Discussions on devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire continue as leaders meet with MP responsible Dehenna Davison

Leaders from Lincolnshire’s seven district councils have met with a government Minister to discuss a potential devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire.

They say that the Government Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Devolution, Dehenna Davison MP, offered assurances that their perspectives would be considered in future discussions.

It comes after West Lindsey and Lincoln’s leaders had publicly expressed concern about the proposed deal.

The joint statement from all seven leaders – which include South Kesteven District Council leader Richard Cleaver (Ind) – said: “The minister has undertaken to give a written response to the views expressed in the meeting and has promised both to keep us fully informed and to meet the district leaders again in due course.

“The leaders are particularly pleased by the minister’s assurances.”

Leaders other than Councillors Trevor Young, for West Lindsey, and Ric Metcalfe, for the City of Lincoln, didn’t respond to reporters’ questions about the deal.

However, writing in his monthly column, published in the Grantham Journal tomorrow (Friday), Coun Cleaver addressed the subject of devolution.

He wrote: “In local government, we face the twin challenges of devolution and local government re-organisation.

“Whilst all has gone quiet on the latter for the moment, a devolution deal for Lincolnshire is very much a current live issue. This would transfer some existing central government spending in Greater Lincolnshire to be administered instead by a new local body in Greater Lincolnshire – but it won’t necessarily be new money.

“When I look at the issues which people raise with me, none of them will be addressed by new [parliamentary] constituencies and very few by a devolution deal.

“Instead, people expect local politicians to be able to do more to improve both local NHS services and policing – and they also expect councils like SKDC to have greater freedom to run the local initiatives they think are appropriate, rather than the current slow and unreliable system of waiting for central government to come up with initiatives which require councils to bid against each other for a share of the funding.

“So, let’s have some changes to empower us to deliver the things our residents want - just give us the tools and we will do the job!”

Liberal Democrat Councillor Young had taken a strong stance against the devolution deal, fearing it could lead to increased bureaucracy and higher council tax bills.

At the time, he stated: “As the proposed devolution deal stands at the moment, the Liberal Democrat West Lindsey Administration Group will not be supporting it.”

Labour Councillor Metcalfe also expressed reservations about the governance arrangements of the deal, stating: “Currently, these arrangements are unclear and this is a cause for concern.”

Despite these apprehensions, the minister assured the leaders that any potential deal would be by local consent and not imposed upon the people of Lincolnshire by central government.

Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, remained optimistic about the devolution deal this week.

Responding to Councillors Young and Metcalfe, he confirmed his belief that devolution is the method by which areas like Lincolnshire will get more funding and control of that funding.

The devolution deal, which has been a topic of discussion for some time now, proposes an additional layer of authority led by a directly-elected mayor.

However, it has faced opposition due to concerns about a potential local government reorganisation and the dissolution of district councils.