South Holland District Council will be abolished with a new authority that will largely oversee the area currently the remit of Lincolnshire County Council to take on the roles.
The Local Government Review is to create new unitary authorities which it says will lessen costs.
Authorities made bids as to what those authorities should look like.
The successful bid is that of the City Of Lincoln council which will include current nearby parts of North Kesteven and West Lindsey, while the the North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire councils will remain as they are, with the potential to combine as one unitary authority in the future.
Bar those areas that will now come under the City of Lincoln the rest, including South Holland will be part of the new authority which makes up the current boundaries Lincolnshire County Council oversee.
The county council had effectively asked or it to take on the district council roles.
South Holland District Council has for the last few years created the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership with Boston and East Lyndsey councils as part of its bid to be a unitary alongside North and South Kesteven.
A district council/partnership statement announcing the decision said: “We wanted to let you know about this announcement and, most importantly, reassure you that it is business as usual. There are no immediate changes to the services or support available to businesses and partner organisations.
“Under the Government’s timetable, existing councils will continue to deliver all current services until the new unitary authorities are established in April 2028, known as ‘vesting day’. Until then, our teams will continue to work with you in the same way they do now. There will also be no immediate impact on business rates, contracts and joint working.
“Supporting businesses, attracting investment, creating jobs and working with our partners to strengthen the local economy remain key priorities throughout this transition. We are committed to maintaining strong relationships with our business community and partner organisations and ensuring that support continues uninterrupted.
“Our Economic Development teams remain on hand to provide business advice and guidance, signpost funding and grant opportunities, and connect you with the right organisations through our established networks across the public, private and education sectors.
“We have a strong history of working collaboratively with partners across Greater Lincolnshire, and that collaborative approach will continue throughout the Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) process. We will work closely with colleagues across the area to ensure a smooth transition of economic development and business support services, while maintaining continuity and minimising disruption for businesses and partners.”
The authorities were told about the government’s decision at 9am this morning, SHDC leader Coun Nick Worth told a meeting of the authority last night.
A statement put out by South Holland District Council, this lunchtime states: “We accept the Government’s decision and thank them for considering the joint proposal submitted by Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland.
“This is a significant change for local government in Greater Lincolnshire. While residents will be keen to understand what this means for them, our immediate focus remains on delivering day-to-day services and supporting our workforce as the next stages of the process are worked through.
“Each council will now take time to review the detail of the announcement and understand the implications for our residents, services, staff and partners.
“There are no immediate changes to council services, or our day‑to‑day operations and residents should continue to access council services in the usual way.”
Coun Sean Matthews, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The government has made a decision on what they think the best model is for Greater Lincolnshire. This will be a significant change and a long-term piece of work to implement, working with all councils to get the best outcomes for residents.
“However, I’d like to reassure our communities that in the meantime, whether it’s road repairs, caring for vulnerable children and adults, protecting communities in emergencies – maintaining the important services residents rely on will continue to be our priority.”
Edit. This article was changed to say that it was the City of Lincoln’s Council that has been successful. While the new authority will cover the majority of Lincolnshire County Council’s bid, it will pass on its current responsibilities in parts of North Kesteven and West Lindsey.
