Reorganising local councils is set to cost tax payers in South Holland £175,000.
A special meeting of South Holland District Council’s Cabinet on Tuesday will decide whether or not to approve the budget.
The council wants to be part of a South Lincolnshire Unitary authority along with current partners East Lindsey and Boston, and adding both North and South Kesteven.
“The model East Lindsey and South Holland have proposed in their interim plan seeks to build on the solid foundations already developed by the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, which has delivered savings of £40m over the past three years,” says the report to the cabinet.
The ‘indicative budget’ of £175,000 is requested of South Holland District Council to allow the procurement of the ‘necessary expertise’ to develop the final proposal.
“Until detailed conversations take place with suppliers, it isn’t possible to give a specific breakdown of the £175,000,” the report says.
But officers at the council are suggesting £35,000 goes to project management. Around £140,000 proposal development, including evidence base and associated financial analysis, governance arrangements and stakeholder/community engagement.
The Government has confirmed it would allocate £7.6m to support the development of the Local Government Reorganisation proposals. The funding will be shared by 21 areas.
“It isn’t yet clear how this will be allocated. Notwithstanding the government’s funding commitment, allocating a budget itself now positions the council to move quickly on developing a final proposal,” the report says.
Government feedback on the interim plan is expected in early May. It has said the intention is to reorganise all two-tier local authority areas, like Lincolnshire with both county and district or borough councils, within this Parliament.
A final proposal will be sent to central government for November 28.
“This council, via the leader, has been actively engaged in conversations regarding Local Government Reorganisation with the leaders of Greater Lincolnshire’s other councils. These conversations remain ongoing,” the report says.
“There isn’t the capacity or skills in-house to undertake this work, which is why this budget is being sought.”
If the Southern Unitary plan is progressed, it will leave the Norther Unitary with City of Lincoln, North East and North Lincolnshire councils and West Lindsey.
Both North and South authorities would have more than the 500,000 population required for new unitary authorities.
