What you need to know about the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal
Following Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that the Greater Lincolnshire region will get a directly elected mayor from 2017, partner councils have compiled a list of answers to all the questions you may have on the devolution deal: What is devolution? The government is offering places in England the chance to have greater responsibility and control over decisions…
A previous bid for devolution was rejected in 2016 due to government not compromising over the mayoral requirement.
Following Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that the Greater Lincolnshire region will get a directly elected mayor from 2017, partner councils have compiled a list of answers to all the questions you may have on the devolution deal:
What is devolution?
The government is offering places in England the chance to have greater responsibility and control over decisions and spending in their region. This process of transferring powers and decisions usually taken by central government to a regional level is called devolution.
How do things currently work?
Most spending decisions affecting the Greater Lincolnshire area are made by central government. Many of the taxes raised locally flow back to central government for it to redistribute as it sees fit.
Why would places want to have more powers and responsibilities from central government?
To work together across services and use local knowledge to get better value for money
To be more self-sufficient and have more responsibility for the future of the local area
For decisions to be taken by locally elected politicians working with private sector partners on the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs)
How do places get these powers and responsibilities?
Be part of a joint body with other places where decisions about these things would be taken. This is called a ‘combined authority’
Have an elected mayor who would have responsibility over the powers and resources gained through a deal
Have an agreed arrangement by all the places involved, as well as central government
What is a LEP?
LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnerships) are business-led partnerships of local businesses, local authorities and other partners to promote economic growth across a specific area.
They are overseen by the Secretaries of State for Business Innovation & Skills, and Communities & Local Government.
LEPs can bid for funding from government through ‘Growth Deals’.
What is a combined authority?
Combined authorities are statutory bodies within which local authorities work together to deliver economic development, regeneration and transport functions.
Doesn’t this just create an extra tier of government?
The combined authority cabinet is expected to be formed by the existing leaders of the ten constituent local authorities and chaired by the directly elected mayor.
How will I benefit?
Because the combined authority is locally accountable, it should be motivated to deliver specifically to the people of Greater Lincolnshire. In addition, money should be spent in ways that respond directly to the needs of the population.
What will happen to local council services?
There will be no impact on councils as a result of devolution as the new authority will have no responsibility for existing services.
What will the mayor and the combined authority do?
The mayor will exercise the following powers and functions devolved from central government:
Responsibility for a devolved multi-year local transport budget for the area of the combined authority
Ability to franchise bus services, which will support the combined authority’s delivery of integrated ticketing across the combined authority’s councils
Oversight of a new Joint Investment and Assets Board to review all public sector land and property assets and help unlock land for housing and employment
Ability to make proposals to help take forward large developments or new settlements
The new Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority, working with the mayor, will receive the following powers:
Control of a new additional £15 million a year funding allocation over 30 years, to be invested to boost growth; this is new money specifically for growth projects.
Responsibility for developing a strategic infrastructure delivery plan which will identify the infrastructure needed to support the increased delivery of new homes
Responsibility for chairing an area-based review of 16+ skills provision and devolved 19+ adult skills funding from 2018-19
To help tackle long-term unemployment in Greater Lincolnshire, the combined authority will feed into the national design of the new Work and Health Programme
To move with the government and local criminal justice partners towards a co-commissioning arrangement for services for Greater Lincolnshire offenders serving short sentences
To work with the government, Police and Crime Commissioners, local prison governors and the Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) to allow more local flexibility with other local services
To contribute to the outcomes from the Water Resources Study and the objectives set out in the resulting Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s Water Management Plan
In addition:
Government will work with the Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority to agree specific funding flexibilities. The joint ambition will be to give the Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority a single pot to invest in its economic growth.
How will the new mayor work?
The mayor will chair the combined authority, the members of the CA will make up the mayor’s cabinet.
The cabinet will also examine the mayor’s spending plans and will be able to amend his/her plans, if two thirds of the constituent members agree to do so
The mayor will have one vote on the CA as will other voting members
The mayor will be a member of the Local Enterprise Partnership, alongside the other members of the CA
What if the mayor wants to do things that local leaders don’t agree with?
The mayor will need to consult her/his cabinet on their strategies and spending plans and her/his cabinet will have powers to reject decisions (if two thirds agree to do so).
Who will oversee the mayor and what powers will they have?
