County councillors have voted in favour of seeking the views of Lincolnshire residents of the county on the principle of moving to a unitary system of local government.
Following a debate at full council last Friday (February 24), the majority of councillors voted in favour of carrying out some form of consultation later this year.
Council leader Martin Hill had hoped to hold a referendum in tandem with county council elections in May. The proposal is to scrap seven district councils and the county council in favour of one authority but the poll was blocked due to potential legal ramifications highlighted by some of the district councils.
Coun Hill said: “The local election would have been a good chance to engage with people in Lincolnshire, but rather than doing a U-turn, the county council is facing a chicane as the district councils have put so many obstacles in the way!
“We never had any intention of spending £1m to hold a separate poll in polling stations, as suggested by the district councils, but I am pleased that the council are supportive of asking our residents for their views. I stand by the premise that it is right that residents have their say on the future of local government in the county. We should listen to the people we represent, not dictate to them.
“I believe the current system is complicated, wasteful and no longer financially sustainable. Without change, important local services are already being reduced and even cut entirely. The savings could also be used to keep council tax down, helping local families as they struggle to make ends meet themselves.”
The current two-tier system that currently exists in Lincolnshire comprises one county council and seven district councils. It’s estimated that a unitary system could save as much as £150m over five years.
