THE website of North East Lincolnshire Council is being improved – and local people’s views are sought on the new designs.

The changes are being made to make the website more focused on its users’ needs, making it easier for people to find the information and services they require.

A number of examples of the new page layouts are available to view on the council’s existing website as part of a consultation on the new designs. To have your say on the proposals, complete the online questionnaire before Friday, September 30.

From next Thursday, free parking will be allowed for some patients, notably cancer patients and those who have to attend Grimsby’s Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital regularly.

Parents staying overnight with poorly children will also be given parking concessions, but the free parking for some patients, including those with long term conditions such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes and heart failure, will be balanced by a general increase in parking charges, and a reduction in the free parking period from 40 to 20 minutes.

The normal tariff will change, offering free parking for the first 20 minutes, compared to the present 40 minutes, and the cost of parking for up to two hours will increase from £1.50 to £1.70. Two to four hours will cost £2.70 instead of £2.40, and over four hours will cost 30p more, at £3.30.

Parking charges will rise again by around 10% the following year and by another 10% the year after. Weekly, monthly or three-monthy tickets will still be available at concessionary rates.

Audrey Bradford, general manager for Macmillan Cancer Support in the East Midlands and Northern England, said:

“We are delighted Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is allowing free car parking for cancer patients.

“Macmillan Cancer Support is campaigning on this issue across England – it’s wrong that cancer patients should have to fork out for parking just so they can get to their life-saving treatment.”

Nigel Myhill, said patients with long-term conditions would benefit. He said:

“It is the first review of car parking for two years and aims to provide a stable policy for the next three years. We will also continue to allow free parking for those droppingoff or picking up patients, if they do not need to park for a long period.

“And for those needing to use the facilities either for a week, or a month, a reduced price ticket can be purchased.”

North East Lincolnshire Council has a duty to communicate with and inform the public about its services and local democracy, and as such it is currently looking to improve its newsletter, Linc Up. You can help this review by taking part in this short survey.

You can access the survey here

Please submit your responses by September 5

Sports Lincs football tournament for children and young people on July 16.

Young people are being called on to put on their football boots and compete in a Sports Lincs seven-a-side football tournament at Bradley Pitches on Saturday, July 16.

There will be three different tournaments for children and young people of different age groups. These will be: age eight to 11; age 12 to 15; and age 16 to 19.

It costs £10 to enter a team, which must be paid on entry.

For more information, call Rob Allison, principal sports development officer, on (01472) 323347 or email rob.allison@nelincs.gov.uk

Learn how to give your style a vintage twist by attending a workshop with renowned vintage and alternative model Anna Fur Laxis on Wednesday, August 3.

The event will take place from 7pm until 9pm in the meeting room at Grant Thorold Library in Durban Road and will give the ladies chance to perfect retro hair and make-up techniques.

The techniques covered in the workshop will include: the one-minute perfect eyebrow secret, making eyes and lips ‘pop’, false eyelash application, how to create perfect eyeliner flicks, how to cheat your way to victory rolls, and using scarves, snoods and accessories!

Ellen Wright, librarian at Grant Thorold Library and co-organiser of the event, said: “Anna is famous for her distinctive pin-up style, based upon 1950s icon Bettie Page. The tips she will be passing on at the event will include how to perfect the hugely fashionable 1940s or 1950s pin-up look.

“As co-organiser, I’m hoping for a laid back, supportive and fun-filled girlie evening held in the lovely new library. I’m certain that Anna’s approachable manner and good humour, combined with her vast experience, should make it a very helpful and fun experience for everyone who attends.”

Those who attend will need to bring their own: free standing portable mirror, make up brushes, a light and dark eye shadow, eye liner (gel, liquid or cake), lipstick, foundation and blusher. If in doubt, bring your whole make up bag!

The workshop costs £25 per person, which includes false eyelashes and glitter sparkle goodies to take home. Advance booking is essential as places are limited.

For more information call Ellen at Grant Thorold Library on (01472) 323631 or email naughtysnappy@hotmail.co.uk

Following its closure on Wednesday, June 15, Cleethorpes Paddling Pool was repainted on Monday, June 27.

The paddling pool was closed as a precautionary measure as the paint used on the bottom of the pool was coming free on contact.

The paint will require seven days to cure and, weather permitting, the pool will be up and running again during the first week of July.

Best-selling local author Karen Maitland will be sharing the dark and wonderful secrets of medieval mystery and murder on Tuesday, July 5 as part of ‘Summer Murders in the Library’.

Karen has written three novels set in the middle ages: ‘Company of Liars’, ‘The Owl Killers’ and her latest book ‘The Gallows Curse’ which is out now.

She has also contributed to two ‘Medieval Murderers’ novels. The first, called “The Sacred Stone”, was written with fellow medieval crime writers Bernard Knight, Ian Morson, Susanna Gregory and Philip Gooden. Later this month, their next joint work called ‘Hill of Bones’ will also be released.

