The Council of Lincolnshire Council convened for an extraordinary meeting on Friday, 21 November 2025, to discuss significant proposals regarding the future structure of local government in Lincolnshire and the appointment of a new Chief Executive. The meeting's agenda focused on a comprehensive business case for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) within the county, titled 'Your Lincolnshire Proposal', and the subsequent appointment to the crucial post of Chief Executive.

Local Government Reorganisation - Your Lincolnshire Proposal

The most substantial item on the agenda was the consideration of the 'Your Lincolnshire Proposal'¹, a detailed business case for a significant reorganisation of local government in Lincolnshire. The proposal outlines a vision for a single-tier unitary authority for the entire county, aiming to replace the current two-tier system of county and district councils.

The report pack indicates that the proposal argues for the creation of a single unitary authority for Lincolnshire, serving approximately 789,502 residents. This model is presented as the most effective way to achieve efficiencies, improve service delivery, and withstand financial shocks, aligning with government criteria for local government reorganisation. The business case highlights potential recurring benefits of £46.44 million annually, with estimated one-off transition costs of £25.89 million.

Key aspects scheduled for discussion included:

• Strengthening the Foundation for the Future: The proposal aims to deliver high-quality, resilient, and financially sustainable services, driving economic growth, supporting local businesses, and empowering communities.
• Simplifying Services for Residents: A single authority is intended to create clearer structures, making it easier for residents to know who to contact and how to access support.
• Saving Money by Delivering Better Value: Reducing duplication and bureaucracy is expected to lead to more efficient and cost-effective operations, with savings reinvested into frontline services.
• Addressing Limitations of the Current Model: The report details how the current two-tier system is considered too complicated, less effective than it could be, inefficient, and unsustainable due to fragmented responsibilities, overlapping governance, and mounting financial pressures.
• Meeting Government Criteria: The proposal is assessed against six government tests for local government reorganisation, focusing on establishing a single tier of local government, ensuring the right size for efficiency and capacity, prioritising high-quality public services, demonstrating local collaboration and engagement, supporting devolution arrangements, and enabling stronger community engagement.
• Alternative Proposals: The report also includes an analysis of other proposals considered for Greater Lincolnshire, including a two-unitary authority model proposed by the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, and a four-unitary authority model proposed by North and South Kesteven District Councils, as well as a four-unitary model proposed by the City of Lincoln Council. The 'Your Lincolnshire' proposal is presented as the preferred option due to its perceived advantages in terms of financial benefits, service continuity, and alignment with local needs.
• Financial Case and Council Tax Harmonisation: Detailed financial modelling is presented, outlining aggregation and transformation benefits and costs, estimated year 1 financial positions for potential new authorities, and various scenarios for harmonising council tax rates across the county over a defined period.
• Public Engagement: The report summarises the extensive public engagement undertaken, including surveys, roadshows, and virtual events, to gather feedback from residents, staff, businesses, and town and parish councils. Key themes from this engagement included support for better value for money and simpler services, alongside concerns about council remoteness, job losses, and the materialisation of cost savings.
• Implementation Plan: A phased approach to implementation is outlined, detailing preparation, establishment, and transformation stages, with a target vesting day of April 2028.

Appointment to the Post of Chief Executive

The second item on the agenda concerned the appointment to the post of Chief Executive. The report presented the process followed by the Appointments Committee in recruiting for this senior role.

The recommendation was to formally offer the position to Andrew Crookham, who currently serves as the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Resources at Lincolnshire County Council. If appointed, Mr. Crookham would be designated as the Council's Head of Paid Service and Returning Officer. The report also proposed that the Assistant Director – Finance be designated as the interim Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) until further decisions on staffing arrangements are made. Authority was also sought for the new Chief Executive to make necessary interim appointments and for the Monitoring Officer to implement constitutional changes related to these appointments.