Councils at loggerheads over political 'shake-up'

LATEST PLANS FOR COUNTY SPLIT

- BY JAMIE WALLER

A WAR of words has broken out between Lincolnshire councils over the latest plans to redraw the political map.

The county’s ten authorities will be abolished in the next few years and replaced with two or three larger ones that deliver all services.

However, the districts are split over what that should look like, with a surprise new proposal from East Lindsey and South Holland councils causing disagreements.

Cllr Richard Wright (Con), the leader of North Kesteven District Council, said he was “extremely disappointed” at the timing of the announcement earlier this week, although the two authorities said they had been informed in advance.

“I thought the districts had broadly agreed that we would engage with residents before presenting the options,” Cllr Wright told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“This is a break with the rest of the councils. I didn’t know there would be this public launch, or that they're planning to hold engagement events out of their area, including Sleaford.