Issue - meetings

Purpose of report

To consider the final LGR proposal for submission to government.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1. Had considered the resolution of the Full Council meeting of 20 November 2025 relating to the draft proposal for Local Government Reorganisation for Greater Lincolnshire.

2. Approves the attached proposal for Local Government Reorganisation for submission to Government by 28 November 2025.

3. Delegates authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any minor changes to the submission document prior to the final submission.

The Chairman of Council on 27 October 2025 agreed that this decision of Cabinet was not subject to call-in. This was due to the time constraints between this meeting and the final deadline for submission to government of 28 November 2025

Alternative options considered and rejected

The Council had no obligation to submit a full LGR proposal to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) and there would have been no legal penalty for not doing so. However, the Government had stated that LGR would proceed whether or not any proposal was submitted. Therefore, if the Council had not submitted a proposal, it would have missed a unique opportunity to shape and influence local government and the future delivery of the strategic interests of South Kesteven’s residents.

A full options appraisal was contained within the proposed submission at Appendix A of the report.

The Kesteven Interim proposal submitted in March 2025 included the geography of Rutland CC as part of ‘Unitary 1’. This was based primarily for economic alignment in accordance with government’s mission for growth. The inclusion of Rutland had been considered and rejected during the options appraisal for the following reasons:

·       Rutland was within the Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland Invitation Area. Proposals which crossed over different invitation areas were possible but would require a very strong rationale. The inclusion of Rutland into Unitary 1 would involve a very significant risk of being regarded as non-compliant with the statutory requirements.

·       A cross-invitation area proposal ought to have the clear commitment of all parties and, thus far, there had been no clear indication of support from Rutland County Council (RCC).

·       There was further risk of uncertainty on the degree of modelling required by MHCLG on impacts to the neighbouring Invitation area.

·       The inclusion of Rutland within a proposal for Lincolnshire would require clear proposals for the remainder of the Leicestershire and Rutland Invitation Area.

·       Rutland currently had separate provision of several key services including Fire and Rescue. Clear arrangements for the delivery of these services would need to have been included within the proposals.

·       Rutland was not part of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority and therefore the inclusion would arguably not meet ‘Criterion 5’, which required that proposals support devolution.

·       Compliance would be a matter of MHCLG discretion. MHCLG had communicated that if Rutland CC were to be included, it would have to be as part of the core proposal, not as an additional variation. It was considered that the risk of non-compliance was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68