Executive summary
Councils in Greater Lincolnshire have approved a devolution deal which means existing money and power can move from central government to decisionmakers in Greater Lincolnshire. The approved deal is the most ambitious available.
In exchange for this level of powers, money and decision making, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire County councils must set out how this would be run. The proposal to government is the creation of a separate body called a county combined authority (CCA). This level of deal would be chaired by an elected official (usually called a Mayor) who you, as Greater Lincolnshire residents, would elect. All three councils have agreed and adopted the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Proposal (the proposal), which can be seen, in full on the council websites:
The three councils are now undertaking a consultation with residents in the Greater Lincolnshire area to get their views before deciding whether to submit the proposal to government in its current form.
This document summarises the proposal but we suggest you read the full version before answering the questions.
The proposal explains the powers, funding and flexibilities required to address long term challenges and deliver on opportunities across Greater Lincolnshire It supports levelling up across the area with a focus improving the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of people who live and work in Greater Lincolnshire. It would see:
- Local decisions and long term investment in infrastructure to turbo charge business growth and tackle low business productivity, particularly in key sectors that create high wage, high skills jobs that boost living standards
- Long term strategic planning and investment to protect our environment and unlock high quality housing in our communities that meets the needs of younger workforce and supports those in later life
- Local commissioning of high quality skills, training and pathways to attract and retain younger workers, meet the significant skills needs of our key industries and capitalise on economic opportunity through better alignment of skills, employment, and career opportunities across Greater Lincolnshire
- A stronger voice regionally and nationally to make the case for more investment, to work closely with government on Greater Lincolnshire’s priorities and to deliver on the potential of new green jobs from the Humber to The Wash.
- Managing water as an asset, to mitigate the threat of coastal erosion and flooding, and meet the area’s unique demands for water to support growth in agriculture and innovations in manufacturing and carbon capture.
Our proposal delivers for Greater Lincolnshire
Investing in Greater Lincolnshire
- £24 million per annum for 30 years to invest in infrastructure and skills development totalling £720m.
- Multi year transport budget with greater flexibility to spend the money on local priorities.
- Funding for adult education to prioritise spending on the needs of people and businesses rather than national priorities.
- One off £28.4m capital investment in Greater Lincolnshire’s priority projects.
Turbo charging business growth
- Long term funding of the infrastructure that key local business needs to grow and create jobs.
- Designating a key route network to speed up the movement of goods and passengers through and around Greater Lincolnshire.
- Government, research and industry brought together to boost business innovation that leads to more high skill high wage jobs.
- A new approach to managing water that supports local business needs and protects communities and business from flooding.
High quality skills and jobs
- Careers support that showcases the great opportunities in Greater Lincolnshire and helps people to get a high skill wage high wage job here.
- Training in higher-level skills delivered in Greater Lincolnshire to boost access to high wage jobs in our growth sectors.
- The adult education budget invested in courses that help people to achieve a fulfilling future and deliver the skills that our local businesses need to innovate and expand.
- Provide extra help to those young people that need it the most, including help for care leavers to get a job.
Unlocking housing through enhanced infrastructure
- Investing in high quality homes, locations and services to retain a younger workforce and support those in later life.
- Investment from Homes England to bring forward the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of local communities.
- Supporting regeneration of areas, providing sustainable and affordable housing solutions for our future workforce.
- A single Local Transport Authority to develop public transport improvements that connect people with homes, work, leisure and learning.
A stronger voice for our area
- A new Mayor, elected by residents to champion the needs of the area and to make a strong case to the Government for more investment and to pilot new ideas in Greater Lincolnshire.
- A Combined County Authority providing local accountability, transparency and capacity to use key growth levers such as transport, skills and economic development.
- Enhanced working relationships with government departments to protect our coastline, natural and historic environment and boost tourism.
- A new role leading the national debate on transport for rural communities to address challenges across ours and other areas.
Delivering our potential – Humber to Wash
- Decarbonise the UK’s largest industrial estuary and deliver green jobs across Greater Lincolnshire in carbon capture and storage, nuclear fusion, water management and energy distribution
- National recognition for the UK Food Valley supporting a new generation of high skill jobs and businesses across the food chain.
- Maximising the potential of the Humber Freeport to create jobs.
- Improved transport links across Greater Lincolnshire and provide a trade corridor to the East Midlands freeport and beyond.