Our proposal

To deliver our ambitions for Greater Lincolnshire we will seek to organise our resources in the best possible way. We proposed to pool some resources into the combined county authority to enable delivery of its key functions for: 

• Economic development and regeneration 
• Adult education and skills 
• Transport 
• Housing supply, regeneration and place 

This proposal is not merging or reorganising local councils.

Rather, by working at the right level, sharing data and insight, advancing joint ambitions, and focusing on the powers and functions that have been devolved to it, the proposed Combined County Authority has the ability to improve outcomes for Greater Lincolnshire and ensure joined up decision making. 

Work is currently underway to define the ‘Operating Model’ for the proposed Combined County Authority which will describe how it would work, the functions, people, processes, systems and organisational structure. 

The following principles will guide our development of the operating model. 

1. Efficient use of public resources: 

The Combined County Authority would be a small strategic body overseeing the effective delivery of growth priorities, working collaboratively with Constituent Councils, non-Constituent Members and other stakeholders. The Combined County Authority would assume the functional powers outlined in the table at Appendix A and best value will be sought for residents in the delivery of these functions. 

To discharge its functions effectively and legally, there would need to be sufficient capacity and resources. Funding has been secured as part of the deal from central Government towards the financial years 2024/25, 2025/26 and 2026/27. The Mayor would have powers to bring in additional funding and the Combined County Authority would have powers to borrow. It is expected that the running costs of the authority will be met through future central Government support and equal funding from the Constituent Councils. 

2. Local Enterprise Partnership Integration: 

Local councils currently invest in a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) that brings together local business and council leaders. As set out in the Devolution Deal, the functions of the LEP would be integrated into the Combined County Authority. These functions include business growth, innovation, skills strategy and regeneration. In addition there is also a commitment to include an independent business voice, as is currently represented through the LEP Board. Funding for the LEP would be pooled to support the operation of a combined county authority that delivers value for money and can gather the evidence base and business cases required to secure future investment in Greater Lincolnshire. The proposed Combined County Authority will require a high level of partnership working ensuring any arrangements are efficient and proportional and avoid unnecessary duplication. The operating model design will be built upon a foundation of partnership working and inclusion of a strong business voice. 

3. Drawing on constituent council expertise: 

The proposed Combined County Authority will require a range of capabilities to discharge its functions effectively. This will include 3 groups of officers and may include the pooling of some roles from constituent councils to deliver those functions which will be led by the combined county authority: 

• The statutory officers which are legally required to operate a local authority: Head of Paid Service; Chief Finance Officer) and Monitoring Officer. 
• Officers directly responsible for delivering the core functions (transport planning, regeneration etc). 
• Officers responsible for supporting services, such as: commissioning and contracting, research, intelligence and policy development, finance, human resources, democratic governance and legal services, technology and data, and communications. 

In developing the operating model we will not assume that these roles will be directly employed by a Combined County Authority. This will be an option considered alongside others including employment by partner organisations (including Constituent Councils) or contracting from third parties. 

4. Concurrent delivery through constituent councils: 

Where powers are held concurrently with the Constituent Councils, the Combined County Authority will not seek to duplicate service delivery where existing arrangements are already in place. The Combined County Authority will distribute funding for any such functions – including highway maintenance and potholes – proportionate to existing allocations to enable continued delivery for Greater Lincolnshire’s residents. 

5. A shadow Combined County Authority: 

to prepare for the establishment of a Combined County Authority, transition arrangements would be set up in 2024. This would not be a legally constituted body, but instead individuals from existing bodies (largely Constituent Councils) will be selected by the Constituent Councils to work collectively. During this time, it will be important that specific individuals are accountable for delivery and have sufficient capacity and support to do so successfully, working with the political Leadership of the three Constituent Councils, as well as working alongside the three Chief Executives of the Constituent Councils. 

The establishment of the formal Combined County Authority will be as seamless as possible, ensuring transition arrangements reflect as closely as possible the future structure of the fully established Combined County Authority. The constituent members will elect one of their number to chair the Combined County Authority until the first mayor is elected in 2025. 

A detailed design of the future operating model will be developed subsequently.