Agenda item

(To receive a report by Lee Sirdifield, Assistant Director – Corporate, which invites the committee to consider a report on the Devolution Deal, prior to a decision by the Leader of the Council on 13 March 2024. The views of the Board will be reported to the Leader of the Council as part of his consideration of the report)

Consideration was given to a report by the Assistant Director – Corporate which invited the Board to consider and support a report on the outcomes of the public consultation on devolution proposals for Greater Lincolnshire; the response of the constituent councils to the themes from the public consultation and the updated Equality Impact Assessment; the amendments made to the Proposal to consider the consultation findings; and the next steps, timelines and delegations set out within the report which would support devolution for Greater Lincolnshire.  The report was due to be considered by the Council on 13 March 2024, prior to a decision being made by the Leader of the Council.  The view of the Board would be reported to the Leader as part of his consideration of the report.

The Board supported the proposals within the report to the Leader of the Council, as set out in Appendix 1, and during the discussion, the following points were recorded for consideration:

·       The Board supported a view that a key element of the devolution proposal, in line with stated Government policy, was that without a directly-elected mayor, none of the £750 million funding would be available for Greater Lincolnshire.  This condition has been and remained a non-negotiable element of the deal between Greater Lincolnshire and the Government.  This funding would lead to economic, environmental and transport benefits as outlined in the report.  There was dissent from some members of the Board, who did not support a directly-elected mayor, and argued that there was not sufficient support for the establishment of this role.        

·       It was highlighted that delaying a devolution arrangement could lead to a future Government making decisions on the devolution arrangements in Greater Lincolnshire without reference to the local authorities concerned.  This in turn could lead to outcomes such as the separation of the ancient county of Lincolnshire into different combined authority areas and the dilution of Greater Lincolnshire into other areas. 

·       Queries were raised regarding the representation of district councils, as non-constituent members of the Greater Lincolnshire County Combined Authority (GLCCA).  The Board was advised that this would essentially be a matter for determination by the district councils themselves through the establishment of a joint committee, comprising representatives from the district councils only.  The Board was sympathetic to a view that the district councils not represented on the CCA should have representation in the CCA’s overview and scrutiny committee arrangements, with these details to be determined at a later date.  it was suggested that ideally, the joint committee would seek to have arrangements, whereby their representation on the Greater Lincolnshire CCA and its committees was rotated.

·       Members commented that the consultation had been very thorough and provided a strong indicative result of the views of the people of Lincolnshire supporting the proposals for jobs and business growth; education and training; roads buses and transport; and environment.  However, some members of the Board disagreed with this view, and indicated preference for a referendum, given the significance of the change to the county’s governance.

·       It was clarified that there has been no change since the original proposal to the representation of district councils, as non-constituent councils, on the Combined County Authority: four representatives, to be decided by a joint committee, comprising members of district councils only.  Furthermore, it was confirmed that there would be no changes to the powers and functions of the district councils themselves. 

·       It was noted that the proposals had been drafted in the context of Government policy.  There would be flexibility in the devolution arrangements.  For example, if Government policies on electronic vehicles were to change in the future, say, to an emphasis on hydrogen powered vehicles, this could be accommodated as part of the devolution arrangements, to seek to maximise the benefits for Greater Lincolnshire.

·       It was clarified that the principle would generally apply that district council representatives, as non-constituent representatives, on the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority would not have a vote on matters which were the responsibility of the upper tier councils, for example, transport.  There were instances of powers that could concurrently be used with district councils: for example, if the mayor were to intend to set up a mayoral development area, there would need to be consent from the relevant district councils.

·       It was confirmed that the armed forces covenant would apply to the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, and there would be appropriate engagement with armed forces and armed forces veterans.  

RESOLVED

1.    That the recommendations detailed on page 19 of the report be supported.

2.    That a summary of the comments made, as above, be shared with the Leader of the Council prior to his consideration of the decision.