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Rob's Monthly Update March 2026
News from County Councillor Rob Kendrick
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Council Budget finally passed
After a marathon 8 hour meeting, the longest and most chaotic full council I have ever attended, the council budget and council tax rate was passed. The council was in a very fortunate position having had a big influx of funding such as the extra £36 million from government giving the council “headroom” of £50 million. This position meant that in fact a 0% tax rate could have been set. There was a proposal to do this which I supported but instead the Reform controlling group decided to set the increase at 2.99%.
Despite having more money in the bank there have been cuts to budgets meaning, for example, road projects have been cancelled. On the subject of roads I supported a proposal to put £10 million from a “rainy day” fund into roads maintenance. Looking at the state of our roads and bearing in mind this was affordable, I was disappointed that it was also thrown out. Another announcement of the stopping of the dementia support service has caused concern. On a technical note all the proposals which I supported were submitted prior to the meeting to the council’s senior finance officer for checking that they were affordable. This he confirmed.
Seeing Volunteers in action
This week I visited the Highways volunteers to see them at their latest project in our area. They were painting the doors to Walcott Church and the weather was kind to them so they were enjoying a break from their usual work of managing traffic lights!
Those potholes!
There have been a number of cases where either work has not been done to make a permanent fix or where really massive potholes have appeared. When made aware of them I take up the issue directly with Highways. For example, on the B1188 in Waneham Hollow near Metheringham patched holes reopened so I raised this with Highways and also the serious pothole on the B1189 between Metheringham and Martin Moor. At the time of writing I have been assured a proper fix will be made in Waneham Hollow. I saw last night that traffic lights were on the B1189 to facilitate repairs.
Some good news and not so good news
Continuing on the subject of our roads I asked the lead councillor for Highways at the Council’s Question time recently about Martin village High Street. I wanted assurance that the proposed resurfacing was still in the programme. The good news is that it is, the not so good news is that work will commence in May 2027. In the meantime intervention work will take place. I have also raised concerns regarding Church Lane in Timberland.
New look for Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
We are used to seeing the iconic aircraft from the BBMF flying but little known, is that the Visitor Centre along with the historic Lincoln Castle is a LCC managed facility . The newly refurbished Visitor Centre keeps Lincolnshire's proud aviation heritage alive and honours those who served. RAF Coningsby and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is celebrating a milestone; 50 years since BBMF arrived at the Lincolnshire base on 1 March 1976. The occasion was marked with a formal ceremony to unveil the newly refurbished BBMF Visitor Centre.
The refurbished Visitor Centre will offer visitors an enhanced experience, showcasing the history and heritage of the BBMF — often described as the 'jewel in the crown' of the Royal Air Force — and the iconic aircraft it maintains and flies in honour of those who served.
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Rob Kendrick County Councillor for Metheringham Rural