member of our neighbourhood I thought I would nominate her as she deserves it.” Lynne said: “It’s lovely to have been nominated as a good neighbour, particularly for organising sessions like

dominoes as it’s something I really enjoy doing and taking part in myself. “Having regular activities like this at the community centre helps keep us all in contact and check how we’re getting on. We always have a joke or two, a sit down with a cup of tea and then a game like this. “It’s great someone appreciates you for what you do but lots of people do things to help this community.”

Lynne McKay (middle seated) with Greyfriars and Priory Court residents

AND HAPPY RECYCLING Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a list of Christmas items you can recycle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in your silver bin,

clear bag or at your local household waste and recycling centre (HWRC). Silver Bin

Clear bag

Paper chains Silver Bin

Silver Bin

Clear bag

Christmas cards Clear bag

Silver Bin

Clear bag

Toy and gift wrapping paper Cardboard boxes

Silver Bin

Clear bag

Glass bottles and jars Silver Bin

Silver Bin

Clear bag

Foil

Clear bag

In your green bin or your local Household Waste and Recycling Centre

Drink cans

Green bin

HWRC

Christmas tree

Please put these items in your black bin or pink bags Black bin

Pink bag

Tinsel

Black bin

Pink bag

Christmas tree baubles

Black bin

Pink bag

Artificial Christmas trees

Black bin

Pink bag

Wine bottle corks

Black Bin

Pink bag

Christmas wreath

Please take these to your local household waste and recycling centre on Mowbeck Way in Grantham or to the site on Pinfold Lane Industrial Estate in Bourne. HWRC

Christmas tree lights

HWRC

Household batteries

HWRC

Electronic equipment

For toys please retain all safety information from the packaging and store with the instructions for use. This way you can refer to it in future, or pass it on to others should you give the toy to friends, family or a charity shop.

Recycling over the festive period There are no silver bin or clear bag collections on Christmas Day. Instead silver bin and clear bag collections will take place two weeks later than normal on Friday January 8. Black bin and pink bag collections scheduled for Friday January 1 will be collected a day later on Saturday January 2. All other collections take place on the normal scheduled days of the week. We appreciate the volume of recyclable waste at these times can be high so for those who do not receive the Christmas Day collection please take extra recycling to our Household

Waste and Recycling Centres in Mowbeck Way in Grantham or Bourne Industrial Estate. Also, please read the next section on unlimited amounts of recycling being taken over the festive period. Unlimited silver bin or clear bag waste taken We understand that lots of extra side waste is generated at Christmas. That’s why we’ll take away an unlimited amount of recyclable items in any clear bags or cardboard boxes. Items that are visible to our recycling team that can be recycled will be taken as long as they are not placed in black bags. Please flatten and crush

cardboard for ease of transport to recycling facilities or to fit more into your kerbside collection. Keep small items of packaging and plastic bags away from children at all times. Separate any plastic windows from the card boxes before recycling. Wire ties should be kept aside from the rest of the packaging. These are not generally recyclable but could be reused for example for tying up plants in the garden. Polystyrene can’t be recycled and should be put in your black bin or pink bag.

If you would like to purchase additional clear bags please call 01476 40 60 80 or email customerservices@southkesteven.gov.uk For a full list of items you can recycle visit www.southkesteven.gov.uk/recyclinglist

New street clean service seeing improvements in Harrowby and Earlesfield

n our budget earlier this year we announced an overhaul of the way our streets and open spaces in South Kesteven are cleaned. We identified areas in our district to focus our Streetcare Services team’s efforts,with extra cleaning of Earlesfield and Harrowby estates highlighted, backed by an extra £130,000 of investment to fight litter and fly-tipping across the district. Now, redesigned rotas, extra staffing and the use of additional litter vacuum machines are all paying dividends in these neighbourhoods in our fight against litter and fly-tipping. We know there is still much work to do, but you can play a major part too in ensuring your streets and communities remain as litter free as possible.

