Businesses have been invited to have their say on devolution for Lincolnshire.
The consultation deadline closes today, with local authorities on the South Bank of the Humber having opted to look to the ceremonial county in their bid to draw more powers from Westminster.
The geo-political split of the natural economic entity was forced with government insisting on single local enterprise partnership membership, with both Humber and Lincolnshire previously embraced by North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire councils.
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As reported, Hull and East Yorkshire are now working on devolution plans through a combined authority model, having been left to go it alone. Opportunity Humber, a private sector led body has also emerged from central government to bring together pan-Humber interests, while Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce continues to hold together ther entity at a local commerical and policy-lobbying level.
Now in the final hours of the engagement process, business views are sought in a short survey, as the region responds to the Levelling-Up agenda.
Cllr Rob Waltham MBE is leader of North Lincolnshire Council, a Greater Lincolnshire 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, having missed out on a first-wave of offers from government.
Looking ahead, he said: "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 local priorities are me – 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, which will help us understand the business community’s position and demonstrate to Government that whatever our plans are that they have been shaped with business leaders."
When the Levelling-Up White Paper was released in February, Greater Lincolnshire LEP chair Pat Doody described it as a missed opportunity that Lincolnshire was not selected.
This work will now go to a further round.
