Government plans that could see the county’s local councils scrapped have divided Lincoln’s politicians.
The proposal would potentially create one council for the entire county, replacing the eight that currently exist.
The government says a national shake-up would streamline services, saving up to £2 billion, and would empower local leaders to make more decisions.
However, senior Lincoln councillors are at odds over whether bigger authorities would deliver better services for residents.
The “upper-tier” Lincolnshire County Council currently manages roads, education and social services, while the seven district and borough councils deal with local issues such as bin collections, housing and planning.
The Labour group, which runs City of Lincoln Council, has said any reorganisation shouldn’t force “vast, remote authorities” on Lincolnshire residents.
The Liberal Democrats argue it would end the city’s tradition of governing itself, while the Conservatives believe single-tier government would be more efficient.
Here are each party’s statements on the government White Paper:
‘Smaller footprint needed’
Labour Council leader Naomi Tweddle said: “We support devolution in principle and would welcome more power and funding to be transferred from central government to Greater Lincolnshire.
“However, it is important that any reorganisation taking place in the county is done in a way that enhances local services and local democracy and is designed in close collaboration with all of Lincolnshire’s authorities.
“Creating a large, unitary council would mean a vast, remote authority with a weak link to local areas and little capability to deliver the place-based services that are essential for creating jobs, growth, better health and more prosperous communities.
“There is no strong evidence that much larger councils will be more efficient or effective. But there is clear evidence that they tend to have a negative impact on trust in councillors, public engagement and voter turnout.
“We are disappointed that prior to this announcement there was very little engagement from government on what could amount to the biggest changes to local government in 50 years.
“The white paper suggests we will be able to make the case for a smaller unitary council if we feel that is right for the city. We welcome the government’s statement that it will not directly impose unitary councils or insist on them as a prerequisite for having a combined authority.”
She said there must be consent from local councils before changes are made.
“Moving forward, we will work with other authorities to encourage government to accept that any reorganisation in Lincolnshire will only be effective if it is done on a smaller footprint.”
‘Needless distraction’
Councillor Clare Smalley, the Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition, said it was the wrong time for dramatic political changes.
“Labour’s bombshell plans risk unnecessarily merging Lincoln into a new remote super-council – potentially stretching from the outskirts of Grimsby to Rutland, including Gainsborough and the East Coast,” she said.
“The Liberal Democrats reject this vision for our city.
“We believe that Lincoln is a unique, self-governing and historic city, and as such we do not believe that any changes to our structures are required.
“Any other model of local government would fail to effectively represent Lincoln’s history, communities and the unique characteristics of the city.
“Local people will be surprised that the new Labour government are choosing this moment to force a top-down reorganisation across the country on social care, schools and councils.
“The priority at the moment should be to get the city’s communities, businesses and residents back on their feet. This is just a needless distraction. I urge all residents to add their voice to our opposition to these plans.”
‘A bold step worth exploring’
Councillor Tom Dyer, leader of the Conservative group, said single-tier councils made more sense than the current set-up.
“The two-tier system of local government is outdated and unnecessarily complicates local democracy. It creates confusion for residents and leads to duplication of efforts across Lincolnshire.
“Larger, more strategic local authorities are better equipped to manage services effectively in the 21st century. I therefore encourage all Lincolnshire councils to consider how local government reorganisation could benefit the people of our county.
“The majority of strategic decisions affecting the City of Lincoln are made by Lincolnshire County Council. Contrary to claims I’ve heard from Lincoln Labour or the Liberal Democrats, the City of Lincoln Council plays a relatively small role in delivering local services.
“While I’m no supporter of this Labour government, I believe their proposal is a bold step worth exploring further, particularly as Lincolnshire progresses with its own devolution deal.”