Please ensure you put out your waste on the correct collection day and make sure it is secure so this minimises loose rubbish or materials, particularly in storage areas or shared spaces. Over a year we pick up around 1,700 tonnes of litter and flytipping across our towns and villages, a figure we are determined to lower with your help. SKDC’s portfolio holder for Healthy Environment, Cllr Nick Craft, said: “Our Love SK, Hate Litter campaign continues and this added investment is seeing improvements in Earlesfield and Harrowby in Grantham. “We acknowledge there are still areas where considerable improvements are needed both in these neighbourhoods and elsewhere in our towns and villages but we need tenants

and residents to join us in this fight. “Wherever possible report litter or fly-tipping online at www.southkesteven.gov.uk or call us on 01476 40 60 80. “We now have two responsive teams for both the north and south of the district and in Grantham, the north team are working with additional machinery to help us deal with cigarette related waste.” Working hours of our streetcare services team have also been reviewed to cover more evenings and weekends, meaning problem areas and emergencies are responded to more quickly. The additional mechanical equipment is also now playing a big role in the fight against town centre litter in both Grantham and Stamford.

Schools play major role in Georgian Festival

upils from schools across Stamford played a big part in September’s colourful Georgian Festival and enjoyed free tickets to see an amazing Horrible Histories show. Thanks to workshops from Open Up Arts for schools and community groups, youngsters were able to follow the Bull Run carnival procession through the streets. They had made clothing, banners displaying their school or group and their chosen theme and flags depicting which country’s bull imagery they displayed. The evening’s spectacular finale also saw the groups hand over their ‘offerings’ to the bull before it went up in flames! Stamford Junior School produced silk cave paintings depicting France, the Childrens’ Centre used bulldog puppies for an English theme and St Augustine’s made umbrella hats to fit with Portuguese tradition. At Bluecotes, it was a piñatas ceremonial gift theme from Mexico, St George’s made neckpieces from India and Malcolm Sargent pupils celebrated with minotaurs from Greece. The workshops were funded by a Big Lottery grant to Stamford Town Council to ensure real community

involvement at all levels in a programme that also included some very special classroom guests in the run up to the festival. Before their weekend performances at the Corn Exchange, the cast of the Horrible Histories Birmingham Stage Company visited the Welland Academy as a taster of their involvement in the festival for students and staff. On 25 September character actor John White visited Malcolm Sargent Primary School in his role as King George to talk to staff and students. His Majesty also visited St George’s Primary School as he began his royal visit to the town, just one of the many guises he adopted over a weekend that conjured up entertainment and fun for everyone.

A Bluecoats pupil at one of the Bull Run workshops

Our joiners aim to give you the best possible service with our repairs Our multi-skilled repairs staff undertake varied jobs across the district day in day out, aiming to give you the best possible service and make your home a clean, safe and warm place to live. the shower, grouting out the tiles, replacing them and then measuring and fitting the new parts so the tenants have got a better, easier to use facility.” At the end of the job, Sarah completes the paper work on her tablet, making it swift and easy for our tenants to sign off work and ask any questions. The council’s administration team can also log the work is complete. Sarah said: “The pda handheld software makes it a lot easier to complete jobs and it is far more efficient. When a job is

QUIZ WINNERS

finished we always ask a tenant to answer a few questions on an instant satisfaction survey. This means they can highlight anything they wish to raise once the work is complete and means they sign off the work in a similar fashion to how you sign for a parcel. “I’m the only female joiner currently on the team and it’s a good one to be part of. We always try to do the work with a smile on our faces.”

Joiner Sarah Boott takes pride in her work

mong them are our team of hard working joiners, including operative Sarah Boott who has been a member of the team for over 12 years. To give you a flavour of her role, Skyline caught up with her on a job at one of our properties in Great Ponton, just outside Grantham. On this particular project Sarah was working with council plumber Trevor Swain to replace a shower in a tenant’s home. She said: “I really like the job and the most enjoyable part is meeting tenants. It’s really varied and satisfying making people’s homes and lives better from the work we do. “With this job it was a standard refurbishment of

Two lucky readers have won £25 in high street gift vouchers for answering all five questions correctly in our quiz. They are Mrs G. Jones, of Stamford, and Mrs M. Locke of Deeping St James.

