Press Release: Blueprint submitted to Government

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

28th November 2025

'A Greater Lincolnshire for All': A blueprint for

better local services in Greater Lincolnshire

submitted to Government

• Full business case for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) – ‘A Greater Lincolnshire

for All’ - submitted to government

• Delivers a blueprint for better local services and better value for money

• Creates financially sustainable and balanced authorities covering the whole of Greater

Lincolnshire delivering greatest level of efficiencies of any proposal

• Only proposal in Greater Lincolnshire that fully meets government criteria

• Growing support with backing from public sector partners, businesses and residents

The South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership have today submitted a blueprint for better local public services in Greater Lincolnshire.

The Partnership, made up of Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council, has submitted the full business case for its ambitious plan for local government reform in Greater Lincolnshire – ‘A Greater Lincolnshire for All’.

The proposal will see the creation of northern and southern unitary councils covering the entirety of Greater Lincolnshire that would replace the existing outdated, bureaucratic and confusing local government system of the existing 10 councils:

• Northern Lincolnshire - covering Lincoln, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire,

and West Lindsey with a population of 526,000.

• Southern Lincolnshire - covering Boston, East Lindsey, South Holland, North Kesteven, and

South Kesteven with a population of 569,000.

Ministers in Whitehall wrote formally to all councils in Greater Lincolnshire in February inviting them to submit proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Public engagement conducted earlier in the year showed that most Greater Lincolnshire residents favoured moving to a unitary system of local government to end confusion, minimise duplication and make savings that could be reinvested in critical public services.

Cllr Dale Broughton, Leader of Boston Borough Council, said: “Today we have submitted the full business case for A Greater Lincolnshire for All; our ambitions for Greater Lincolnshire.

“Our blueprint is simple, it is clear, and it delivers on what our residents want: better services, better value for money, resources directed to the front line, decisions made locally and an end to the confusion and bureaucracy of having 10 councils.”

Cllr Craig Leyland, Leader of East Lindsey District Council, said: “This submission has been shaped by and reflects the views of the residents, communities, businesses and partners across Greater Lincolnshire following extensive engagement.

“Our proposal is the only one that ensures that local government in Greater Lincolnshire is the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. Our proposal delivers the greatest financial benefits, with payback in year 4 and a 10-year saving figure of over £220m, which is £68m to £173m more than alternative options.

“Our proposal creates authorities that are of the optimal size to drive efficiencies.”

Cllr Nick Worth, Leader of South Holland District Council, warned of the risks of the other

proposals: “A Greater Lincolnshire for All is the only proposal that fully meets and delivers on the government’s criteria for local government reorganisation including creating financially sustainable authorities for the whole of Greater Lincolnshire.

“Our proposal would also deliver significantly greater efficiencies and savings that can be reinvested back into front line services.”

Following submission, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government is expected to consult formally on the proposal early next year before making a decision on the preferred option later in the year. The timescales are set by government.

END

Notes:

The Greater Lincolnshire for All business case sets out how the proposal would create:

• Two balanced and financially sustainable councils listening to the needs and concerns of

residents, parishes and businesses, providing clear accountability:

o Northern Lincolnshire - covering Lincoln, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire,

and West Lindsey with a population of 526,000.

o Southern Lincolnshire - covering Boston, East Lindsey, South Holland, North Kesteven,

and South Kesteven with a population of 569,000.

All other proposals retain the existing two northern unitary authorities in their current form. This will leave structures that will struggle to meet future growing demands around complex service and care needs, existing high levels of deprivation and an ageing population.

The recently published Indices of Multiple Deprivation demonstrate that the north of Lincolnshire has one of the highest concentrations of deprived areas anywhere in the country.