Issue - meetings

Members considered a report, introduced by the Chief Executive which presented the findings of the Lincolnshire Devolution consultation exercise.  The report also highlighted the proposed amendments to the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Deal, as a result of the consultation findings.

Section 3 had the overall findings arising from the consultation with the table at 3.5 showing West Lindsey specific responses.

It had been mentioned by the Chairman that one category question, relating to governance or the mayoral question, appeared to be missing from the table of West Lindsey specific data, apologies were offered, and the Chief Executive undertook to circulate this data to Members.   

Based on the consultation, there were a few amendments the constituent members had sought and approved, and these were detailed in Section 4 of the report and highlighted and summarised to Members.

Debate ensued and whilst Members commented on apathy around the mayoral proposals, given the length of time discussion had been ongoing, with the consultation now complete and data presented it was proposed the report be accepted.

The Leader of the Council expressed concern in a general sense around apathy to consultations, using the Devolution consultation exercise as an example to highlight his concerns, noting that only circa 4,000 responses had been received throughout Greater Lincolnshire. Despite apathy towards Mayoral proposals, they remained within the proposal, something he considered further fed apathy towards completing consultations.

From a West Lindsey perspective, the Leader wanted to ensure all consultations in the future were engaging and meaningful and when people took time to respond their comments were taken on board.

Devolution in Lincolnshire had many consequences and had communities understood this better, it was suggested more would have engaged.  The Leader was of the view that in years to come when communities understood the impact of the decision, the additional layers of Local Government it created and the cost, there would be public upset.

Bringing comments to a close, having previously highlighted a West Lindsey specific statistic having been omitted from the report, the Chairman advised the meeting that Lincolnshire-wide support for a Mayor had been 38%, West Lindsey specific that figure had been 40%.  It was further clarified that that was 40% of those responding to the survey as opposed to 40% of all residents.

With no requirement to vote on recommendations one and two, Members DULY NOTED the findings of the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution consultation exercise and the proposed amendments to the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Deal, which had been approved by the three constituent authorities.

With recommendation three having been proposed and seconded, on being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED that West Lindsey District Council continue to engage with the implementation of devolution arrangements.