Financial exploitation – don’t let it happen to you

he financial abuse of vulnerable adults is an ever increasing problem. We’ve all seen the notices in newspapers and on television that tell us to beware of people coming to our door offering to cut down overgrowing trees, empty blocked guttering or re-lay our paths or drives. We often take people at face value – and then they drop the bombshell that the quote they gave didn’t allow for the ‘extra’ problems they found whilst doing the work! We can all be faced with a large bill that we really can’t afford to pay. We may then turn to a money lender who is keen to lend, but at a ridiculously high interest rate. Financial exploitation isn’t only a threat from strangers. It can occur when a person in a position of trust and confidence takes advantage of a relationship to exert influence over a person. This could be a family member or a friend. It could be by deception – appearing to be a friend who ‘just wants to help’ by taking control of your bank card or cash or it can be through intimidation – making threats to a person’s safety if they don’t hand over money. Many cases go unreported because the adult being victimised is embarrassed or afraid that the situation will become even worse. Sometimes, people aren’t even aware that they are a victim of financial exploitation. Scams of all kinds continue to be a concern. Here are a

couple more examples to be aware of: We just need some details: Fraud can occur when a person is contacted by phone, email, or letter attempting to gain personal or account information to initiate transactions either by setting up automatic payments from a person’s account for something they did not want or need, or to gain access to a person’s credit through identity theft. Don’t give your details to anyone over the phone or by email without checking that they are who they say they are. Never give your bank details to someone claiming to be from a bank. If they really are from

your bank – they already know your bank details! You’re a winner! This type of fraud continues to be popular and even though we’ve been told over and over again that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This type of fraud relies on a person not remembering whether they’ve entered the competition they’re being told they’ve won! A sure sign of a scam is any requirement that you send money to pay for taxes or fees of any kind. If you like to enter competitions keep a log of what you’ve entered – that way you can check back – if you haven’t entered, you can’t have won!

If you are concerned that you, or someone you know, is in danger of financial exploitation call the Police on 101 or call Adult Social Care on 01522 782 155

Fire safety advice for residents

Residents at Canterbury Close in Grantham have been given a talk on fire safety recently. Pictured are (left to right) Clive Baillie (fireman), resident Pat Parker and Ben Selby (fireman).

Don’t have a debt hangover this Christmas

ach year thousands of people get debt help from the Citizens Advice Bureau as they reopen after the Christmas break. Figures from the national charity predict that the first week of January will see over 10,000 people come through its doors for help sorting out debt. Debt problems are caused by taking out credit like overdrafts, payday loans and credit cards and the Bureau also helps with more problems caused by essential bills like energy, rent and council tax. Problems caused by priority debts like council tax or rent arrears can be exacerbated by Christmas as extra expenses put additional pressure on budgets which are already

squeezed. The fallout from debts caused by falling behind on basic bills like rent, council tax or energy bills can have a serious impact. In extreme cases, falling behind on rent can lead to eviction, energy debts can result in your power being cut off and not paying council tax can mean you risk a prison sentence. This year, Citizens Advice is urging anyone who is worried that they are running into debt to seek help as soon as possible. Amy Parish, for Citizens Advice, said: “Thousands of people begin the new year battling debt issues. During the festive season, dealing with debt is often the last thing on people’s minds especially

people with children’. “We help an increasing proportion of people who run into difficulty because they struggle to cover their priority outgoings. Slow wage growth, low pay and short hours mean that many people simply can’t get enough coming in to cover the bills. Problems can get worse if they aren’t tackled early on, so if you are worried that you may not be able to cope then seek help as soon as possible.”

