South Kesteven District Councillor shares thoughts on Grantham Town Council approval and Lincolnshire devolution news

A councillor has written a letter on two recent events that “will affect our democracy”.

South Kesteven District Councillor Charmaine Morgan (Ind, St Vincent’s) shared her thoughts on two political events from the last few days.

These were the approval of a town council for Grantham and a new devolution deal for Lincolnshire.

Coun Morgan’s letter said:

Two important events occurred this week regarding our democratic structure and economy. Firstly South Kesteven District Council members voted for Grantham Town Council elections to go ahead in May 2024.

Secondly the deal for a Greater Lincolnshire Mayor has been struck.

The Grantham Town Council will replace the Charter Trustees and will improve democracy enabling people to vote for those they would like to represent our town next May.

The Greater Lincolnshire Mayor will add a layer of bureaucracy with district councils not even having a designated seat at the table, making it uncertain as to how well we will be represented. Our much needed UKSPF fund will go to the new GL Mayor.

In each case the areas of responsibility will evolve as time goes on but what we do know is this. What they are able to do, as with our current District and County Councils, will depend on how much funding they get.

With the current sum allocated by SKDC to serve Grantham town residents being £41k (the same as the Mayor's Parlour) and £24m a year allocated to serve the 1.1m population and size of Greater Lincolnshire we cannot expect too much.

In the same week, however, the Equalities Trust has launched a damning report showing that the economic measures introduced by mainly Conservative UK Governments since 1990 have consistently favoured millionaires to the detriment of everyone else. Their wealth has increased by a staggering 1,000% in that time.

Our government policies have led to millionaires costing us £106bn each year. This is affecting all of our public services including our NHS which needs £33bn to revitalise it. In the meantime, as we juggle food, heating and housing bills this winter or queue for medical care, or, wait years longer for our pensions, we must be grateful for whatever we get.