Devolution event at Springfields

A public event to discuss the proposed ‘devolution’ which includes having an elected mayor for Greater Lincolnshire will be held in Spalding later this month.

It comes amid criticisms of the devolution itself.
Lincolnshire County Council, which is pushing for the link up with North and North East Lincolnshire County Councils, is putting on 22 consultation events, though only one is in South Holland.
It will take place from 11am to 2pm on January 20 at Springfields Events Centre.
It’s all part of an eight-week consultation period.
People can also respond to the consultation online, though some councillors have expressed concerns over the questions being asked.
Opponents have questioned why at no point the online consultation doesn’t ask if the respondent wants an extra tier of government added on top of the current tiers we have of county council, district council and parish councils.
Independent county councillor Phil Dilks expressed a desire for more involvement from councillors in the creation of the consultation questions.
“I would have welcomed an opportunity for councillors to be involved in writing these questions,” he said. “They are not the questions I would have asked,
Coun Dilks said he preferred directly querying residents about their interest in an additional layer of government, a crucial aspect he believes is currently overlooked in the survey.
The representative for Deeping St James ward extended his critique to the scope of the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal.
He expressed concerns that the deal encompasses too broad an area, leading to potential disadvantages for his constituents.
He pointed out that investment in distant locations like Immingham or Brigg might not yield benefits for residents in the south of the county.
“When you share that money out, it’s not a lot. I don’t see very much of it coming to the Deep South,” he said. “I see the money going primarily to the south bank of the Humber and the deprived coastal towns along the east coast.”
A spokesman for Lincolnshire County Council, stated: “The events are a great opportunity to drop in and find out more about the landmark deal, which would bring £720m in extra cash, new jobs, and a host of new powers to the area, supercharging skills and creating game-changing opportunities for young people in the process.”
Coun Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “We really value the opportunity to talk to residents face to face, so these events are a great way for people to find out more about the difference devolution could make in their community.
“There will be local councillors and staff there to answer any questions, and you can have your say by completing the devolution survey.”