Major commemorations are planned for the unveiling of the statue of Margaret Thatcher, which South Kesteven District Council expects will attract international attention.

To help facilitate the event, SKDC is being asked to 'underwrite' the event to make everything run smoothly, as third party fundraising takes place to fund the event and related installation costs.

Cabinet is asked to: "Approve a budget allocation from the Local Priorities Reserve and authorise expenditure of up to £100k to underwrite the statue unveiling event and any consequential works. Any fundraising from the public, businesses and others will go towards funding this budget allocation."

As yet, due to the pandemic, the long-awaited unveiling has been delayed, with a council report simply talking of it taking place in '2021'.

At present, with central government talking of various lockdowns until Easter, this suggests the event would not take place until late Spring at the earliest.

SKDC has been working with the Grantham Community Heritage Association (Grantham Museum) and The Public Memorials Appeal on a project to deliver and install a statue of the late Baroness Margaret Thatcher.

The £300,000 statue was commissioned and funded by The Public Memorials Appeal and is due to be unveiled on St Peter's Hill, where a plinth has already been erected. Previously, the bronze statue was due to be erected in London.

Cabinet next week is asked to approve an external organisation is recruited, to coordinate the unveiling, including event management, communications and fundraising campaign.

A report prepared for the cabinet meeting said: "The unveiling of the statue provides an opportunity for Grantham's community to celebrate its heritage.

"The event will be used to promote 'Inspirational Women of South Kesteven' including Edith Smith who served in Grantham as the first female warranted police officer in the country and Harriet Arbuthnot, close friend and advisor of the Duke of Wellington when he was Prime Minister between 1828-1830."

The report continued: "The statue is expected to attract many visitors to the area which will increase Grantham and South Kesteven's status as a destination for tourism with the associated benefits that brings.

"An increase in visitor numbers to the area will boost the local economy and benefit our local shops and businesses.

"The interest from visitors to the area will support Grantham Museum and enable them to develop their permanent Margaret Thatcher exhibition which already attracts thousands of people each year.

"InvestSK is keen to work closely to use the statue and unveiling to attract inward investment and to promote the plans and benefits from the Future High Streets Fund initiative.

"InvestSK has also developed a film to celebrate 'Inspirational Women of South Kesteven' which complements any wider community legacy work.

"The unveiling event is expected to attract a high level of national and potentially international media attention which will provide many opportunities for the Council and InvestSK to showcase and promote the District."

The report said there would be costs associated with such a major event but it said: "This has to be balanced against the potential benefit of commemorating one of the most famous people to have come from Grantham, and the opportunity for the statue and unveiling event to attract global attention.

"It is proposed that an external organisation is engaged to oversee the unveiling, including planning the event, coordinating event logistics, handle stakeholder management and manage communications.

It further said: "There is an element of cost to hold any successful large scale event which will also include essential elements to ensure that security and public safety is maintained. This will include the provision of essential logistical equipment and personnel for the event such as barriers, stewarding and medical support.

"The Council intends to launch a community and business fundraising appeal to secure contributions to fund the event. This will be planned and managed by an external organisation who will prepare the approach and methodology for the fundraising appeal."

The report added SKDC could have installed the statue with little or no event to support it. But even a 'low key' event would still incur costs for a safe and well run event.

"However, the unveiling event is likely to attract a high level of interest from both the general public and the media. It is anticipated that a large number of people will want to attend.

"In order to fully maximise the opportunities that both the statue and the event will bring, it is proposed that the Council ensures adequate funding for the event to celebrate the occasion and maximise the promotional opportunities that the event will bring for Grantham and the District."

Grantham councillor Ray Wootten told Nub News: "The installation of a statue to recognise that Margaret Thatcher was Britain's first female Prime Minister who came from Grantham for this fact alone the people of Grantham should support this.

"The unveiling of this statue will put Grantham on the world stage and enhance Grantham Tourist offer and bring in many extra visitors to our town.

"Of course there is a risk that someone could damage the statue, but having visited Huddersfield and seen the statue of former Prime Minister Harold Wilson this has not been vandalised despite Labours record at the time.

"It sits outside the railway station to remind visitors he was a son of Huddersfield, the same respect should be shown to Grantham's famous daughter."