With only a few weeks remaining, Greater Lincolnshire’s residents are preparing for a groundbreaking electoral event – the region’s inaugural mayoral election. The devolution agreement, endorsed in September 2024, has given the green light for the creation of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA), symbolising a significant evolution in local administration.
This fresh governmental body, which consists of leaders from Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council, and North East Lincolnshire Council, first gathered in March. The pact guarantees an annual contribution of £24 million for the forthcoming three decades and bestows considerable authority back to the jurisdiction.
Fundamental to this devolution agreement is the election of a direct mayor who will function as the key intermediary between Greater Lincolnshire and Westminster. The mayor, as the driver of the GLCCA, will exercise impactful control over economic growth, skills, transport, and planning. As the North Lincolnshire Council notes, the mayor’s responsibility is to guide the region’s strategic vision and champion its interests at the national level.
The position, known as the region’s leading political role, offers an £80,060 yearly salary, epitomising both the territorial vastness and the intricacies of synchronising rural and urban concerns.
Six individuals have put their hat in the ring to become the historical first mayor: Sally Horscroft (Green Party), Andrea Jenkyns (Reform UK), Marianne Overton (Lincolnshire Independent), Jason Stockwood (Labour), Rob Waltham (Conservative), and Trevor Young (Liberal Democrat). To secure a place on the ballot, parties funded a £5,000 deposit along with an extra £3,500 for inclusion in the election booklet.
A digital hustings event will be televised on April 23 by Iliffe Media and Reach Plc over multiple local media Facebook pages, offering electors an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates.
On Thursday, May 1, polling stations will be accessible from 7am to 10pm. Electors can locate the nearest polling station via an available link. The election count commences at 10pm that evening with the expectation of declaring the results early on Friday, May 2, at Grimsby Town Hall.
This article is based on the original reporting of www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk, as adapted by The Lincoln Post.
