Timeline for shake-up of councils in ‘crisis’ revealed

Ministers have set out a timeline for the ‘once in a generation’ shake-up of Lincolnshire’s councils.

The government is launching a large-scale reorganisation which will eliminate two-tier government – which the county currently has – in favour of ‘super councils’ which deliver all services.

The leaders of Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire have expressed interest in merging together.

They have missed out on the first wave of regions to be turned into unitary councils.

Jim McMahon, the Minister for Local Government, has asked to see early plans by March 21, with full proposals to be submitted by November 28.

In a letter sent to councils, he gives a broad range of options on how councils could reorganise themselves.

The Greater Lincolnshire would likely be two split into two unitary councils due to its size and one-million-strong population.

Mr McMahon said in a letter to local leaders: “This is a once in a generation opportunity to work together to put local government in your area on a more sustainable footing, creating simpler structures for your area that will deliver the services that local people and businesses need and deserve.”

He said that many councils were in ‘crisis’ and promised: “This new government will not waste this opportunity to build empowered, simplified, resilient and sustainable local government for your area that will increase value for money for council taxpayers.”

County council elections will go ahead as planned on May 1, along with voting for the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.

If any reorganisation is agreed by Parliament, ‘shadow’ unitary councils would be set up as soon as possible to prepare for the transition.

The government says that the shake-up would simplify the confusing layers of local government, and potentially save £2bn.

Currently the district and borough councils carry out services like bin collections, housing and managing leisure facilities.

Meanwhile, the county council is responsible for education, roads and social care.

Local councillors have been divided on the merits of reorganisation, with Lincoln council recently passing a motion saying it didn’t want to be swallowed up by a county-wide ‘mega council.’