PEOPLE living and working in North East Lincolnshire are being asked to have their say on an historic Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Proposal.
A new Mayoral Combined County Authority, (MCCA), is being proposed by the three lead councils in the area – North East Lincolnshire Council, North Lincolnshire Council (both unitary authorities) and Lincolnshire County Council. All three have voted to accept the proposed deal.
Now it’s over to the borough’s residents and others across the Greater Lincolnshire area, to have their say. It is important that as many of those 1.1-million people as possible understand what devolution means and how it could impact upon their lives, those of their children and families, and their businesses or organisations. Please go to www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk/devolution- external site or www.nelincs.gov.uk/devolution
Importantly, the MCCA is a means by which money is handed down from Central Government to be spent at a local level on what is best for all of Lincolnshire. The MCCA has the powers to decide its use.
There is no change to existing local councils in the area. Instead, representatives from those councils, become part of a new MCCA alongside serving their own councils. One Mayor is then elected by Lincolnshire residents to chair the MCCA and lead talks with Government.
A new MCCA grows over time too – for the first few years, money comes down from Government in a number of agreed areas, but as the years go on, that grows – meaning more decisions can be made locally.
The initial Proposal which has been agreed with Central Government, pledges to:
- Improve transport and roads;
- Secure training to ensure local people can take advantage of new jobs;
- Help to improve the environment and achieve net zero;
- Enable good quality housing;
- Boost the economy by supporting local businesses to create new, high paid, high skilled jobs;
- Enhance digital services, like broadband.
The following has been agreed to allow the above to happen:
- Control over the relevant budgets, which are currently held by central Government, to ensure the above is achieved;
- An extra £24-million per annum for 30 years – worth £720-million to level up the whole of Greater Lincolnshire;
- A one-off £28.4m capital investment in Greater Lincolnshire’s priorities.
North East Lincolnshire Council Leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, said: “I believe, not only as council leader but also as a life-long resident of North East Lincolnshire that this is the best way forward for us here locally and for Lincolnshire as a whole.
“For our young people to grow up here and have opportunities and good futures, we must look at how we can work together across our region to do what we know is best for us all and to have the power and money to do those things. This Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Proposal is a way in which we can do that, and we must grasp this chance now,” he added.
Lincolnshire County Council’s leader, Cllr Martin Hill, said: “This is an important day for the council and the county. We have negotiated an ambitious deal with the government that will bring benefits to our residents for years to come, making sure we don’t get left behind. I hope that residents will take the time to understand what’s on offer and give their views as part of the consultation.”
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This is the single biggest opportunity to improve outcomes for residents in generations. It is a huge opportunity to create new jobs, improve skills and training, supercharge investment in transport and roads and back our businesses to drive prosperity further and faster.”
The consultation questionnaire, along with the Proposal is available at www.nelincs.gov.uk/devolution You can also go directly to the consultation questionnaire at www.letstalk.lincolnshire.gov.uk/devolution- external site
Paper copies of both the Proposal and the consultation questionnaire will be available at the Municipal Offices in Grimsby, Grimsby Central Library, and the libraries in Cleethorpes, Immingham and Waltham from tomorrow (Tuesday 5 December) morning.
All the documents are available to be translated upon request for those who do not have English as their first language and in other formats upon request. The written documents and/or electronic media can also be put into alternative formats such as (but not limited to) Braille, Easy Read, Large Print, Audio, Video and Pictorial English. Please contact 01522 555222.
If organisations need more copies in different languages or formats to take to events please contact engagement@lincolnshire.gov.uk . Please note it takes up to five working days to get these through.
The consultation is open for eight weeks, closing on Monday 29 January 2024.
Article, image and video from NELC.
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