Council Matters: Interesting responses to idea of having a mayor

There has been a lot of interest recently around the opportunities of a Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority and the additional powers and funding coming to the County from Central Government.

Residents received an invitation to give their views in a recent consultation and with the results now published, it is interesting to see what the County thought.

There was an overwhelming support for Lincolnshire to move forward with a Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority with responses to the following questions:

We should continue to pursue these extra powers and funding for the Greater Lincolnshire area – Positive: 59.3 per cent, Negative: 37.5 per cent

The ten councils should be looking to work together to prioritise and deliver these activities, (economic growth, infrastructure and housing) across the Greater Lincolnshire area – Positive: 71.3 per cent, Negative: 24.7 per cent

We should be pursuing further funding (in addition to that within the proposed Devolution Deal) for economic growth, infrastructure and housing, as a priority for Greater Lincolnshire – Positive: 77.2 per cent, Negative: 19.5 per cent

Setting up a Mayoral Combined Authority – Positive: 46.7 per cent, Negative: 48.6 per cent

Combining the role of Mayor and the Police and Crime Commissioner – Positive: 38.1 per cent, Negative: 55.6 per cent

Overall there was a mixed view regarding the Combined Authority Board being chaired by a Mayor with 46.7 per cent positive with 48.6 per cent negative.

However, of the nine local authorities contributing to the overall Lincolnshire view, four areas were in support of a mayoral combined authority with five negative.

None of the authorities’ consultation replies were in support of combining the role with that of the PCC.

Those authorities with positive responses for a Mayoral Combined Authority were:

South Holland District Council Positive 48 per cent, Negative 44 per cent

North East Lincolnshire Positive 50 per cent, Negative 46 per cent

North Lincolnshire Positive 64 per cent, Negative 93 per cent

West Lindsey District council Positive 49 per cent, Negative 47 per cent

Full details of the whole of the results are available at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk

The results of the consultation have been sent to the Secretary of State who will review them along with the comments made and respond back to the ten authorities.

The authorities will then ask each of the full councils to vote on the way forward.

South Holland will be voting at the full council meeting on October 26 by which time we shall know how each council wishes to proceed.

In view of the small majority against forming a Mayoral Combined Authority and a strong majority to proceed to forming a Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority, we have asked the Secretary of State to discuss options to electing a Mayor to chair the Board.

 

by Coun Malcolm Chandler
Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services
South Holland District Council