Have your say on Greater Lincolnshire Devolution

08/12/2023

Residents are being urged to have their say on a historic Greater Lincolnshire Devolution proposal, after an eight-week county-wide consultation launched this week. The landmark proposal, which would see GBP720m in extra cash, and new powers brought to Greater Lincolnshire, was approved at a full North Lincolnshire Council meeting on Monday 4 December. Greater Lincolnshire’s 1.1m residents now have the chance to have their say on the plans, by completing a survey on the Let’s Talk Lincolnshire website: www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk/devolution [1] or scanning the QR code below.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We really want residents to have their say on devolution and there will be plenty of opportunities to join the conversation, whether online or at in-person events over the next eight weeks, so please get involved and have your say on Greater Lincolnshire’s future. “Devolution is a huge opportunity to create new jobs, improve skills and training, supercharge investment in transport and roads and back our businesses to drive prosperity further and faster. “Not only would residents see huge amounts of cash flowing into Greater Lincolnshire every year, but Lincolnshire would also have the power, which has been held in London, to spend this cash to tackle the issues people want tackled in their communities.”

The benefits of devolution for Greater Lincolnshire include:

A Mayoral Investment Fund of GBP24 million per annum for 30 years to invest in infrastructure and skills development totalling GBP720m.
A one off GBP28.4m capital investment in Greater Lincolnshire’s priorities.
GBP2m capacity funding over three years.
GBP1m skills for job funding.
Local control over the Adult Education Budget from 2026.
A consolidated, multi-year transport fund, providing increased financial certainty.

Lincolnshire County Council and North East Lincolnshire Council also voted in favour of devolution plans in Full Council meetings last week. North East Lincolnshire Council backed the consultation last Thursday with Lincolnshire County Council doing so the following day. North East Lincolnshire Council Leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, said: “This is another important step in our journey towards devolution, which is set to drive forward the right decisions and growth for the people of North East Lincolnshire and the greater county.”

Lincolnshire County Council’s leader, Cllr Martin Hill, said: “We have negotiated an ambitious deal with the Government that will bring benefits to our residents for years to come, making sure we don’t get left behind. I hope that residents will take the time to understand what’s on offer and give their views as part of the consultation. “This is our opportunity to take more decisions locally, boost our economy and have a direct line to Government about what we need in our area.”

Following the consultation, further formal meetings will take place to assess the consultation results and put a recommendation to the Government.

If a decision is taken to move forward, a Mayoral Combined County Authority would be formed with the election for a Mayor in May 2025.

References

^ http://www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk/devolution (www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk)