Lincolnshire County Council leader says small businesses are ‘backbone of economy’

Supporting businesses in Lincolnshire is a vital part of the work we do at the county council and we do this right across the spectrum – from start-ups to large companies, writes Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill (Con).

Small businesses are the backbone of the Lincolnshire economy, in fact more than 95 per cent of businesses in the county are small or micro sized. We have a huge range of support programmes already in place across all sectors, but we’re launching new initiatives all the time.

For example, we have recently invested £150,000 to create a new business hub at Grantham Library aimed at those businesses which don’t need the extra expense of securing premises.

The exciting transformation will see a new IT suite equipped with business software added, as well as drop-in working zones kitted out with acoustic booths and ‘bubbles’ – the perfect place to host interviews and online meetings.

Visitors can also look forward to a refreshed and redecorated library, with new carpets fitted throughout.

By listening to the needs of residents and businesses and implementing creative solutions like this, we also ensure that Lincolnshire’s libraries remain at the heart of communities.

Grantham is the third library in Lincolnshire to benefit from the addition of business hubs, following Lincoln and Spalding libraries, and work is expected to start later this summer.

With larger businesses, we are working hard to create the right conditions for investment in our county.

You may be aware that for the last couple of years we have been working on getting a devolution deal for Lincolnshire. This would see responsibilities that have previously been overseen by Whitehall being transferred to us here locally.

There is a big focus on growth and investment as part of that deal with funds being transferred for things like transport, infrastructure, skills and adult learning budgets.

You may have seen that the government have now finalised the deal that will see the creation of a new authority to oversee these new powers and additional funding. A mayor to head up this ‘combined authority’ is a requirement, and residents will be able to elect that role on 1 May.

It is also the government’s intention that areas like Lincolnshire, that have a ‘two-tier’ council system should be reorganised to operate as a single council model.

This means all services currently carried out by the county council and district councils are provided by a single body – more likely to be more than one across the Greater Lincolnshire area.

With a new Mayoral authority, having a county council, seven district councils and hundreds of town or parish councils seems over-complicated.

When we consulted thoroughly, most respondents were in favour of devolution but were not in favour of the additional bureaucracy that a four-tier council system would bring. I share these concerns. The important thing is that any changes that are put in place – from our own investment to larger scale changes - is that the best is done for the county’s residents and businesses. And for me, that will continue to be the case.