The mayor will be held to account by voters (elections every four or five years) and the Greater Lincolnshire Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The democratically elected leaders of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority will be able to amend and veto the mayor’s budget and strategies with a two-thirds majority.
There will be five yearly ‘gateway assessments’ by government (HM Treasury) to look at the impact of investments in the economy.
Who will get to vote for the mayor?
Residents of Greater Lincolnshire will get to vote for the mayor in 2017.
How much will the mayor be paid?
No figures have been determined. There are no direct comparisons in existence yet.
Is this an end-point for devolution or is there the chance to get more powers?
Greater Lincolnshire will continue to negotiate for further powers and will ask the public about things they may wish to see local control over.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Botanist reopened in Lincoln’s Cornhill this week with a brand new food and cocktail menu and The Lincolnite went to check it out.
The nibbles and starters range from pea hummus with mint and almond pesto and crisp flatbread, to Cumberland scotch egg with crispy onions and baked camembert in a bread bowl with chilli jam. The cheesy garlic bread baked with cheddar and mozzarella, served in a basket was a particular highlight.
There are also a range of hot boards and vegan boards, including patatas bravas, chicken skewers, bang bang cauliflower and heritage tomato salad.
Bang bang cauliflower, Cumberland scotch egg, patatas bravas and garlic prawns. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Baked Camembert in a bread bowl with chilli jam. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Botanist’s famous hanging kebabs remain a part of the new menu. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The new main dishes include pan fried seabass, lamb and mint pie, coconut sweet potato pie, and a variety of burgers, while The Botantist’s famous hanging kebabs remain on the menu too.
Desserts include cookie dough with Oreos, sticky toffee pudding, and dark chocolate and peanut butter pot.
Cookie dough with Oreos and vanilla ice cream. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Dark chocolate and peanut butter pot. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
And then there’s the cocktails! The Yuzu and peach Cosmo was a particular favourite for some, while pinky poppy pounch, elderflower and jasmine mojito, Lily pad sour with beefeater gin, smokey pineapple negroni and rhubarb sage martini are among the long list of other new cocktails to try.
A selection from The Botanist’s new cocktail menu. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
A wide variety of new cocktails to choose from, including the elderflower and jasmine mojito. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Rich Pearson, General Manager at The Botanist, told The Lincolnite: “While we have been hibernating in lockdown we’ve developed a new menu, which is a rebrand of our amazing dishes, as well as some exciting new additions, for a modern crowd in a modern pub.
“We have also launched new cocktails and can’t wait for more people to try them.”
A 46-year-old man has been jailed for over three years after causing the death of a woman in her 70s on the A17 while driving twice over the alcohol limit.
Just after 10.20am on Sunday, November 15, Norbert Tarasinski lost control of his black Audi A6 as he was driving along the A17 towards the Holdingham roundabout.
He crossed from the main carriageway into a lay-by and crashed into the parked grey Toyota Aygo, which belonged to 79-year-old Iris Mellor.
Iris Elizabeth Mellor sadly died after a crash in Sleaford. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police
Iris, from Helpringham near Sleaford, had pulled her car over into the lay-by after noticing a crack in her windscreen, and was waiting for assistance when the Audi crashed into her.
She tragically died of her injuries the day after being taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, while her granddaughter, in her 20s, suffered minor physical injuries from the passenger seat.
Tarasinski, of no fixed abode, provided a positive breath test at the scene of the collision, as well as giving a blood sample while he was at the hospital.
His blood sample found him to be over double the legal limit, showing 181 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
The 46-year-old appeared before Lincoln Crown Court on April 12, where he pleading guilty to causing death by undue care while over the legal prescribed alcohol limit.
On Tuesday, May 18 he was sentenced to three years and four months in prison, as well as being disqualified from driving for three years and must pass an extended driving test.
Tarasinski will also have to pay a victim surcharge of £190.
Detective Sergeant Luke Wells of Lincolnshire Police said: “Tarasinski was significantly over the drink drive limit and his actions have led to the death of Iris, a lady in her 70s.
“Tarasinski had been drinking the previous evening and into the early hours of the morning, having then had very little sleep. He will have time in prison to think about his actions.
“Our thoughts our with the family of Iris and we send our condolences to them.
“I have a very clear message, don’t drive if you have consumed alcohol or taken any form of illegal substance; it’s that simple. Don’t be responsible for someone else death.”
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