Issue - meetings

To consider South Kesteven DC's response to the MHCLG Statutory Consultation on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Lincolnshire.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Delegate authority to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Chief Executive, to determine the form and content of, and to submit, South Kesteven District Council’s response to the Government’s statutory consultation on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Lincolnshire.

2.    Approve publication of the Council’s response to the statutory consultation following the conclusion of the consultation period.

Reasons for the decision

The Government had invited the Council to participate in the statutory consultation for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Greater Lincolnshire. The statutory consultation would be used to inform the final government decision.

Other options considered and rejected

The Council was under no obligation to submit a consultation response. However, the statutory consultation would be used to inform the final government decision on LGR. Therefore, if the Council did not submit a response, it would lose an opportunity to influence the government on LGR.

The Chairman of Council was content that call-in need not apply to this decision – the notice attached to the call-in waiver is available at https://moderngov.southkesteven.gov.uk/documents/s50103/LGR%20Consultation%20Urgency%20Notice.pdf.

Purpose of report

To consider South Kesteven DC's response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Statutory Consultation on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Lincolnshire.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Delegates authority to the Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Chief Executive, to determine the form and content of, and to submit, South Kesteven District Council’s response to the Government’s statutory consultation on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Greater Lincolnshire.

2.    Approves publication of the Council’s response to the statutory consultation following the conclusion of the consultation period.

Other options considered

The Council was under no obligation to submit a consultation response. However, the statutory consultation would be used to inform the final government decision on LGR. Therefore, if the Council did not submit a response, it would lose an opportunity to influence the government on LGR.

The Chairman of Council was content that call-in need not apply to this decision – the call-in waiver notice is available at

 https://moderngov.southkesteven.gov.uk/documents/s50103/LGR%20Consultation% 20Urgency%20Notice.pdf

Reasons for the decision

The Government had invited the Council to participate in the statutory consultation for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Greater Lincolnshire. The statutory consultation would be used to inform the final government decision.

SKDC was a consultee and had been invited to participate in the consultation. Cabinet’s favoured way forward was the same as the proposal put forward in November 2025 at both Full Council and Cabinet (The Kesteven and South Holland proposal).

MHCLG have reminded authorities to take care through the recommended code of practice for publicity. Local authorities cannot campaign for a preferred proposal.

Consultation responses would be submitted by Executives/Cabinets. SKDC’s Constitution contained a delegation to individual Cabinet Members to respond to government consultations. The final wording would be aligned with North Kesteven District Council’s response.

The proposal endorsed by Full Council in November 2025 included a full options appraisal, which would be included in the consultation response.