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| Sir Edward - unconvinced by proposal |
A LINCOLNSHIRE MP has warned that resources risk being "sucked away" from smaller councils if a plan to establish a Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire goes ahead.
Gainsborough MP Edward Leigh told a debate in the Commons: "I wonder whether having a Mayor for Lincolnshire is going to make a great deal of difference.
"I am quite dubious about that idea: we are going to have a Mayor of Lincolnshire - a large rural area - as well as a county council, district councils, MPs and Ministers all competing for attention."
Sir Edward, whose constituency includes Caistor, continued: "I am also worried about the consultation process which all veers towards the idea that we have to have a Mayor.
"I need to be convinced that when a Mayor is imposed on Lincolnshire, he or she is not going to suck power and resources from the really local authorities, the district councils, which are doing all the hard graft."
The Minister, Jacob Young, responded: "My right hon. Friend mentions the landmark devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire and that it comes with a Mayor.
"However, he fails to mention the three quarters of a billion pounds that comes with that deal.
"I can assure him that we are giving more power and funding to communities like his in Greater Lincolnshire, and I urge him to support the introduction of a Mayor, which will be transformational for Greater Lincolnshire."
Supporters of the project include the leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Philip Jackson, and his counterparts in both North Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire.
They are persuaded by the proposed:
* 30-year investment fund worth £720m to level-up the whole of Greater Lincolnshire
* Control over a range of powers and budgets currently administered by central government
* Additional powers to tackle challenges and make the most of our economic potential so everyone who lives and works here benefits
* £28m for new a raft of projects to create new jobs
* An opportunity to give Greater Lincolnshire a louder voice, more influence, and a higher profile, locally, nationally and globally
How would the money be spent?
Says the proposal document's wishlist:
* Improved local transport and roads
* Enhanced digital services, like broadband
* Improvements to the environment
* The provision of good quality housing
* Boosting the economy by supporting local businesses to create new, high paid, high skilled jobs
* Improving training to ensure local people can take advantage of the new jobs
It is not known where the office of the Mayor would be located nor the salary nor how many staff would be required - and at what cost - to manage the secretariat.
If the proposal is adopted the election for a Greater Lincolnshire Mayor would be held in May next year.
Today is the last day of the public consultation.
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