Ambitious plans for the future have been revealed by South Holland District Council.
Working within its new partnership of South and East Lincolnshire Councils, the district could become part of a devolved local authority and no longer part of the county council.
There are no details available yet, but it is a top priority in a list of future strategy targets to be discussed by council members this week.
A report that went before members of South Holland District Council yesterday (Wednesday) outlines a programme for the new partnership as well as more specific items for the district of South Holland.
Plans for town centre improvements in Holbeach and Spalding, a continuation of the Grants4Growth programme and support for the leisure facilities and Pride in South Holland Awards are all highlighted in the report.
“We are working hard to make the best use of the opportunities presented to us through the Government’s Levelling Up and Towns Fund agenda and, together with partners from across the public and private sectors, we will deliver a range of ambitious projects and interventions that will attract investment to grow our economy,” said Coun Gary Porter, leader of the district council.
The three-council partnership was the officially started on Lincolnshire Day, October 1 and the meeting yesterday discussed the way forward.
The strategic top ten list for the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership includes a joint approach to working with the Internal Drainage Board and shared opportunities ‘to improve service efficiency and effectiveness.’
Coun Porter added that the new partnership would be working to address health inequalities and ensure ‘our communities have access to vital services that support their needs.’
The report before South Holland councillors says that the business case for the new partnership demonstrated potential savings of £42m combined over the next ten years.
“If all opportunities to integrate services are fully embraced, exploring wider service integration, where it makes sense to do so, will reduce pressure on the councils’ budgets in the years ahead,” it says.
There had previously been discussions about a unitary authority for Lincolnshire with no district councils and all services under the wing of one super-sized council, but the idea was not progressed. Combining with two other councils means South Holland is in a better position to negotiate devolved power for the future. The district had previously partnered with Breckland Council in Norfolk.
