South Holland figures slam new devolution deal for Lincolnshire

A devolution deal has been slammed by figures in our district for merely ‘chucking coppers’ at the area after a decade or more of underfunding.

Leaders of Lincolnshire County Council, along with the unitary authorities in north and north east Lincolnshire, have ceremonially signed the deal, which was announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the autumn statement to bring a major shake-up to the way our area is run. The county council will be discussing the deal during a meeting on Friday.

This latest devolution deal would see the creation of a mayoral combined authority with additional powers plus further investment into the county of £24million a year for the next three decades. An eight week public consultation will be taking place next year.

But the arrangements have been dismissed by senior politicians from across South Holland – of different political persuasions - for adding an unwanted additional tier of government, along with fears that this area will lose out as South Holland District Council is not due to have a vote in this new authority.

It’s also feared the mayor would come from and be based outside our area – with no connection to the issues felt by our residents.

Sutton Bridge councillor Chris Brewis has been calling for the county to be properly funded for sometime.

He said: “£24 million when they have taken £190 million off Lincolnshire is like chucking a few coppers at us. It is the worst thing that could happen.

“If they had offered £750 million then I might have listened but as they have taken nearly £200 million off us in the last decade and a half to give us £24 million is an insult – and the fact (is) that someone would roll over and have their tummy tickled for that!”

Spalding’s Coun Rob Gibson, who sits on the county and district councils, said of the deal: “It does feel like it’s being rushed through quickly and I don’t like it when things are rushed, the problem is we haven’t got the whole facts.

“It’s going to be pushed upon us.

“It’s going to be discussed over Christmas, even the county council meeting has been brought forward a week to accommodate the consultation, I believe. I smell a rat, if I’m honest.

“We’ve got a general election next year and I wonder if that’s part of it maybe?”

Conservative MP Sir John Hayes said: “It is another set of elections and I am not sure the public want that.

“It is not really something that people are asking for, I’ve seen no demand for it. If it is not broken – don’t fix it.”