Agenda item

Members considered a report which provided an update to Council on the latest position regarding progress with plans for Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Lincolnshire.

Members were reminded that on 7July, Council had resolved to undertake supportive engagement with other local authorities in developing proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Greater Lincolnshire.  At that point in time there were four proposals in development for the area.

Since then, Members were advised the number of proposals in development had increased, as detailed in the report.

All final proposals had to be submitted to Government no later than 28 November 2025.  The report provided Members with the most up-to-date position as work continued across Greater Lincolnshire to prepare for LGR and  primarily focused on three areas:

1.          Latest Government communication and guidance;

2.          Engagement with other local authorities and public sector partners;

3.          Public engagement, including early findings from the Council’s own ongoing engagement exercise

The update ensured Members had all the latest information available to them to support ongoing considerations of which of the proposals, currently in development best met the needs of West Lindsey residents and businesses, based on the criteria set out in the Statutory Invitation, namely:

·             A proposal should seek to achieve for the whole of the area concerned the establishment of a single tier of local government.

·            Unitary local government must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks.

·            Unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to citizens.

·            Proposals should show how councils in the area have sought to work together in coming to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views.

·            New unitary structures must support devolution arrangements

·            New unitary structures should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.

Members advised a further paper would be presented to Council on 10 November for decision on West Lindsey’s position ahead of the submission deadline. 

Following a thorough introduction by Officers, debate ensued.  A number of Members spoke of their displeasure at LGR, and of their belief that removing a Council like West Lindsey would not drive community benefit, with media speculation about the cost savings and change in Minister, Members questioned whether LGR as a policy could be scrapped, but heard the Government were still committed to LGR and the timetable which had previously been published and outlined in the report.

There was much debate across the Chamber about the likelihood of LGR delivering for local communities, with powers taken further away from local community representatives and creating a greater democratic deficit.

The difference between LGR and devolution were clarified to the Chamber.  Members also spoke of how Town and Parishes had not been factored into the equation, acknowledging how in rural communities, they were large in number and provided a number of services.

Following much debate with very little support for the merits of LGR, having been proposed and seconded, on being put to the vote it was: -

RESOLVED that the latest update on plans for Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Lincolnshire be received, and the current position in respect of:

i)           Latest Government guidance, correspondence and timelines;

ii)          West Lindsey engagement and collaboration in the development of final proposals across Greater Lincolnshire;

iii)         Public engagement across Greater Lincolnshire, including early findings from West Lindsey’s engagement exercise;

be noted in particular.