ort how to s e n o e ic eed adv , Citizens Advic If you n m bt proble line help from out a de t . Ge on hone can help e.org.uk, telep r the id u ve adviceg 44 for advice o reau. 4 1 l 1 ca bu 03444 1 t your lo c ta n o c r b.co.uk/ phone o uthkestevenca www.so

10 top tips 1. Plan early for Christmas. Be realistic and budget accordingly. Work out how much you are going to spend on each person – and stick to it. Manage expectations as to what you or Santa can give. 2. Don’t forget the everyday bills. Remember that rent, the mortgage, utility bills, food bills and other existing debts still have to be paid – and the consequences can be severe if they’re not. Even though it’s Christmas, get your priorities right. 3. Don’t bank on an overdraft. If you do need more money, don’t just run up an overdraft without talking to your bank first – it will work out much more expensive. 4. Keep things simple. If you can afford to pay for your goods outright by cash, cheque, or debit card, don’t be persuaded to take out extended credit agreements unless they really do work out cheaper. 5. Shop around. Try as many different places as possible to find the best price. Buy what you want and not what other people say you need. Be wary of extended warranties; the cost of a repair could be less than the cost of the warranty. 6. Buy safe to be safe. Whatever the deal, whatever the temptation, don’t buy from unauthorised traders and don’t borrow from

unauthorised lenders. The initial savings and convenience may prove to be a false economy. 7. Read the small print. Check for hidden extras in any credit agreement. Work out the total amount payable. Ensure that the monthly instalments are within your budget before signing. Interest free credit can seem attractive, but if you don’t pay on time, or miss a payment, you could have to pay a lot more. 8. Do your own credit checks. If you are going to use a credit card, shop around and compare terms. Some cards charge high interest rates, but provide interest free periods or discounts. Budget for all these costs and put the payment dates in your diary. 9. Be organised. There’s a lot to remember at Christmas. If you’ve borrowed money don’t forget that it won’t be long before you have to make a payment. Make sure you pay on time, even if it is only the minimum, or you will be faced with additional charges. 10. Start planning and saving for next Christmas. Once Christmas is over, it’s worth looking at what you did well and what you didn’t. Learn from your mistakes and start planning how you will do things differently next year. This might also be a good time to start saving for next Christmas.

Trees are important .......but make sure they don’t affect your property

rees play a very important role in our surroundings. They provide us with fresh air to breathe, shade in summers, food, and other benefits without which we cannot even think of living. But there are occasions when trees can cause problems, especially if they are growing in urban areas and are close to buildings. Steve Frisby, grounds maintenance co-ordinator for SKDC, said: “Some trees, such as willow, poplar, horse chestnut and oak, if allowed to grow too near buildings, may give rise to structural problems linked with foundation failure associated with locally growing trees. “Problems of this nature may result in significant repair costs and major inconvenience to residents of the affected property.” If you have a tree growing in your garden which you think may cause problems with your home then please contact us on 01476 40 60 80 to discuss it further.

LinCare delivers support service 24 hours a day

ver wished that you could summon help at the push of a button? And that there was someone to call on 24 hours a day? Many tenants across South Kesteven can actually do that, thanks to our partners at the City of Lincoln Council and their Control Centre (LinCare) providing a 24 hour monitoring service which helps people living in their own homes feel more safe and secure. Now the message is going out that many more people of all ages and circumstances can benefit from a cost effective system that delivers a multitude of benefits including: • improving the health of vulnerable people living at home • enabling people with disabilities to remain living at home • reducing fear and improve vulnerable individuals’ sense of safety, security and selfconfidence • assisting carers in their role to improve their quality of life • lessening social isolation, whilst maintaining independence At its simplest, the system provides a base communications unit and a push button ‘pendant’ worn around the neck or on the wrist. Activating either opens a hands-free two-way communication between the wearer and LinCare’s 24/7 monitoring call centre. On receipt of the alarm call LinCare is presented

with a client’s page showing information about the sensor or detector which has been activated and comprehensive information about the person living in the property – allowing them to contact a nominated person or medical help as required. A range of advanced technology includes detectors and alarms that protect an individual from situations that may leave them vulnerable from

risks such as smoke, floods and gas, and personal risks such as falls, epilepsy or any medical emergency. It uses an existing working outgoing telephone socket; any household phone can be plugged directly into the alarm unit and there is no need for a second line or a telephone line splitter.

