This article was published on May 27, 2016 and information contained within may now be out of date.
Plans to consult on proposed devolution arrangements – including a directly elected Mayor – have been supported by East Lindsey District Council.
Devolved powers from Central Government would give Greater Lincolnshire the ability to influence the major issues affecting the area – including infrastructure, flood risk management, housing, skills, and economic development.Councillor Craig Leyland,
Leader, East Lindsey District Council
In March this year, councils in the Greater Lincolnshire area – including ELDC – signed a headline deal with the Government to have powers, resources and responsibilities devolved to the area. In addition, the first deal includes a single pot of £450 million of investment funds – £15m per year for 30 years.
It has been made clear by the Government that a Mayoral Combined Authority would be needed to implement the deal.
All councils in Greater Lincolnshire are now considering detailed proposals to outline the governance structure and functions of a Mayoral Combined Authority and residents and interested parties will be able to take part in a public consultation on these arrangements from late June.
Leader of East Lindsey District Council, Councillor Craig Leyland, said: “Devolved powers from Central Government would give Greater Lincolnshire the ability to influence the major issues affecting the area – including infrastructure, flood risk management, housing, skills, and economic development.
“So far the Government has been very impressed with the unity shown by the Councils involved in the proposed Devolution Deal, all of which have one vote each in the decisions a Combined Authority would take.”
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 later in the year. All council leaders have agreed that the administration costs of setting up a Mayoral Combined Authority would be kept to a minimum with existing resources from within the councils being used wherever possible.
Decisions on the next stages of the devolution proposition will come back to East Lindsey District Council in October.
