Fairer funding campaign to be launched at Lincolnshire Growth Summit in Woodhall Spa

A campaign to get fairer funding for Lincolnshire’s services will be launched at a growth summit later today (Friday, November 15).

Councillors, MPs, potential mayoral candidates and business leaders will be exploring the benefits offered by the area’s devolution deal during the Lincolnshire Growth Summit.

The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority - led by an elected mayor - along with £720m of investment over the next 30 years has been promised as part of the county’s devolution deal with the Government. Lincolnshire County CouncilNorth Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council have been offered extra powers and devolved budgets along with a funding put of £28million.

County leaders will also be launching a new fairer funding campaign, highlighting that rural counties like Lincolnshire continue to be short-changed compared to more urban areas during the event at The Petwood Hotel in Woodhall Spa

This campaign will also cover the additional challenges associated with delivering services in rural communities and the financial pressures facing local authorities in light of rising demand for services, such as adult care and children’s social care.

Leader of Lincolnshire County Council Martin Hill said: “Devolution will put decisions about our economic future in the hands of local people and give us a stronger voice in negotiations with government about investment and services in our area. In short, this represents an opportunity to take direct control of the things that really matter to our region’s 1.1 million residents.

“Initially, that will mean greater control over decisions relating to transport, skills and training, housing, economic growth, and the environment. However, this list of responsibilities is expected to grow as the deal matures. So, it’s important that local partners are ready to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities this will bring, which is what the growth summit is all about.”

The council gave examples of projects that could potentially be paid for by fairer funding include:

- Repairing and rebuilding our most rural, smaller roads so they are more able to cope with modern traffic, such as HGVs and farm vehicles

- Funding 100 flood prevention schemes, protecting up to 5,600 more homes

- Building on the good progress in extending access to high-speed broadband, using recent innovations to get signals to remote places

Coun Hill added: “If we’re to make the most of our new powers we need the right level of funding. So, we’re asking people to support our new fairer funding campaign. If Lincolnshire received the national average in funding that would mean an extra £120m for our area each year. That would make a dramatic difference.”

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