Devolution

Lincolnshire’s ambitious devolution deal, promising £24 million annually for 30 years and a regional mayor, has hit a snag with its public consultation process. Despite Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) and its partners in North and North East Lincolnshire heralding over 4,000 survey completions as a success, critics argue the figure barely scratches the surface of public opinion.

The consultation’s “slanted” questions have drawn ire from some district leaders, suggesting an attempt to skew results in favour of the devolution deal. With a population of over 1 million, the mere 0.365% participation rate has raised eyebrows, casting doubt on the consultation’s effectiveness in capturing the true sentiment of Greater Lincolnshire residents.

Read the full story on MyLocal, the new home of The Lincolnite.

Concerns around adequate funding levels, accusations of the current consultation being a “sham”, and the “democratic legitimacy” of an elected mayor were discussed, as City of Lincoln councillors unpicked the details of Lincolnshire’s devolution deal.

Councillors were greeted by a demonstration outside the Guildhall on Tuesday evening, held by the Lincoln Palestine Solidarity Campaign, calling on City of Lincoln Council to back calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Read the full story on MyLocal, the new home of The Lincolnite.

After over ten years of striving for more autonomy amidst funding cuts from the central government, 2024 marks a pivotal year for Lincolnshire.

The region is set to gain devolved power and an additional £24 million annually, following an agreement between the government and the three upper-tier councils – Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council, and North East Lincolnshire Council.

Read the full story on MyLocal Lincolnshire, the new home of The Lincolnite