Push button peace of mind for Grantham family

eace of mind is what Beryl Bradley enjoys thanks to the knowledge that her 92-yearold father enjoys round the clock support from the Lincare system. Thanks to a simple connecting button on a wrist band, Leslie Selby is able to stay in his own West Avenue home in Grantham despite increasing health challenges. And his daughter knows that she has the freedom to continue with her own life knowing he is safe. “We first subscribed to the system when my mother had a bad fall down the stairs and had no way of contacting me or getting any help straight away. She has to crawl to the front door and wait until someone came past. “When she died my father took it over and it’s been a godsend. I am round to his

house several times a day anyway but I know I can rely on this system should he need help at any time. What it’s given me is peace of mind. Sometimes he needs a nurse and at other times they call me depending on what he needs. “I think the system is brilliant, and I think that every older person should have one. That said, there are an awful lot of people who for different reasons would find it useful.”

Beryl Bradley with her father Leslie Selby.

Assisted gardening scheme

KDC’s assisted garden maintenance scheme helps tenants who, for reasons of age, medical condition or ongoing poor health, aren’t able to maintain their gardens or call on the help of relatives. The council currently assists just over 600 tenants with the basic routine maintenance of their gardens and many others who struggle with more difficult “one off” tasks. Cllr Frances Cartwright, portfolio holder for Housing,

said: “The scheme helps maintain a pleasing, well maintained environment for the whole community to enjoy and in particular is invaluable to those people who can’t look after their own gardens.” If you are unable to maintain your garden and think you may be eligible for assistance with seasonal grass or hedge cutting, please contact us direct on 01476 40 60 80 or complete an application on line at www.southkesteven.gov.uk

Think Pharmacy First P

eople in South West Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group area who receive free prescriptions are being encouraged to go straight to their pharmacy for treatment for minor ailments during the winter months. Think Pharmacy First aims to give patients who receive free prescriptions greater choice and faster access to treatment for a range of minor conditions. The scheme offers patients who qualify, the choice of going straight to their pharmacist – without an appointment – for a consultation for a wide range of minor ailments. Patients may be referred to a GP where necessary. For more information simply visit any pharmacy displaying the ‘Think Pharmacy First’ window sign. You can also get a list of all pharmacies by visiting www. nhs.uk and searching for Pharmacies.

What’s on

in South Kesteven

MERES LIVE

Meres Leisure Centre, Grantham, NG31 7XQ

AN EVENING WITH LULU SATURDAY 12 MARCH 7.30PM £35 The incredible Lulu still has plenty to shout about and is back with another fantastic tour. The Grammy-nominated singer will be performing hits from her 50 year career, such as ‘To Sir With Love’, ‘The Man Who Sold The World’, ‘Relight My Fire’, and of course ‘Shout’. As well as performing songs from some of her musical heroes, such as soul legends, Ray Charles and Otis Redding, she will also be taking us on a musical journey recalling personal anecdotes, song writing experiences, and other entertaining stories.

BRENDAN COLE FRIDAY 18 MARCH 8PM £34 / £32 concessions / £30 groups of 6+ Back by popular demand! Brendan, one of Strictly Come Dancing’s most charismatic choreographers and performers, will host throughout as he leads his cast on a journey of music and dance in a spectacular night of theatrical entertainment. Loaded with ballroom magic and Latin excitement, Brendan’s newest live music and dance extravaganza will be 2016’s must see show!

