Issue - meetings

To seek endorsement from Council to re-engage with relevant stakeholders to raise the issue of the need for additional funding for the Greater Lincolnshire area, and to set out the underlying case for this approach (report of the Deputy Leader of the Council and the Executive Director Commercialisation enclosed).

Consideration was given to a report of the Deputy Leader of the Council and the Executive Director Commercialisation to seek endorsement from the Council to re-engage with relevant stakeholders to raise the issue of the need for additional funding for the Greater Lincolnshire area.

Councils and other public bodies in Greater Lincolnshire had experienced consistently low relative levels of central government financial support over a long period.  With a new government in place, the time was considered right to re-engage with relevant stakeholders to raise the issue of the need for additional funding for the Greater Lincolnshire area.

Members were in favour of the proposals although some concern was raised with regard to authorities that currently received more funding and whether they would be willing to support the proposals if they would lose some of this. 

Councillor Chandler explained that fairer funding did not only cover Lincolnshire.  The funding formula would mean that SHDC would not lose out, and that Lincolnshire would gain.  However, nationally it was likely to adversely affect some of the inner London boroughs.

Members also asked whether all Lincolnshire authorities would continue to support the proposals and if not, whether this would disadvantage Lincolnshire as a whole?  Councillor Chandler stated that the issues had been debated and approved and that he had been given confidence that there would be continued agreement.

DECISION:

That the Council supports the proposal to engage in a communications strategy which was aiming to achieve an improved funding deal for Greater Lincolnshire going forward, in line with the contents of the report.