Council shares residents’ firm ‘No’ to Government’s £49m reorganisation plans

North Lincolnshire Council has formally submitted its response to the Government’s consultation on plans to reshape local government across Greater Lincolnshire, reinforcing the clear message from residents and evidence already set out.

The response brings together findings from the council’s largest ever public engagement exercise, in which more than 12,000 residents shared their views, alongside independent financial analysis and a detailed assessment of all four proposals currently under consideration.

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We’ve been clear from the outset – this is about what is right for North Lincolnshire and the people who live here.

“Our response brings together everything we’ve already set out: what residents told us, what the evidence shows, and what works in practice.

“There is no case for dismantling services and partnerships that are delivering strong outcomes for our communities, particularly when the evidence shows it would be costly and disruptive to do so.”

As previously reported, most residents supported North Lincolnshire remaining as a separate unitary authority, reflecting strong local identity, accountability and the value of existing arrangements.

The council’s submission also highlights independent analysis showing that merging North Lincolnshire with neighbouring authorities could cost up to £49m, take several years to implement and risk disrupting established partnerships across health, social care, policing and the wider Humber system.

The submission assesses each of the four proposals currently being consulted on by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), and reiterates the council’s support for the proposal submitted jointly with North East Lincolnshire Council and Lincolnshire County Council.

That proposal would simplify the existing two-tier structure across Lincolnshire while maintaining North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire as separate unitary authorities.

The Government’s consultation closes at midnight on 26 March 2026, after which ministers will consider all submissions before taking a decision on the future structure of local government.