Please note: Meres Live events take place at the Meres Leisure Centre, Grantham, NG31 7XQ. A £1 booking fee applies to each ticket

GUILDHALL ARTS CENTRE St Peter’s Hill, Grantham NG31 6PZ

THE BIG BAND FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 8PM £15 / £13 concessions As featured at London’s Leicester Square Theatre. Swing-along with songs from Glenn Miller, Sinatra, Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Jazz & Blues. “Superb - they swing like crazy!” says Sheila Tracy, BBC. As seen on BBC TV’s “Children in Need”, Dame Vera Lynn’s Charity Ball & Blackpool Tower Ballroom.“Swing and Song of the highest order” – Telegraph. Featuring Simone from the Ivy Benson Orchestra, and Chris Smith (Jnr) composer and arranger for the BBC Radio Big Band, Herb Miller Big Band (Glenn’s brother), plus Tony Bennett’s trombonist!

HENRY V AND MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM 3 FEBRUARY 7.30PM £12 / £10 concessions / £5 under 25’s A rep company of 10 actors rehearse the plays in five malefemale pairs. On a given night, one person from each pair will

play his or her assigned roles, regardless of gender. The focus turns sharply onto the inherent, timeless drama of these plays and the brilliant wit, poetry and emotion of their text. Henry V tells the story of young King Henry’s famous victory at Agincourt while outnumbered, but underestimated, by the French. In addition, A Midsummer Night’s Dream playfully depicts the comically intertwining tales of feuding forest gods, midnight elopements and staging a theatre show. This energetic, 90 minute production of Shakespeare’s most popular comedy stays true to Shakespeare’s text while presenting it in an exuberant and stripped back style.

THE BEST THING TUESDAY 1 MARCH 7.30PM £12 / £10 concessions / £8.50 students It’s 1966. The record player’s on, her hair’s bobbed and eye-lashes curled: for 17 year old Susan, life is an adventure waiting to begin. But what happens next turns everything upside down, and its repercussions will last for decades to come, Step into the wordless world of Vamos Theatre for this bittersweet story of mistaken morals and broken hearts, 45s and beehives, where sexual revolution proves a hard and rocky path to tread. Funny, heart-breaking and human, The Best Thing is the

latest touring production from one of the country’s must-see theatre companies. Suitable for ages 12+, this production is equally accessible to hearing and deaf audiences.

BOURNE CORN EXCHANGE

3 Abbey Rd, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9EF

WEDDING FAIR SUNDAY 10 APRIL 10AM – 2PM Free entry Discover some of the finest wedding services and suppliers in the area, all under one roof at the Bourne Corn Exchange. There will be a great range of stalls including photographers, cake makers, jewellers and much more! There will also be the chance to win some fantastic prizes in our free prize draw.

STAMFORD ARTS CENTRE 27 St Mary’s St, Stamford PE9 2DL

CELLOPHONY SATURDAY 9 JANUARY 7.30PM £16 (£15) £10 for under 26 “A bold and brilliant bunch” – The Times Cellophony bring to Stamford a programme of arrangements from Bach to Wagner including adaptations of vocal, instrumental and orchestral music, demonstrating the unique and rich sonorities created by eight cellos.

OLIVER TWIST – RED EARTH THEATRE THURSDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2PM £8 (£7) £28 family of 4 The Remarkable Tale of Oliver Twist for children and families presented in the style of Victorian

music hall, with speciality acts and variety entertainments, Red Earth’s production brings Oliver’s story vividly to life for children and grown-ups. Recommended 8+ years Suitable 6+ years Sign Language Integrated

KASAI MASAI FRIDAY 18 MARCH 7.30PM £14 (£12) £40 family Kasai Masai’s music reflects their journey from the rural to urban, performing music which has been passed on from generation to generation combined with their own contemporary style. Kasai Masai’s original compositions have moved beyond traditional expectations of Congolese music with their galloping rhythms, strong melodies, passionate beats, swinging guitars, moving saxophone.

9 19

Back by popular demand

JOHN HIGHTON