I have been fortunate to spend time with family and friends over the Christmas period, and I hope this has been the case for others too.
There have been plenty of issues coming to the fore which have disrupted life during 2022, and the effects will be seen well into 2023 and beyond. The shock of the Ukraine invasion reminds us how fragile peacetime can be, and the effects on energy and food prices continues to hit hard across Europe.
As individuals deal with increasing costs, so too does the government and local councils. I hope to see the support that has been offered for those hardest hit by price rises, continue.
We have achieved a lot during 2022, starting the year progressing some of our major highways projects, including the northern section of the Spalding Relief Road and our continuing battle against potholes following the drought conditions of the summer months.
We will be continuing our efforts in 2023 to get the government to reinstate our highways funding so that we can bring more Lincolnshire roads up to standard.
We have also carried out extensive essential works on the A17, including the Cross Keys Swing Bridge and most recently, we opened the second phase of the Grantham Southern Relief Road.
In 2023 we will continue work on this and other major road projects and will see us begin the year with major improvements around the A16 around Boston and Spalding, reducing congestion for local residents and businesses who rely on it.
Away from roads, we will be continuing to deliver good social care services for adults and children despite seeing an increase in demand for these services. We have recently secured £3m for a range of vital services for those who have experienced domestic abuse.
Our Special Schools improvement programme continues and 2023 will see the reconstruction of St Lawrence School in Horncastle, providing fantastic new facilities for primary and secondary pupils with learning difficulties.
We are committed to support people through the cost of living challenges and continue to administer the Household Support Fund and our own Holiday Food and Activities programme for families most in need.
Thanks to £4m from the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund new courses for adults to improve numeracy and support their career aspirations are now running across the county.
We remain committed to growing Lincolnshire’s economy. With the opening of key buildings at the Food Enterprise Zone in South Lincolnshire, we are helping the county to be at the forefront of food growing and production.
I hope that 2023 will be the year that we progress our hopes for devolution in Greater Lincolnshire. Along with North and North East Lincolnshire councils, we will be talking to government about more powers and funding for our area.
Mainly this will be for projects that boost our economy – getting the right training and infrastructure so residents can get high skilled jobs and businesses have what they need to thrive.
In the face of continued national and international uncertainties, our commitment to local people remains, and I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2023.