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Major Lincolnshire political change prompts fresh debate on the need for a Spalding town council




With the first major re-shuffle of local government in 50 years on the horizon - is now the time for Spalding to finally have a town council?

Fears have been raised that democracy will be moved further away from the people of Spalding - which is one of the few major towns in the county not to have its own council - after plans to reform local authorities were announced last week.

The Government is looking to abolish district and county councils in favour of unitary authorities covering populations of around 500,000, with some exceptions, which has sparked concerns that power will be moved from South Holland to a council 40 miles away in Lincoln.

South Holland District Council leader Nick Worth is not in favour of county wide unitary authorities but has warned people not to ‘panic’ as proposals will be submitted in the coming months.

Leader of South Holland Independents Rob Gibson says that Spalding will need a town council after a devolution plan started by the Conservatives has been ‘supercharged’ by Labour.

The Spalding councillor, who also sits on Lincolnshire County Council (LCC), said: “They are moving democracy further away from the electorate and turning us into a dictatorship. We will end up with one person holding the power in Lincolnshire and they will be based in Lincoln or some far flung place nowhere near South Holland.

Coun Rob Gibson
Coun Rob Gibson

“The desire of some on LCC is to have one unitary based in Lincoln running the whole county. That's at least one step too far for me, we may have the opportunity to join South Kesteven and have an East/South Unitary but I'm not sure Government will go for a two unitary model.

“Whatever happens we will need a Spalding Town Council.

“From what I am hearing we will have the county and mayoral election in May 2025, the next election will be in May 2027 and that will be for the new Unitary Authority (whatever that looks like) then we will have a two year phase out of the old LCC council and turn into the new unitary authorities.

“So 2029 we will have the unitary authorities and the mayoral combined authority but we will still have the problem of underfunding.”

Spalding Civic Society chairman John Bland
Spalding Civic Society chairman John Bland

Spalding and District Civic Society Chairman John Bland feels the sooner work starts on establishing a town council ‘the better’ following the publication of the white paper — a move which would follow in the footsteps of Grantham, which established its own council in 2024.

Mr Bland, who has previously raised the issue of Spalding Town Council, says Lincolnshire is not a ‘compact’ area like Greater Manchester or West Midlands combined authorities because of its size.

He said: “If Greater Lincolnshire comes into being as a combined authority, instead of meeting the Government’s laudable aim of empowering communities in the decision-making process, what it could actually result in, is the centralisation of administration and decision making miles away from the communities that would be affected by those decisions.

“The white paper states that the Government expects all councils in an area to work together to develop unitary proposals that are in the best interests of the whole area, and I hope they do that. Historically, Lincolnshire was divided into the counties of Holland, Kesteven and Lindsey, that seems to be a logical place to start. Much of the geographical area now served by the three councils partnership area of Boston Borough, East Lindsey, and South Holland District Councils. Across all three districts there is a shared fenland landscape and heritage. Personally, I feel that given that the Government is insisting on the unitary approach, I think turning the three councils into a single unitary authority would make sense.

“Regardless of what kind of local government arrangement is arrived at as a result of this white paper, the case for a town council is now pretty much irrefutable. The white paper states that the Government will work with town and parish councils to improve engagement between them and local authorities and that the Government wants to see stronger community arrangements when reorganisation happens in the way councils engage at a neighbourhood or area level.

“The creation of a town council for a Spalding has to be a key pre requisite to that happening.

“In light of this white paper, the sooner that work begins on establishing a town council in Spalding, the better. Apart from the Business Improvement District, a town council may eventually be the only way that some of the decisions affecting the town of Spalding are actually taken by people who live in Spalding.”

Coun Gary Taylor
Coun Gary Taylor

Spalding councillor Gary Taylor said the proposals for local government would be a ‘historic moment’ with dramatic changes .

He said: “The devil of course is in the detail.

“This would save money on money and create greater accountability, as the same council would be provide it all services, however this will create a degree of upheaval in the early years and would remove the strong bonds which have been developed over many years between residents and community groups over the years.”

Calls for the creation of a town council have been supported by campaigner Val Gemmell.

She said: “Spalding will have no representation. If you look at all the villages and parishes in South Holland they have a parish council. Spalding will have nothing.”

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below…



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