The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority met on Wednesday, 29 April 2026, to discuss and approve key strategies and policies. Significant decisions included the endorsement of Part One of the Housing Strategy and agreement to develop Part Two, the approval of the approach to administering the £52 million Local Growth Fund, and the endorsement of the Strategic Vision for the Defence and Security Sector. The meeting also addressed the GLCCA Pay Policy, proposed changes to the Constitution, and membership appointments to various committees.

Housing Strategy and Pipeline Update

The Authority endorsed Part One of the Housing Strategy and agreed to the development of Part Two. This strategy aims to accelerate housing delivery to support economic growth across Greater Lincolnshire, aligning with national housing policy and government funding opportunities. Part One provides an overview of the current housing market, national policy, and funding streams, while Part Two will outline the Combined Authority's specific ambitions and investment priorities. Concerns raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding national housing targets, the housing mix, infrastructure alignment, and the concept of new towns were noted and will be reflected in subsequent iterations of the strategy. The Authority also noted progress on the housing pipeline work, which aims to identify and unlock stalled housing sites.

Approach to the Local Growth Fund

The Authority approved the acceptance of a £52 million Local Growth Fund settlement, to be administered over four years. This fund, comprising £23 million in revenue and £29 million in capital, will be used to deliver the ambitions of the Combined Authority's Local Growth Plan. A high-level approach to administering the fund was approved, focusing on six indicative programmes: a Strategic Sites Acceleration Programme, an Innovation and Accelerator Programme, an SME Start-up Fund, a Sector-led Investment and Trade Programme, a Skills Programme with a digital focus, and a Workforce Development Programme. The Authority delegated authority to the Chief Executive to agree final arrangements with the government, including the Outcomes Framework. A more detailed Delivery Plan will be presented to the Authority in June.

Strategic Vision for Defence and Security Sector

The Authority endorsed the Strategic Vision for the Defence and Security Sector for Greater Lincolnshire. This vision aims to position the region as a leading national and global hub for defence, security, and advanced technologies, fostering innovation, strengthening national security, and unlocking economic growth. The strategy highlights Lincolnshire's strengths, including its RAF bases, veteran community, and existing defence companies, and outlines growth opportunities in CyberEM, Advanced Manufacturing, Real-Time Situational Awareness & Decision Making, and Logistics. It also emphasizes the dual-use potential of defence technologies in sectors like Agri-Tech, Energy, MedTech, and Water Security. The Authority delegated the final wording of the vision to the Chief Executive for agreement and publication.

GLCCA Pay Policy

The Authority considered the GLCCA Pay Policy, which sets out the framework for remuneration across the Combined Authority to ensure transparency, accountability, and compliance with statutory requirements. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had raised concerns regarding performance-related pay for senior officers, the bonus scheme's perceived inequity, and the appropriateness of bonuses in the public sector. The committee recommended endorsing the policy in principle, subject to a review of performance-related pay and bonus arrangements, and requested that these be brought back to the committee once developed. The Authority noted these concerns and agreed to proceed with the policy principles.

Proposed Changes to the Constitution

The Authority approved proposed changes to its Constitution. These amendments are necessary to reflect the new staffing structure following the end of the transition period, update the scheme of delegation to officers, and remove 137 references to the Transition Period. The changes aim to ensure the Constitution remains up-to-date, transparent, and efficient, providing clarity on decision-making processes. The proposed changes were to take effect immediately.

Membership of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority and Committees

The Authority noted changes to appointments made by Lincolnshire County Council to the GLCCA and approved nominations received from nominating bodies for the Audit Committee. These changes are integral to the decision-making and scrutiny arrangements of the Authority.

Appointment of Chair and Members to the Innovation Panel

The Authority appointed Russell Schofield-Bezer as Chair of the Innovation Panel. Six additional private sector members, four academia/research members, a representative from the British Business Bank, and a representative from Innovate UK were also appointed to the panel. The panel, structured on a triple helix model, will support the delivery of the Authority's innovation strategy. The appointment of six private sector members, exceeding the initial Terms of Reference, was agreed to ensure a wider range of expertise was captured.