Options for Lincolnshire councils shake-up revealed

The county could be split into two north and south unitary authorities

Proposals to split Lincolnshire's councils into two unitary authorities have been published.

There are two plans that would each involve the 10 existing councils currently covering greater Lincolnshire being merged into two authorities.

Single-tier councils would take over both county and district-level responsibilities.

A third option that would see three new councils replacing the existing set-up is likely to be dropped, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The first option would see the current North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire councils become a single northern authority, with the wider county covered by another single council.

The cost of the change would be £27m, and it would be projected to save £250m over its first 10 years.

However, under that plan, the northern authority would not meet the 500,000 population target that the government is looking for.

The second option would see North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire join the current West Lindsey and East Lindsey districts.

Further south, Lincoln, North Kesteven, South Kesteven, Boston and South Holland would be combined.

That set-up would result in a more equal share of population, but would require reorganisation costing an estimated £42m, with a 10-year projected saving of £246m.

The proposals all involve changes to the structure of local government in greater Lincolnshire

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the third option, which is unlikely to be progressed, proposes three separate councils – one covering Lincoln, West Lindsey, North Kesteven and South Kesteven; one for East Lindsey, Boston and South Holland; and one for North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

It has the highest initial cost at £44m and the lowest long-term savings of £212m over 10 years.

The plans will be discussed by the county council's overview and scrutiny board next week and will need approval from the executive and full council before being submitted to the government by 21 March.

If approved, the changes could go into effect from April 2028.

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