Agenda and minutes

There were no substitutions at the meeting.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and personal or personal and prejudicial interests.

No whip was declared.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting of this panel held on 5 May 2022, and the special meeting held on 28 September 2022, having been printed and circulated amongst the members, be taken as read and correctly recorded and be signed by the Chairman.

There were no public speaking requests.

The Chairman welcomed the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council and its Deputy Chief Executive to the meeting.  Councillor Waltham MBE and Mr Green had been invited to discuss with the Panel the devolution proposals for Greater Lincolnshire that were considered by the Joint Greater Lincolnshire Oversight Committee on 14 October 2022. 

Members were informed that the draft proposals provided a framework for discussions with Government on a devolution deal and to level up Greater Lincolnshire.  They were subject to the governance and approval processes of participating councils.

Members listened as they were informed that Greater Lincolnshire was ready for growth and devolution.  It had:

·        A long-term vision for Greater Lincolnshire to benefit residents

·        Strategies for growth and economic recovery that build on its strengths

·        Devolution plans to boost growth, create high skill high wage jobs and increase opportunity

·        Broad local support and backing from local business.

The ambition through devolution was to act together at the right level to deliver the skills, infrastructure and investment that would boost growth, spread opportunity and raise living standards.  The proposals would allow joined up decisions taken across different government departments, agencies and local councils to target them to local need to level up across Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Through the maximum level of devolution, the proposals would deliver on the ambitious strategies for growth across the key sectors of the economic geography that would lead to more high wage, high skills jobs.  Devolution would improve learning, training and pathways into those jobs to raise living standards and level up for local residents. The key sectors of the area’s economic geography were of strategic importance to the UK. 

Devolution to Greater Lincolnshire would support wider UK objectives for growth in:

·        Energy

·        Food

·        Ports and logistics.

The Deputy Chief Executive explained in detail the plan for devolution, with particular emphasis on –

·        Infrastructure

·        Skills and employment

The Chairman then invited the Leader of the Council to comment on the proposed devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire.

Following Mr Green’s and Councillor Waltham MBE’s verbal presentation, the Chairman facilitated a discussion between the Panel and Deputy Chief Executive and Leader of the Council.

Recommended to Council – (a) That the Devolution Deal for Greater Lincolnshire be formally agreed and supported by North Lincolnshire Council, and (b) that the Leader of the Council and Deputy Chief Executive be thanked for their attendance, verbal presentation and for answering members’ questions.

There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.

There was no urgent business for consideration at the meeting