Councillors vote to abolish district councils

Greater Lincolnshire could be shaken up with boundary changes

Lincolnshire's nine councils could be reduced to two or three after councillors voted on how the county's political map could be redrawn.

The county council's preferred option is for a single unitary authority coving the whole of Lincolnshire, with district councils abolished. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), North and North East Lincolnshire would be amalgamated into a second separate authority.

Councils submitted their initial ideas earlier this year as part of plans to streamline local government and save money. Now, the government has tasked the authorities with choosing their final options.

Councillor Liam Kelly described it as "the most sensible" option.

"It delivers what voters want – efficiency, value for money and uninterrupted services," he said.

Councillor Rob Gibson, the deputy leader who is responsible for the reorganisation process, said any split would "inevitably lead to a reduction in services".

He said: "This decision is one of the most important we'll make in this council, and will affect every person in Lincolnshire.

"Our biggest concern is splitting up adult services, children's services and the fire and rescue service."

A discounted option that was considered would have split Greater Lincolnshire into a northern and southern council.

The northern council would have been made up of North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, East Lindsey and West Lindsey.

And the southern council would have included Lincoln, North Kesteven, South Kesteven, Boston and South Holland.

Councils will need to send their plans to the government by November before a decision is made, the LDRS said.

It is expected that the changes would then come into effect for Lincolnshire by 2027.

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