What do you like about North East Lincolnshire Council as a small unitary authority? What is important to you as residents here and what do you think could improve?
Change could be coming for North East Lincolnshire Council and the way public services are delivered across the borough – and it’s time to have your say on what’s important to you.
As part of Local Government Reorganisation, (LGR), councils have been asked what change should look like.
The Government thinks bigger could be better with large unitary authorities (one council doing everything) serving more people across wider areas being simpler. more efficient, and financially stronger. It has launched LGR to deliver that possible change by 2028 and if that happened, North East Lincolnshire could go as a borough.
All the councils in the Greater Lincolnshire area have been asked to submit their preferred options for a way forward in November. There are 10 councils altogether:
- Lincolnshire County Council. The tier one authority responsible for whole-county services with seven district tier two councils underneath – Boston Borough Council, City of Lincoln Council, East Lindsey District Council, North Kesteven District Council, South Holland District Council, South Kesteven District Council and West Lindsey District Council.
- North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire unitary authorities – they are smaller authorities running all services for residents.
Here, North East Lincolnshire Council will put a case forward to keep its current boundaries. It does not want to be replaced by a bigger unitary authority delivering services across a much larger area of the county.
It believes smaller remains the best way forward here with the four main political leaders – Conservative, Labour, Lib-Dem and Independents for North East Lincolnshire – agreeing. This way forward was approved at the Full Council meeting last month.
The Leaders say that, as an authority with a 158,335 population, the council and elected members are close to their communities and businesses. This means that decisions are made with an understanding of local needs. For example, strides are being made in supporting young people, and adults, improving health – and growing the economy, skills and training, and the close community links are enabling that work.
They say that, whatever the political make-up of the council now and in the future, it is the ability to take advantage of our size and close links to our communities that is important here.
Leader Cllr Philip Jackson said: “We have stated clearly that our intention is to build a Stronger Economy and Stronger Communities – and we believe this is best done if we remain as North East Lincolnshire Council, whilst of course looking for opportunities to work with our neighbouring authorities across Greater Lincolnshire.”
Labour Group Leader, Cllr Emma Clough said: “North East Lincolnshire is a unique place that deserves a council that puts our community first. Keeping NELC as a small unitary authority means decisions that shape our local services are driven by people who live and work in the area. We do not want to run the risk of weakening local accountability.”
Lib-Dem Group Leader, Cllr Nicola Aisthorpe, said: “No one knows North East Lincolnshire better than its own people. The history of the former Humberside County Council showed that when decision-making grows bigger and moves further away, communities can find it harder to have their voices heard. Our future is best shaped here, guided by local knowledge, priorities, and voices.”
Leader of the North East Lincolnshire Independents Group Cllr Steve Holland said: “This will be the biggest change to how local government works since Humberside was abolished as a county. It’s really important that the views of residents and local businesses are considered before we push ahead any further on reorganisation plans.”
To read more about LGR, what our Council does now, what the future could be and take the survey: Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) | NELC
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