U-turn sees council oppose local government shake-up in Lincolnshire… will other authorities follow?

North Lincolnshire Council will now oppose proposals to further reorganise local government in the county, after a ‘clear lack of support’ for change.

It marks a U-turn by Conservative council leader Coun Rob Waltham, who co-wrote a letter in January to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, expressing confidence in support for reducing the county’s councils from ten to two.

A new devolution deal was signed off last year that led to the creation of Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA), and the new directly-elected Mayor.

Existing councils have remained the same, with only strategic transport powers transferred.

Late last year, however, the Government signalled its desire to abolish all two-tier council areas, where county and district councils exist.

Because of their small sizes, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire councils have been brought into discussions of a complete shake-up of Lincolnshire local government.

As well as the January letter co-signed by Coun Waltham, the Conservative ruling group on North Lincolnshire Council pushed through in March a draft preference to be sent to Government to have a two council north-south split for the county.

Coun Waltham said in the key meeting there was a risk to not giving a preference: “If you don’t have a view, then another view might be imposed on you.”

He is to now write to the Government to state North Lincolnshire Council does not support local government reorganisation.

The authority said it follows discussions with residents, parish councils and businesses.

“The feedback we have received was clear that there is no support for a large council to take over North Lincolnshire,” said Coun Waltham.

He said this was particularly the case if it led to some council initiatives ending, like free car parking in Ashby, Brigg and Scunthorpe.

“Moving the council away from Scunthorpe could also weaken the support for our steel industry,” he said, adding he had received support from the local MPs who represent both Labour and the Conservatives.

“It is a fact that we are one of the highest performing councils in the country and we are keen to make sure that we build on this success.

“Our staff work hard to support some of the most vulnerable members of our community and this decision will enable them to continue to do so.

“Great things are happening locally and the thought that super councils could undermine this great work and ignore the views of our residents and communities is a distraction that we will no longer have.”

Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns (Reform UK) has criticised the council leader’s new position on social media.

Noting he stood as the Conservative candidate against her, she called him ‘a sore loser’, adding: “This is another way to try to stop Reform UK.”

The new position to oppose reorganisation is in contrast to the Conservative-run council’s advocacy for two local authorities for the whole of the county, just ten weeks ago.

At a special meeting on March 18, then-deputy council leader Coun Richard Hannigan (Ferry Ward) urged councillors to ‘embrace the change’ and felt ‘bigger is better’.

Coun Waltham said back then by not giving a reorganisation preference ‘the risk is we end up with a council that can’t meet the needs of the most vulnerable’, and ‘if you don’t have a view, then another view might be imposed on you’.

He did add it was the Government pushing for reorganisation. “It’s not our agenda, it’s the Government’s agenda, and we should plan our own future.”

After North Lincolnshire’s changed position, the question now is could others follow suit?

North East Lincolnshire Council leader Coun Philip Jackson was criticised by some for co-signing the January ‘ten to two councils’ letter without first consulting other political groups.

The Conservatives lack a majority, and opposition groups voted for another letter to be sent, withdrawing the council’s part in the January one.

When filing its draft preference for local government reorganisation,

North East Lincolnshire Council sent each political group’s preferences due to a lack of agreement.

All stated they would rather keep North East Lincolnshire Council as is. The Liberal Democrat submission opposed any reorganisation.