Karen’s talk will start at 7.30pm and tickets cost £2. For more information, visit www.karenmaitland.com

Upcoming events in the series include: ‘From Brighton Rock to Lock Stock’ : a talk about the British gangster in fiction and film followed by a ‘Write your own crime novel’ workshop on Tuesday, July 12, both with local author Nick Triplow; and ‘Murder in the book group’ a chance to talk about your favourite crime novel on Wednesday, August 3.

For more information or to book a place at any of the events, call Cleethorpes Library, on (01472) 323650.

IF you commit fraud you will be caught. That was the message from North East Lincolnshire Council as the third annual fraud report was presented to the Audit Committee on Thursday (June 23).

The report highlighted the measures in place to seek out fraud and the actions the council takes when fraud or misconduct is identified.

Covering the period April 2010 to March 2011, the report sets out the implementation of the council’s policy on dealing with those who try to steal public money, both from inside and outside of the organisation.

One of the major issues to combat is benefit fraud. The council uses data matching and shares information with partner organisations to identify potential fraudsters. For example, the Audit Commission coordinates the National Fraud Initiative (NFI) to find anomalies between records. And as a result of the 2008/09 NFI programme a number of cases were taken further in 2010/11.

Four housing benefit cases, all involving undeclared student loans, were identified for legal action, the first resulted in a prosecution while the rest are currently being prepared. Five claimants with undeclared pensions are under review and there are two ongoing investigations into claimants with undeclared earnings.

In addition, the NFI exercise identified anomalies in single person council tax discounts. This prompted the council to arrange its own investigation which recouped £274,763 of extra revenue.

In January 2011 the Audit Commission issued its 2010/11 NFI data matches and these are now under review by the council. There were 14,884 referrals issued, although only 1,328 of these were described as high quality matches recommended for follow up. From this there are 94 cases currently being investigated.

In 2010/11 the benefit fraud team completed 460 investigations, with over £700,000 of benefit identified as being incorrectly paid, including benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This is an increase of approximately £170,000 on 2009/10.

If you suspect someone is committing benefit or council tax fraud, call the hotline on (01472) 323334. Callers do not have to leave their name and all information received is treated in confidence. In 2010/11 there were 215 referrals to the hotline.

The Annual Fraud report also highlighted proactive reviews by internal audit into in-house council operations, which are susceptible to fraud. This included telephone usage by council officers, spot checks on portable equipment and the use of petty cash.

During these checks misuse of telephones was identified. While the average usage charges were low, there were some relatively high cost phones and these were reviewed. This led to the repayment of call charges and warnings to the staff concerned. Employees have since been reminded of the corporate policy in relation to the private use of council phones.

Human resources investigations carried out in 2010/11 resulted in four dismissals, four actions short of dismissal, two final written warnings, one written warning, four standard setting and the others are ongoing.

The council’s library service will be holding events during Dementia Awareness Week.

Dementia Awareness Week starts on Monday, July 4, and local people are being offered advice, support and the chance to reminisce at North East Lincolnshire Council’s libraries.

On Monday, July 4, the Alzheimer’s Society will be holding two drop-in sessions to give people the chance to find out more about dementia and receive help and advice.

These sessions will take place at Grimsby Central Library from 10am to 3pm and at Cleethorpes Library from 1.30pm to 3.30pm.

For more information or to book a one-to-one advice session, call (01472) 323620, visit www.alzheimers.org.uk or www.nelincs.gov.uk/art-culture-and-leisure/libraries.

Additionally, there will be a chance to share your memories of visits to the seaside with author and reminiscence facilitator, Chris Motley on Friday, July 8.

The session will take place from 10.30am at Cleethorpes Library and is free to attend. Tea and coffee will be available at 11.30am.

To book a place, call Cleethorpes Library on (01472) 323650.

The council’s library service has a new collection of books available for loan about a wide range of issues that affect families and their children, such as general parenting; children’s health; education and development; and activities that the whole family can enjoy together.

North East Lincolnshire Council’s library service has teamed up with the council’s family information service to provide a selection of books called ‘100+books4families’ to give parents and carers an insight into issues that matter to them.

Books in the collection cover a wide range of topics such as: general parenting; children’s health; education and development; and activities that the whole family can enjoy together.

Titles include: First Time Parent; The Crafty Kid; Good Night, Sleep Tight; Read With Me…. Again; Kids Cake and Party Food; Teenager Owner’s Manual; and Grandparents’ Handbook.

A full list of the titles available in the 100+books4families collection is available on the library service website: www.nelincs.gov.uk/libraries

The books are available to borrow free of charge and free internet access is also available in local libraries.

For more information, call Grimsby Central Library, on (01472) 323600 or the Family Information Services (FIS) helpline, on (01472) 323250 or 0800 18 303 17.