The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) met on Wednesday 24 June 2026, approving a £34 million Brownfield Housing Fund to unlock stalled housing sites and a delivery plan for the Local Growth Fund. The Authority also adopted a new performance framework and approved changes to its constitution.

Approach to Brownfield Housing Fund

The GLCCA approved the acceptance of £34 million in Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF) funding from the government. This fund is intended to unlock stalled housing sites across Greater Lincolnshire, with the aim of delivering 1,142 homes by 2031. The funding includes £16.5 million for the 2026/27 financial year and a further £17.5 million for subsequent years, subject to funding availability.

Key decisions made regarding the BHF include:

• Prioritising local residents: Funding for any supported sites will be contingent on a clear understanding of local allocation policies, with priority access to housing given to local residents.
• Local Plan alignment: All identified brownfield sites must be within an approved or emerging Local Plan, with an exception for sites designated as part of new towns.
• Clearer housing definitions: A policy will be developed to distinguish between social rent and affordable housing to ensure applications are easily identified and appropriately determined.
• Risk management: Risks related to the viability of the future housing market and potential for developments not proceeding will be considered in the design and development of proposals. Viability assessments will be undertaken during the assessment stage.

The approach to administering the fund and the BHF Prospectus were also approved. A future report will seek approval for the final schemes to be funded.

Greater Lincolnshire Local Growth Fund Delivery Plan

The GLCCA approved the Greater Lincolnshire Local Growth Fund Delivery Plan, which outlines how the £52 million allocated to the region will be used to drive productivity, create jobs, and support businesses. The plan focuses on six core programmes: Strategic Sites Acceleration, Digital Skills & Skills Capital, Innovation Programme, Workforce Development, SME Start-Up Fund, and Investment & Trade.

The Authority delegated the implementation of the Delivery Plan to the Deputy Director (Growth and Investment). Programme business cases will be brought forward for approval at future meetings. The plan is designed to be iterative and will adjust during the life of the funding, with engagement planned with members and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to ensure it meets the specific needs of Greater Lincolnshire. The plan also noted observations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the consideration of funding profiles' impact on viability and the need for flexibility.

GLCCA Performance Framework

The Authority approved its approach to performance management and interim performance reporting arrangements for the 2026/27 financial year. The new framework aims to provide a foundation for performance reporting, ensuring accountability and transparency against the objectives set out in the Greater Lincolnshire Plan.

Key aspects of the approved framework include:

• Interim reporting: A balanced scorecard approach will be used for interim reporting, focusing on programme delivery, financial stewardship, stakeholder engagement, and strategic outcomes.
• Future development: A full outcomes framework will continue to be developed with members for reporting in 2027/28.
• NEETs data: Performance data on young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs) will be incorporated into future GLCCA Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Existing metrics: The performance framework will utilise existing skills performance metrics and data where possible and appropriate.

Members discussed the importance of providing context and narrative alongside performance data to ensure a balanced understanding of progress and to acknowledge achievements, even when headline targets are narrowly missed. Concerns were also raised about median wage levels potentially masking disparities across the county, with officers confirming that supporting evidence and insight would be provided to identify and address any such disparities.

Proposed Changes to the Constitution

The GLCCA approved proposed changes to its Constitution, incorporating feedback from the Audit Committee. These changes aim to improve clarity, consistency, and structure, and to remove references to the transitional period.

Significant amendments include:

• Officer decision-making oversight: A requirement for consultation with the Mayor or the relevant Board Chair on any spend above £1 million has been added. This aims to enhance transparency and public confidence in democratic oversight.
• Typographical correction: A typographical error in the wording under Section D (Exceptions – Finance) was corrected, clarifying the exception limit for the capital programme.

The approved changes will take effect immediately.

Public Questions

During the public questions session, two questions were raised:

• Litter and Fly-tipping: A question was asked about the GLCCA's support for a national campaign to tackle litter and fly-tipping. The Mayor expressed full support for the campaign, highlighting the importance of instilling pride in the area and the potential link between tackling minor issues like litter and graffiti and preventing more serious crime. The Mayor also committed to championing community litter pickers and ensuring penalties are enacted.
• Trent Bridge, Gainsborough: An update was requested on the Trent Bridge serving Gainsborough. The Mayor confirmed that the GLCCA is aware of the issues and that a feasibility study has been completed. Progress meetings are planned with the East Midlands Mayor and the STEP Fusion programme to explore funding for a new bridge, which would benefit both East Midlands and the STEP programme.

Deferred Item

• Appointment of Members to the Economic Advisory Panel: This item was deferred to the next Authority meeting due to a technical issue with the agenda summons, meaning it was not formally listed for discussion.