South Holland District Council will be abolished with Lincolnshire County Council’s bid to effectively take on the roles of the district council having been chosen by the government, the authority says.
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.
And today (July 7) it’s been announced the government has backed the county council’s bid for a new Greater Lincolnshire authority which will see it take on all of the duties carried out by district councils such as waste collections, car parks and all planning.
A unitary authority will also be made for Lincoln, the partnership say, 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.
South Holland District Council has for the last few years created the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership with Boston and East Lindsey 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.
More to follow.
