BRIGG PEOPLE CAN HAVE THEIR SAY ON GREATER LINCOLNSHIRE DEVOLUTION

 

Just days after Brigg people voted on whether or not they wanted the United Kingdom to stay a member of the European Union, they are now being given the opportunity to have a say on how "Greater Lincolnshire" might be governed in the future. "Greater Lincolnshire" might be defined as the old county. How it was before local government reorganisation in 1974 created Humberside, later divided (on the south of the river) into the unitary council controlled North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. The old county, of course, ran from Stamford, in the south, right up to the Humber at Barton and Alkborough. And it included Lincoln, the county capital.

FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL

People in Greater Lincolnshire are being asked for their views on the creation of a mayoral combined authority with a directly elected mayor for the area.
Launched today (Monday 27 June) the consultation will run for six weeks, closing on 8 August at 5pm.
Ten local authorities, from the Humber to the Wash, have joined together to devolve some powers, responsibilities and funding from Government to Greater Lincolnshire. This means more decisions on public services would be made locally, rather than nationally.
If all ten councils sign up to this, some changes would happen. A 'mayoral combined authority' would be established. The authority would be made up of elected councillors from the ten councils and a representative from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.  The authority would be chaired by the directly elected mayor, chosen by Greater Lincolnshire residents.
The combined authority would not replace existing councils or affect the services they already provide. It would only be responsible for the new powers and funding devolved from central Government, which include transport, housing, skills-training and flood risk management.
Under the deal an additional £450m over the next 30 years (£15m per year) would be provided for investment in housing and infrastructure. It could also help to develop a better approach to skills training provision and criminal justice services in the area.
The consultation also seeks views from the community on whether, if a mayoral combined authority was established, they would want to see the role of mayor combined with that of Police and Crime Commissioner if it reduced administrative costs.
For the roles to be combined there would need to be a change made by Government to the Police and Crime Commissioner boundaries, as currently the Greater Lincolnshire area is served by both the Lincolnshire and Humberside commissioners.
We want your views on the scheme for the establishment of a mayoral combined authority for Greater Lincolnshire. 
Visit www.northlincs.gov.uk/devolution  to have your say or pick up a consultation form and read the supporting information at main council buildings, leisure centres, libraries, local links, community wellbeing hubs and cultural venues. Frequently asked questions, along with other useful information, are available online.
Baroness Liz Redfern (pictured), Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We have a great opportunity to be part of a major deal that would see more business opportunities, jobs, investment and new homes. It would mean additional money, greater powers and responsibilities coming to the Greater Lincolnshire area by all councils working together for the benefit of the region.
“For this to happen, a mayoral combined authority would need to be created overseen by a directly elected mayor. We are now asking for residents views on the scheme to help shape the way decisions are made in the future. Please make sure you share your views and complete the survey. It is vital that residents have their say on the proposals.
“The combined authority would be a greater force that would speed up decisions and deliver what is needed locally.”
The consultation closes on 8 August at 5pm. Responses will be reviewed before each council will then have to formally agree the deal later this year.

The councils are:

• North Lincolnshire Council (unitary)
• West Lindsey District Council
• North East Lincolnshire (unitary)
• Lincolnshire County 
• North Kesteven District Council
• Boston Borough 
• South Holland District Council
• South Kesteven District Council
• City of Lincoln 
• East Lindsey District