South Kesteven District Council leader slams devolution deal as ‘preposterous’

A council leader has raised concerns about the county's devolution deal, saying the area is too large for a single elected mayor.

South Kesteven District Council leader Ashley Baxter (Ind) insists the deal, which promises to bring an additional £24 million to the region, focuses more on central government than on empowering local communities across the county, is not right for the county. However, Lincolnshire County Council maintains this won't be the case.

The government officially signed off on the deal last Thursday (September 19), confirming that an election for a mayor will take place in May 2025.

All three upper-tier authorities—Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council, and North East Lincolnshire Council—voted in favor of the deal about six months ago, explaining it would bring more money and power to the county.

However, Councillor Baxter argued that "hardly anyone is going to feel empowered by this additional tier of local government".

He said: "I think that Greater Lincolnshire is too big an area for a single mayor to be governing.

"The idea that the government will communicate better with all of Greater Lincolnshire through the election of a single elected mayor is preposterous.

"I represent residents in Market Deeping, we have little understanding of the issues faced by people in Grimsby. Residents in Stamford have little in common with the people of Scunthorpe.

"The administrative area of Greater Lincolnshire is too big for a single authority, let alone for a single elected mayor."

The representative for Market and West Deeping also criticised the promised additional funding as "quite frankly insulting" compared to the county council budget.

When asked if he hoped the review being conducted three years after the mayor is elected could change things, he simply responded: "There will be people in Westminster now that can write that review tomorrow.

"Saying that there will be a review is not going to make any difference."

Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill (Con) said in response: “A Greater Lincolnshire Mayor will chair a partnership board with representatives from across the area who will collectively take decisions.

"Both the current and previous government insisted that a mayor elected by all voters across the area is a requirement for devolution. This is the model that will be rolled out across the country.

"In exchange we will receive additional funding, retain our independence and can shape policies locally rather than ministers and civil servants in London deciding what is best for Greater Lincolnshire. This is the start of a devolution journey which we hope will lead to further deals, with more money and better localised decision making.”