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A devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire has been announced in the Autumn statement, which could see existing money and power move from central government to local decisionmakers. The proposed deal is the most ambitious available.
The proposal details the creation of a separate body called a Mayoral County Combined Authority (MCCA). This level of deal would be chaired by an elected official Mayor who Greater Lincolnshire residents would elect.
The next step is for North East Lincolnshire Council to hold a Full Council meeting when all elected members will vote on the proposal and that it should go out to public consultation. This meeting will take place at 7pm on Thursday 30th November.
Similar meetings will take place in North Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire and providing all are agreed a public consultation will begin almost immediately.
Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Deal Proposal
The proposal explains the powers, funding and flexibilities required to address long term challenges and deliver on opportunities across Greater Lincolnshire. It supports levelling up across the area with a focus improving the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people who live and work in Greater Lincolnshire. It would see:
- Local decisions and long term investment in infrastructure to turbo charge business growth and tackle low business productivity, particularly in key sectors that create high wage, high skills jobs that boost living standards
- Long term strategic planning and investment to protect our environment and unlock high quality housing in our communities that meets the needs of younger workforce and supports those in later life
- Local commissioning of high quality skills, training and pathways to attract and retain younger workers, meet the significant skills needs of our key industries and capitalise on economic opportunity through better alignment of skills, employment, and career opportunities across Greater Lincolnshire
- A stronger voice regionally and nationally to make the case for more investment, to work closely with government on Greater Lincolnshire’s priorities and to deliver on the potential of the area from the Humber to The Wash and new green jobs
- Managing water as an asset, to mitigate the threat of coastal erosion and flooding, and meet the area’s unique demands for water to support growth in agriculture and innovations in manufacturing and carbon capture.
Investing in Greater Lincolnshire
- £24 million per annum for 30 years to invest in infrastructure and skills development totalling £720m.
- Multi year transport budget with greater flexibility to spend the money on local priorities.
- Funding for adult education to prioritise spending on the needs of people and businesses rather than national priorities.
- One off £28.4m capital investment in Greater Lincolnshire’s priorities.
Turbo charging business growth
- Long term funding of the infrastructure that key local business needs to grow and create jobs.
- Designating a key route network to speed up the movement of goods and passengers through and around Greater Lincolnshire.
- Government, research and industry brought together to boost business innovation that leads to more high skill high wage jobs.
- A new approach to managing water that supports local business needs and protects communities and business from flooding.
High quality skills and jobs
- Careers support that showcases the great opportunities in Greater Lincolnshire and helps people to get a high skill wage high wage job here.
- Training in higher-level skills delivered in Greater Lincolnshire to boost access to high wage jobs in our growth sectors.
- The adult education budget invested in courses that help people to achieve a fulfilling future and deliver the skills that our local businesses need to innovate and expand.
- Provide extra help to those young people that need it the most, including help for care leavers to get a job.
Unlocking housing through enhanced infrastructure
- Investing in high quality homes, locations and services to retain a younger workforce and support those in later life.
- Investment from Homes England to bring forward the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of local communities.
- Supporting regeneration of areas, providing sustainable and affordable housing solutions for our future workforce.
- A single Local Transport Authority to develop public transport improvements that connect people with homes, work, leisure and learning.
A stronger voice for our area
- A new Mayor, elected by residents to champion the needs of the area and to make a strong case to the Government for more investment and to pilot new ideas in Greater Lincolnshire.
- A Combined County Authority providing local accountability, transparency and capacity to use key growth levers such as transport, skills and economic development.
- Enhanced working relationships with government departments to protect our coastline, natural and historic environment and boost tourism.
- A new role leading the national debate on transport for rural communities to address challenges across ours and other areas.
Delivering our potential – Humber to Wash
- Decarbonise the UK’s largest industrial estuary and deliver green jobs across Greater Lincolnshire in carbon capture and storage, nuclear fusion, water management and energy distribution
- National recognition for the UK Food Valley supporting a new generation of high skill jobs and businesses across the food chain.
- Maximising the potential of the Humber Freeport to create jobs.
- Improved transport links across Greater Lincolnshire and provide a trade corridor to the East Midlands freeport and beyond.
What is devolution and how does it work?
Devolution sees central Government transfer powers and money to regions across the country. This allows people who know their areas best to decide where money is spent.
This is already happening in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, the Tees Valley and more recently, North Yorkshire. Devolution involves the creation of combined authorities – legal bodies that bring councils together to decide on agreed issues that cross boundaries.
Does this mean a merger of councils?
No. The three councils (Lincolnshire County Council and North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire Councils) and the seven district councils (East and West Lindsey, North and South Kesteven, Boston Borough Council, City of Lincoln Council and South Holland District Council) will work together with a mayor on projects and schemes which cross traditional council boundaries.
So, what is different and how would this improve things in Greater Lincolnshire?
A new set up would grow over time. For example, a deal in the first year would see money and control handed down in areas such as transport, skills and training, homes and communities, economic growth, and the environment. That will expand as the deal matures with more control of finances and power agreed with Government.
How does a combined authority work?
A combined authority has a board made up of representatives from councils, representatives from business and the Police and Crime Commissioner to ensure a fair allocation of funding. This is more efficient than 10 different councils having to go to 20 different Government departments.
What does an elected mayor have to do with all of this?
The best deals come with a mayor – it is the very best way to ensure greater control over future local decisions and brings with it the most power and most money because it brings with it the greatest accountability. This person would be elected on four-year terms and be accountable to residents and ensure a stronger voice locally, nationally and globally for Greater Lincolnshire.
An elected mayor is not a replacement for the civic mayors or chairs, which are ceremonial roles.
Will this mean extra bureaucracy and higher costs to taxpayers?
No. It will bring more money and power to Greater Lincolnshire.
Could deals be scrapped if the Government changes?
Setting up a combined authority requires legislation to be passed.
Part of any deal would commit the Government legally to longer-term funding provision, including a 30-year investment funding allocation. Both leading parties have also committed to the principle of devolution.
What happens next?
The three councils will approve the deal and the proposal ahead of the formal consultation which is scheduled to last eight weeks.
North East Lincolnshire Council has scheduled a Full Council Meeting for Thursday 30 December, when the council will be formerly asked to vote on proposed deal and that it is put out to public consultation.
People will be able to access the deal in full, the proposal and further information about the impact on the councils’ website.
A series of events are scheduled to take place across the area too. If the councils approve the proposal, residents can go along to find out more.
Further details about the consultation will be published.
The Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council
Councillor Phillip Jackson gives his news on the Government’s proposed deal announcement.
Timeline
Wednesday, 22nd November: Proposed Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Deal announced in the Government’s Autumn statement.
Thursday 30th November: North East Lincolnshire Council Full Council Meeting to vote. https://democracy.nelincs.gov.uk/meetings/special-council/
Friday 1st December & Monday 4th December: Similar meetings at North Lincolnshire unitary authority and Lincolnshire County Council.
Early December: If the three Full Council meetings approve the proposed deal then consultation with Greater Lincolnshire’s 1.1million residents will begin.
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