As the Devolution Lincolnshire engagement draws to a close on 3rd July, we hear from Councillor Rob Waltham MBE.
Rob is the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council, a LEP Director, a member of the Greater Lincolnshire Oversight Committee and Chair of the Humber Leaders’ Board. Here, he shares his thoughts on what a devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire could mean, and how businesses can have their say.
We have been invited to develop plans for devolving power to Lincolnshire – it is a core part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.
I continue to work with colleagues across Lincolnshire to shape the plan which is designed enable our county to reach its full potential. If we secure devolution then the Government will transfer some of its powers, services and budgets - through a Lincolnshire Deal - which we will then focus on local need and target to economic growth and renewal in communities here.
Various areas throughout England have already secured devolution deals, including Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Greater Manchester and Cornwall. There is precedent for change, and the opportunity is very real now – but we need to hear from businesses.
To that end, we asked the Greater Lincolnshire LEP to lead an independent devolution discussion to seek views from the business community as to whether they think we should have devolved powers and, if so, what powers they ought to be and where should we target investments.
There is already a vast amount of Government support – and cash – to drive economic growth, with huge strides being made across the area. There are challenges which could be better addressed, such as some specific issues around skills and employment which impact our productivity levels. Devolution will give us more power to address these challenges locally.
A devolution deal could mean that decisions are made locally rather than nationally on the best infrastructure to better connect people to jobs, freight to ports, or energy to facilities, ensuring that local priorities are met – it will be important to the business community.
For example, it could mean that local leaders have more national influence to ensure that Lincolnshire businesses have the right education, training and apprenticeships to meet their needs – both now and for the jobs of the future.
We have developed a short survey below which will help us to understand the business community’s position and demonstrate to Government that whatever our plans are that they have been shaped with business leaders.
To find out more visit the dedicated Devolution Lincolnshire website here - and make sure your voice is heard by taking the two-minute survey here.
The survey closes at midnight on Sunday night / Monday morning 3rd / 4th July 2022.
