Agenda item

Councillor James Brown moved the following motion:

 

“This Council Notes:

 

1. “The Government’s English Devolution white paper in December 2024, which included reference to supporting local government reorganisation.

 

2. “The proposals being considered and implemented by some counties to merge existing district councils into large, county-wide unitary authorities, as seen recently in North Yorkshire.

 

3. “The significant concerns of residents, businesses and the third sector across Lincolnshire regarding the negative impact a mega-council would have on local democracy, accountability, and the effective delivery of public services.

 

4. “The financial situation of mega-councils created in recent years such as Somerset and North Northamptonshire have not improved post-unitarisation. The financial crisis in local government has not been solved by unitarisation.

 

“This Council Believes:

 

1. “Decisions affecting Lincoln should be taken in Lincoln.

 

2. “Lincoln is a historic seat of democracy, with the UK’s oldest parliamentary constituency and a mayoralty that has existed for over 800 years. This history would be lost in a mega-council, county wide unitary.

 

3. “Whilst the current two-tier system presents some challenges, the solution does not lie in the creation of vast and remote mega-councils that would diminish local voices and accountability.

 

4. “If unitarisation is to be implemented in Lincolnshire, it should be based on smaller, more localised areas that are aligned with existing communities and their identities, rather than one or two, county-wide mega-councils.

 

5. That any restructuring of local government in Lincolnshire must be driven by the genuine needs and preferences of local communities, and should not be a top-down imposition that disregards local concerns.

 

“This Council Resolves:

 

1. “At the current time, to reject the creation of a large, county-wide mega-council for Lincolnshire.

 

2. “To call upon the Leader of the City Council to write to all Council Leaders in Greater Lincolnshire and the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to inform them of Lincoln’s wish to remain Lincoln, and request that they abandon any plans for a county-wide mega-council.

 

The above motion was seconded by Councillor Martin Christopher, who urged Council to vote in favour of the motion. It was stated that this was a difficult junction for the city and it was therefore imperative that this Council made its view known. It was possible for Lincoln’s identity to get lost in any proposed countywide mega council and therefore this Council should formally reject this possibility to protect its democratic heritage. The motion would also require the Leader to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to inform them of Lincoln’s wish to remain Lincoln, and request that any plans for a county-wide mega-council were abandoned.

 

The Mayor invited speakers on the motion. The following amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Naomi Tweddle (Leader of the Council):

 

Amendment to delete the second part of “This Council Resolves” so it now reads:

 

“This Council Resolves:

 

          “At the current time, to reject the creation of a large, county-wide mega-council          for Lincolnshire.”

 

The Leader explained the rationale behind the amendment was that it was considered premature to be writing to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government setting out the City of Lincoln Council’s view, as the guidance for local government reorganisation had not yet been issued by Government. However, the principle of not wanting a countywide mega-council for Lincolnshire was supported but until guidance had been released, it was pre-mature to be writing to the Secretary of State setting out the Council’s position.

 

The entire amended motion reads:

 

“This Council Notes:

 

1. “The Government’s English Devolution white paper in December 2024, which included reference to supporting local government reorganisation.

 

2. “The proposals being considered and implemented by some counties to merge existing district councils into large, county-wide unitary authorities, as seen recently in North Yorkshire.

 

3. “The significant concerns of residents, businesses and the third sector across Lincolnshire regarding the negative impact a mega-council would have on local democracy, accountability, and the effective delivery of public services.

 

4. “The financial situation of mega-councils created in recent years such as Somerset and North Northamptonshire have not improved post-unitarisation. The financial crisis in local government has not been solved by unitarisation

 

“This Council Believes:

 

1. “Decisions affecting Lincoln should be taken in Lincoln.

 

2. “Lincoln is a historic seat of democracy, with the UK’s oldest parliamentary constituency and a mayoralty that has existed for over 800 years. This history would be lost in a mega-council, county wide unitary.

 

3. “Whilst the current two-tier system presents some challenges, the solution does not lie in the creation of vast and remote mega-councils that would diminish local voices and accountability.

