A Lincolnshire councillor says a meeting changes to local government is a chance for people to have their say
Meetings are being held in South Kesteven towns for the public to share their views
A Stamford councillor says it's important for people in the town to come and share their views at a meeting today.
Leaders at Lincolnshire County are inviting residents to share their views as part of its consultation process – as it aims to ensure it gets support for its version over the alternatives being proposed by the districts.
Events are happening at Stamford and Spalding Library as part of the engagement process.
It comes after criticism that people in the south of Lincolnshire had been denied a voice.
The MP for Stamford and Rutland, Alicia Kearns, said she wrote to county council leader Sean Matthews, and urged him not to exclude Stamford from the consultation process – after criticism that there were no events planned in Stamford, Bourne or the Deepings.
I don't think a lot of people are aware of all the different plans
Richard Cleaver, Cabinet at South Kesteven District Council and the Councillor for Stamford West on Lincolnshire County Council, said:
"I don't think a lot of people are aware of all the different plans yet, and that's why the engagement is going on."
"I don't think there will be public support for having a single council based in Lincoln, 50 miles from Stamford, serving a population of 780,000 people; that's not really going to work for anybody."
"There shouldn't be a concern over local services being drastically changed."
"I think it's the lack of localism and the feeling people don't have control over services in the future in their town."
I think it's the lack of localism and the feeling people don't have control over services
A survey done by Rutland and Stamford MP, Alicia Kearns, found 2 out of 3 people in the area said they want councils to stay as they are.
People seemed to be in favour of keeping district councils in South Kesteven and Harborough and Rutland as a small unitary authority.
The government is expecting full proposals from local authorities by the end of November, with the new larger authorities to begin operating from the 1st of April 2028.