Positions of Lincolnshire councils on the potential shake-up of local government

AUTHORITIES HAD UNTIL NOVEMBER 28 TO MAKE FINAL SUBMISSIONS TO GOVERNMENT

- By IVAN MORRIS POXTON

NORTH Lincolnshire Council has submitted to Government to not be merged with neighbours, after residents made their views clear.

The Government is looking at local government reorganisation in Greater Lincolnshire.

It wants to get rid of two-tier areas, where there is an upper-tier county council and lower-tier district and borough councils beneath it.

North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire are single-tier unitaries, but could potentially be affected.

All of Lincolnshire's ten councils have now finalised their positions.

North Lincolnshire councillors unanimously agreed that their final submission to Government would be to not merge with anyone.

The Conservative administration favoured earlier this year dividing Greater Lincolnshire into a northern and southern unitary each.

Residents' feedback in a council consultation subsequently led to a change of heart.

"More than 12,000 residents took the time to share their views, and the message is clear - the majority want to keep North Lincolnshire as it is," said council leader Cllr Rob Waltham (Conservative - Brigg and Wolds Ward).

He said the council's submission was "a measured, evidence-based case". It includes an independent assessment by Impower Consulting of the cost of a merger with North East Lincolnshire, at between £31m and £49m. The two northern Lincolnshire councils commissioned it together.