The Cabinet of Boston Borough Council met on Wednesday 26 November 2025 to approve a proposal for the reorganisation of local government in Greater Lincolnshire. The proposal, titled 'A Greater Lincolnshire for All', was recommended for submission to the government, with authority delegated to the Assistant Director – Corporate and the Leader of the Council to make any necessary final amendments.

Local Government Reorganisation - Proposal to Government

The Cabinet considered and approved a proposal for the reorganisation of local government in Greater Lincolnshire, titled 'A Greater Lincolnshire for All'. This proposal, developed jointly by Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council, and South Holland District Council, aims to replace the current two-tier system with two new unitary authorities.

The proposal was presented by Councillor Dale Broughton, Leader of the Council, who highlighted that it had been developed following extensive engagement with partners, communities, businesses, and town and parish councils. He stated that the proposal creates two financially stable unitary councils designed to address challenges around deprivation and improve services, particularly transport. Councillor Broughton emphasised that the proposal was developed from a blank canvas to meet government criteria, rather than simply protecting existing structures, and that it aimed for aggregation of services rather than disaggregation.

The report indicated that the proposal is expected to deliver significant financial savings, estimated at around £221 million over 10 years, with an initial investment payback period of four years. The new authorities would work alongside the Mayoral County Combined Authority.

During the discussion, Councillor John Baxter, Portfolio Holder for Housing, inquired about the inclusion of residents' suggestions and whether the submission addressed all resident concerns raised during consultations. Councillor Broughton confirmed that extensive consultations had taken place across the county, and while not every proposal could be accommodated, the report reflected the feedback received. James Gilbert, Assistant Director – Corporate, added that the proposal was built on feedback and genuinely reflected comments received.

Councillor Baxter also questioned the options appraisal and scoring methodology, noting that the 'Greater Lincolnshire for All' proposal had achieved the highest score. James Gilbert explained that the appraisal compared all known proposals against government criteria using a weighted scoring system, aiming for balance and avoiding bias.

Councillor Baxter, a former civil servant, praised the visual presentation of the proposal and suggested its potential for attracting people and businesses to Lincolnshire. He also raised the question of public accessibility to the proposal and how decisions would be communicated back to residents. Councillor Broughton reiterated that the meeting was live-streamed and the report was publicly available, encouraging residents to read the comprehensive 324-page document.

Councillor Sarah Sharpe, Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Tourism, expressed support for the proposal, believing it offered the most viable and sustainable model for local government in the county. She highlighted its balanced approach to council numbers, preserving local representation while enabling efficient governance. Councillor Sharpe also referenced the success of the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership (SELCP) as evidence of the feasibility and benefits of collaborative working.

Councillor Dale Broughton, Leader of the Council, and Councillor Sandeep Ghosh, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Economic Growth, both moved and seconded the recommendations, respectively. The recommendations were approved by the Cabinet.

The decision was made to:

1. Approve the proposal for Local Government Re-organisation, as detailed in Appendix A, for submission to the Government.
2. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director – Corporate, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any necessary changes or additions to the proposal before its submission to the Government.

The meeting concluded that this proposal best meets the Government's criteria and delivers for communities in Greater Lincolnshire. The call-in procedure for this key decision was waived due to statutory requirements and time constraints associated with Local Government Reorganisation.