Decision details

The Leader of the Council to approve the publication of a draft Scheme for the establishment of the Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined Authority for consultation

The Leader of the Council endorses the following:

i)         He notes the support from full Council at its meetings on the 12^th November 2015 and  on the 26^th May 2016, and;

ii)        He notes the contents of the Governance Review for Greater Lincolnshire attached to report LDS177 Appendix 1 (The Governance Review) and on the basis of the Governance Review, concludes that the establishment of a Mayoral Combined Authority for the Greater Lincolnshire area is the option which most fully permits the effective discharge of the functions that Government is prepared to devolve to this area.

iii)      He supports the preparation and publication of the draft Scheme for the establishment of a Mayoral Combined Authority for the Greater Lincolnshire area under section 109 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 as attached to report LDS177 at Appendix 2 (the Draft Scheme) for consultation purposes.

iv)      He delegates to the Chief Executive, in consultation with himself (the Leader), and prior to the commencement of the formal consultation exercise, authority to approve the making of changes to the Draft Scheme and to submit the outcome of the consultation exercise to the Secretary of State.

The recommendations are made following the Governance Review carried out which determines that the creation of a Mayoral Combined Authority would enable the implementation of a devolution deal for the area of Greater Lincolnshire.

On the 12^th November 2015, Council agreed:

·         That the Greater Lincolnshire devolution expression of interest, submitted to Government on the 4th September 2015, is developed into a fit for purpose devolution deal document via continued formal engagement with Government;

·           That authority is delegated to the Leader and Chief Executive respectively   to continue devolution discussions and negotiations with Government;

·         To the commencement of a formal governance review, no sooner than January 2016 and subject to prior confirmation from Government that the Greater Lincolnshire submission is to be negotiated to detailed Deal stage;

·         That subject to the outcome of any statutory governance review, to submit to the principle of establishing a combined authority for the Greater Lincolnshire geography as the most effective and efficient means of securing strategic economic (and related) growth;

·         The principles which would underpin and inform the establishment of any formal governance arrangements between the ten Councils.

·         To the formation, in any event, of a joint committee under the relevant provisions of the Local Government Acts 1972 and 2000, to exercise the functions and responsibilities referred to in the report and operating as the Greater Lincolnshire Leadership Board.

·         That authority was delegated to the Chief Executive to develop and finalise the governance and constitutional arrangements to support the discharge of the Leadership Board's responsibilities, in consultation with the Leader.

·         To make available such reasonable resources as may be necessary to support the establishment of the joint committee, the conduct of the governance review and the implementation of the outcomes.

A Devolution Agreement was signed by the Leaders of the ten Greater Lincolnshire Councils, the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership and Government ministers and the agreement was announced by the Chancellor in the Budget set on the 16^th March 2016.

 At its meeting on the 26^th May 2016, Council agreed to:

·         Endorse the signing of the Greater Lincolnshire Devolution Agreement and delegate authority to the Leader and Chief Executive to engage in negotiations with government regarding the potential devolution of further powers, responsibilities and resources;

·         Note the contents of the Greater Lincolnshire Governance Review;

·         Conclude that the establishment of a Mayoral Combined Authority for the Greater Lincolnshire area is the option which most fully permits the effective discharge of the functions that Government is prepared to devolve to this area;

·          Support the preparation and publication of a Scheme for the establishment of a Mayoral Combined Authority for the Greater Lincolnshire area under section 109 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009;

·         Support the publication of the draft Scheme for a Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined Authority as attached to this report (Appendix 2) for consultation purposes, subject to such final revisions as may be approved by the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, and prior to the commencement of the formal consultation exercise. Such formal consultation is to commence once all Greater Lincolnshire Councils have considered the matters in this report and, in any event, no later than the 4th July 2016;

·         That the outcome of the consultation exercise is submitted to the Secretary of the State by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader;

·         That Council meets by 20 October 2016 to consider giving consent to an Order establishing a Mayoral Combined Authority for Greater Lincolnshire;

·         In respect of the discharge of non-executive functions, delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, authority to take all necessary steps and actions to progress the recommendations made to t the Council

·         That further reports are presented to Council and the Executive as appropriate as the devolution process develops.

As at the 26^th May 2016, all ten participating councils had confirmed support as detailed at 5 above.

Insofar as the decisions required to progress the Devolution Agreement are Executive functions of the Council, it is recommended that the Leader makes the decisions.

In accordance with the statutory process set out in the Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 as amended by the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016, a Governance Review was carried out which determined that the creation of a Mayoral Combined Authority would enable the implementation of a devolution deal for the area of Greater Lincolnshire.

An alternative option would be to not approve the draft Scheme for publication and consultation. Following the support of the Council at its meetings on the 12^th November 2015 and on the 26^th May 2016, no further information is available to determine that an alternative option should be considered. Any further options which may become available can be considered during the period of the consultation and determined at the Council meeting to be held before the 20^th October 2016