Minutes

7.       GREATER LINCOLNSHIRE DEVOLUTION – CONSIDERATION OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION OUTCOMES AND SUBMISSION OF FINAL PROPOSAL TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE – The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking approval for further steps to secure devolution to Greater Lincolnshire, including consideration of the results of the recent public consultation, review of the devolution proposal and a decision on further implementation including submission of the final Proposal to the Secretary of State with associated delegations.

Devolution provided an opportunity to seek the transfer of a range of powers and budgets from Government that could be targeted to local need, used to boost growth in the local economy and level up communities. It also provided the opportunity for some current local authority powers to be exercised on a wider strategic footprint.

In December 2022 the three upper tier councils of Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council, the constituent councils, agreed to engage with government officials to secure a level 3 devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire on the basis of the devolution prospectus Devolution Greater Lincolnshire: Growth | Energy | Food. The prospectus set out the Councils’ aspirations to achieve the greatest benefits of devolution for Greater Lincolnshire and options to enhance governance arrangements through the creation of a new organisation, a Combined County Authority, chaired by a directly elected Mayor.

Through extensive negotiations with government departments, the upper tier councils of Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council secured an ambitious devolution deal with government on 22 November 2023.

The devolution deal set out the areas of common ground between the ambitions in the Greater Lincolnshire Prospectus and the powers and budgets available for devolution from the Government at this time, this included:

·     A Mayoral Investment Fund of £24 million per annum for 30 years to invest in infrastructure and skills development totalling £720m.

·     One off £28.4m capital investment in Greater Lincolnshire’s priorities.

·     £2m capacity funding over 3 years

·     £1m skills for jobs funding

·     Local control over the Adult Education Budget from 2026

·     A consolidated, multi-year transport fund, providing increased financial certainty.

In November/December 2023 the three upper tier councils supported the Deal and a draft Proposal to take forward devolution to Greater Lincolnshire and agreed to formally consult with residents, businesses and other stakeholders across the upper tier council areas and the wider region.

The report gave full details on the consultation for the Proposal for Devolution, responses to the consultation, concerns raised regarding the consultation process and the process for devolution to Greater Lincolnshire. Appendices provided the full evaluation of the public consultation and taking account of this an amended final Proposal Document relating to Devolution in Greater Lincolnshire which required approval before being submitted to the Secretary of State.

Resolved – (a) That the outcomes of the public consultation, at Appendix A to report, having been considered, be noted; (b) that due regard be had to the response to the consultation outcomes, at Appendix B to the report, and the updated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.