Consultation opens on Local Government Reorganisation proposals
A final opportunity to comment on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation across Greater Lincolnshire opened on Thursday, February 5 with the launch of the Government's statutory consultation on the various proposals.
Over seven weeks, up to March 26, responses are welcomed from residents, businesses, parish and town councils, and wider stakeholders – as well as statutory consultees – in response to questions on the suitability of each of the proposals put forward by existing councils within the area.
The consultation asks respondents how they think the four distinct proposals meet each of the key criteria, set by government, for establishing fewer larger unitary councils responsible for all local government functions in the future.
Currently there are 10 councils across Greater Lincolnshire – one county council, seven district councils and two existing small unitary councils for North and North East Lincolnshire. On February 5 last year, Government invited each of them to suggest a new approach for how fewer councils could best serve Greater Lincolnshire’s 1.1m people across a 2,700 sq mile area, each delivering the full spectrum of council services for their respective area.
Now it is inviting specific named organisations and agencies to give their view; and also opening up the consultation to public response.
All of the proposals and supporting appendices plus an overview of the LGR process can be found at www.greaterlincolnshireLGRhub.org
Printed copies of each proposal, plus appendices, will be available to view at all main libraries and council offices across Greater Lincolnshire. And whilst it is intended that most responses are made online, a limited number of paper copies of the consultation will also be available at those locations.
The consultation will close at 11:59pm on March 26.
Following this, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government will make a decision on the way ahead. It is anticipated that this may be announced by July, with a view to the new council structures taking effect from April 2028.
North Kesteven District Council Leader Cllr Richard Wright said: “It is essential that the Government decision-makers know the views of the people who will be most affected by this process, and this consultation is the way to do that.
“This is the biggest change to the structure of local councils in more than 50 years. It will mean the end of North Kesteven District Council and all of Lincolnshire’s councils as we’ve known them, but in presenting opportunity to do things differently, it brings opportunity to do things better.
“Through our proposal – made jointly with South Kesteven District Council and called BEST4GreaterLincolnshire with good reason, sound evidential basis and extensive public input – we’re striving to keep local government as local as we can, as closely connected as possible to the communities it serves, and able to operate at the most effective and efficient scale that drives the improvements, opportunities and economic growth the Government wants to see.
“With that in mind I encourage everyone to use this once-in-a-generation opportunity to have your say on what size of council you think is best for the services you receive from your councils, both now and for decades to come.”
Further detail on the BEST4GreaterLincolnshire proposal can be found at: www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/Best4GreaterLincolnshire
In total, six proposals were put forward, comprising four distinct geographical configurations.
They variously suggest two, three or four councils, instead of ten; some suggesting continuation of the three existing North, North East and Lincolnshire County councils in their current form; others with changes within the Lincolnshire county area only; and one suggesting complete change across the whole Greater Lincolnshire area.
Government wants people to say how they think each proposal best meets its criteria by responding to seven questions on a scale of agreement/disagreement, followed by the opportunity to add free text on those choices.
These questions cover what it refers to as ‘sensible geographies and economic areas’, ability ‘to deliver the outcomes they describe’, to ‘enable stronger community engagement and give the opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment’, being of a’ right size to be efficient, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks’, capable of delivering ‘high quality, sustainable public services’, ‘informed by local views and will meet local needs,’ and ‘support devolution arrangements’.
Residents of North Kesteven can find in their forthcoming NewsNK a summary overview of the four proposals impacting most on the district area. The full detail can be found in the proposals accessed via www.greaterlincolnshireLGRhub.org and at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/LGR