Councils to take next step in plan for devolution

Greater power for Lincolnshire could take a step closer this month as councils discuss plans to consult the public on devolution.

In March, councils in the Greater Lincolnshire area signed a headline deal with the Government to have powers, resources and responsibilities devolved to the area.
The first deal includes a single pot of £450m of investment funds (£15m per year for 30 years) in addition to these devolved powers.
The government has made clear that a Mayoral Combined Authority would be required in order to implement this deal.
Members of all ten councils involved, including South Holland District Council, will now see more detailed proposals outlining the governance structure and functions that a mayoral combined authority could have, and will be asked to approve a public consultation on these proposals, which would begin no later than July 4, 2016.
South Holland District Council met yesterday, with the other councils – Boston Borough, City of Lincoln, East Lindsey, North Kesteven, West Lindsey, South Kesteven, Lincolnshire County Council and North East Lincolnshire meeting throughout the rest of May.
The public consultation will seek feedback on the proposals, and the results will accompany the governance proposals that will be submitted to the Secretary of State in late August.
All council leaders have agreed that the administration costs of setting up the mayoral combined authority will be kept to a minimum with existing resources from within the councils being used wherever possible.
In announcing the devolution deal earlier this year, leader of Lincolnshire County Council Martin Hill said: “It would mean that we’ll have much more control of our own future, rather than letting Whitehall bureaucrats decide what’s best for us.
“Besides strengthening local democracy, the new arrangements could really unlock the economic potential of the wider Lincolnshire area.
“In practical terms, we anticipate a boost to the local economy of as much as £8bn, plus 29,000 new jobs and 100,000 extra homes.”