 

4. “If unitarisation is to be implemented in Lincolnshire, it should be based on smaller, more localised areas that are aligned with existing communities and their identities, rather than one or two, county-wide mega-councils.

 

5. “That any restructuring of local government in Lincolnshire must be driven by the genuine needs and preferences of local communities, and should not be a top-down imposition that disregards local concerns.

 

“This Council Resolves:

 

          “At the current time, to reject the creation of a large, county-wide mega-council          for Lincolnshire.”

 

The above amendment was seconded by Councillor Donald Nannestad, who reserved his right to speak.

 

During discussion on the amendment, the following points were noted:

 

·       It was commented that unitarisation would happen for Lincolnshire but how this would look in reality was yet to be agreed;

·       There was general support that a single unitary for the whole of Lincolnshire would be too large and there was a need for the area to be broken down into at least two unitary authorities. However, it was reiterated that without any guidance issued it was difficult to set on record Lincoln’s position.

·       The benefits of unitarisation were discussed, with particular mention to clear lines of authority and accountability.

·       The original motion was deemed premature and could be seen as scaremongering and this should not have come forward until clear guidance had been issued. The Government’s lack of guidance and tight timeframes were also criticised.

·       A councillor expressed disappointment in the amended motion, as it was felt this Council should put on record its position at this stage. However, it was appreciated that the amended motion supported that this Council did not wish to see introduction of a mega-council for Lincolnshire.

 

Councillor Donald Nannestad, who had reserved his right to speak, sought support on the amendment advising that whilst unitarisation was not opposed, the introduction of a countywide mega-council was not supported. However, the Council must wait for guidance to be issued before writing to the Secretary of State.

 

Councillor James Brown, who had moved the original motion, was invited to give his right of reply. Councillor Brown was disappointed that his original motion had been amended as he felt this was the right time to set out Lincoln’s position. Councillor Brown therefore urged Council to vote against the amendment.

 

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was carried and became the substantive motion.

 

During discussion on the substantive motion, the following points were noted:

 

·       It was reiterated that it was right for the Council to wait for the much required guidance on local government reorganisation.

·       A councillor expressed her deep opposition to a mega council for Lincolnshire, stating that the City of Lincoln Council was distinct and unique and this must not get lost within a countywide mega-council.

 

The Leader of the Council, who had moved what had become the substantive motion, was invited to give her right of reply. The Leader reiterated that the substantive motion did not reject unitarisation, only the introduction of a countywide mega-council. It would not be appropriate to write to the Secretary of State at this stage until the criteria was known.

 

Upon the substantive motion being put to the vote, it was

 

RESOLVED that

 

This Council Notes:

 

5. The Government’s English Devolution white paper in December 2024, which included reference to supporting local government reorganisation.

 

6. The proposals being considered and implemented by some counties to merge existing district councils into large, county-wide unitary authorities, as seen recently in North Yorkshire.

 

7. The significant concerns of residents, businesses and the third sector across Lincolnshire regarding the negative impact a mega-council would have on local democracy, accountability, and the effective delivery of public services.

 

8. The financial situation of mega-councils created in recent years such as Somerset and North Northamptonshire have not improved post-unitarisation. The financial crisis in local government has not been solved by unitarisation

 

This Council Believes:

 

6. Decisions affecting Lincoln should be taken in Lincoln.

 

7. Lincoln is a historic seat of democracy, with the UK’s oldest parliamentary constituency and a mayoralty that has existed for over 800 years. This history would be lost in a mega-council, county wide unitary.

 

8. Whilst the current two-tier system presents some challenges, the solution does not lie in the creation of vast and remote mega-councils that would diminish local voices and accountability.

 

9. If unitarisation is to be implemented in Lincolnshire, it should be based on smaller, more localised areas that are aligned with existing communities and their identities, rather than one or two, county-wide mega-councils.

 

10. That any restructuring of local government in Lincolnshire must be driven by the genuine needs and preferences of local communities, and should not be a top-down imposition that disregards local concerns.

 

This Council Resolves:

 

          At the current time, to reject the creation of a large, county-wide mega-council          for Lincolnshire.