Lincolnshire council leaders are pushing to streamline local governance by merging ten councils into two, aiming for efficiency and better services.
Lincolnshire: The leaders of three councils in Lincolnshire are suggesting a big change. They want to cut down the current ten councils to just two. This idea comes after a government call for local government reorganization.
Cllrs Philip Jackson, Rob Waltham, and Martin Hill have reached out to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. They’re interested in making Lincolnshire more efficient by having two main councils instead of ten.
If this plan goes through, it would mean getting rid of all district councils. It could also merge the two northern councils into one. They’re even open to delaying local elections scheduled for 2025 to make this happen.
For North East Lincolnshire, they’re asking to consider postponing elections in 2026 too. This would be after some boundary changes if the two-council plan moves forward.
The government has been pushing for changes to simplify council structures. They want to eliminate the two-tier system where district councils exist alongside county councils. Councils were invited to submit their proposals by January 10.
The leaders are eager to work with the government on this. However, they know that Greater Lincolnshire isn’t currently a priority for these changes.
Cllr Jackson mentioned that their past efforts have led to positive outcomes, like the creation of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority. He believes this momentum can continue with the new recommendations.
Cllr Waltham, who is running for Mayor, emphasized the need for efficient services that benefit local residents. He sees this as a chance to bring better jobs and transport options to Lincolnshire.
Cllr Hill added that even though they don’t meet the criteria for priority changes, they feel ready to push for reorganization. They believe moving to a unitary model could save money and protect essential services.
