Plans for 'remote mega-council' rejected

Councillors in West Lindsey have rejected proposals for a single county-wide unitary authority for Lincolnshire.

Under the proposals, the county's city and district councils, along with Lincolnshire County Council, would be merged.

Supporters said the idea would improve efficiency and save money, while critics warned that one large council would be too remote and local issues could be ignored.

At a full West Lindsey District Council meeting on Monday, councillor Matt Boles said that while the current two-tier system presented "some challenges", one "vast and remote mega-council" was not the solution.

Putting forward a motion to reject the proposals, he said West Lindsey District Council had "served its residents successfully for over 50 years".

"If unitarisation is to be implemented in Lincolnshire, it should be based on smaller, more localised areas that align with existing communities and their identities," he added.

The motion was seconded by councillor Jim Snee, who told the meeting: "Bigger isn't always better - be careful what you wish for."

Council leader Trevor Young said an extraordinary meeting would take place in the next couple of weeks to consider the issue further.

However, he urged colleagues to support the motion, telling the meeting: "We believe that local councils should be local."

He said if the proposals were implemented it would lead to local knowledge being lost and huge uncertainty.

"There might be areas where district councils want to do this - and they should be free to [make that decision] - but it should not be for government to dictate what happens everywhere," he added.

As a result of the meeting, the council passed a resolution to reject the creation of a single county-wide unitary authority and to call on all other local authorities to do the same.

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