About the Combined County Authority

The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority is governed by a main board, led by the Elected Mayor and made up of representatives from local councils, alongside district, business and policing partners.

Three specialist boards support this work, focusing on Transport, Employment and Skills, and Business and Infrastructure.

Board membership is reviewed annually and updated for the 2026/27 municipal year.

The authority comprises of:

• Chair – Elected Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns

Constituent board members:

• Cllr Sean Matthews – Leader of Lincolnshire County Council
• Cllr Ingrid Sheard - Lincolnshire County Council (Also Deputy Mayor)
• Cllr Rob Waltham – Leader of North Lincolnshire Council
• Cllr Neil Poole – Deputy Leader North Lincolnshire Council
• Cllr Oliver Freeston – Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council
• Cllr Samuel Grice – Deputy Leader North East Lincolnshire Council

Non Constituent Board members: These are four people nominated by the district councils within the area:

• Cllr Nick Worth (South Holland)
• Cllr D Nannestad (City of Lincoln)
• Cllr A Baxter (South Kesteven)
• Cllr Richard Wright (North Kesteven)

dditional non-constituent or associate members. These are up to two further members, including one of the police and crime commissioners for the area and another from a business background.

• Jonathan Evison
• Alison Hands - Associate Member

Specialist Boards:

These boards will focus on key areas critical to Greater Lincolnshire’s growth and prosperity: Transport, Employment and Skills, and Business and Infrastructure. They will bring together local leaders, industry experts, and stakeholders to develop targeted policies, drive investment, and deliver tangible improvements in each sector.

• Transport Board – focused on improving connectivity and infrastructure, chaired by Cllr Sean Matthews
• Employment and Skills Board – focused on workforce development, education and training, chaired by Cllr Rob Waltham
• Business and Infrastructure Board – focused on economic growth, business support and investment, chaired by Cllr Oliver Freeston

This structured approach ensures that the GLCCA operates with comprehensive representation and expertise, fostering collaboration to drive the region's growth and prosperity.

By working collaboratively, the combined county authority will ensure that resources are allocated efficiently, priorities align with local needs, and Lincolnshire’s economy and communities continue to thrive.

Disclosable Pecuniary Interests for GLCCA members.

Frequently asked questions

What is Devolution?

Devolution sees central Government transfer powers and money to regions across the country. This allows people who know their areas best to decide where money is spent.

This has already happened in Cambridge and Peterborough, Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, North of Tyne, South Yorkshire, West of England, West Yorkshire, the West Midlands, the Tees Valley and more recently, North Yorkshire and now Hull and East Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire.

Devolution involves the creation of combined county authorities – legal bodies that bring councils together to decide on agreed issues that cross boundaries.

Does this mean a merger of councils?

No. The three constituent councils (Lincolnshire County Council and North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire Councils) and the seven district councils (East and West Lindsey, North and South Kesteven, Boston Borough Council, City of Lincoln Council and South Holland District Council) will work together with the Mayor on projects and schemes which cross traditional council boundaries.

The Local Government White Paper released in 2024 will mean changes to councils across England but those changes will not directly affect the GLCCA.

So, what is different and how will this improve things for Greater Lincolnshire?

The new authority will grow over time. For example, the first year of the deal we will see money and control handed down in areas such as transport, adult skills (budget responsibility from 2026), homes and communities, economic growth, and the environment. This will expand as the deal matures with more control of finances and power agreed with Government.

Other benefits include an enhanced working relationship with government departments to protect our coastline, natural and historic environment and boost tourism. The authority will also take on a new role leading the national debate on transport for rural communities to address challenges across ours and other areas. The new elected Mayor will ensure Greater Lincolnshire has a stronger voice in Westminster.

How does a combined county authority work?

The new authority will provide local accountability and transparency. The Mayor chairs a board of six voting members from the three councils and other non-constituent members who will have a vote on some matters. The new authority will have wider membership from other councils, business and one of the police and crime commissioners for the area.

Why is a Mayor needed?

The Greater Lincolnshire CCA has been made possible because of a devolution deal between the government and the three upper tier councils of Lincolnshire County Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and North Lincolnshire Council.

As part of the devolution deal, the Greater Lincolnshire CCA must have a directly elected mayor. A key part of the mayoral role is to act as an advocate and global ambassador for the combined county authority and the residents who live here.

The Mayor lead the GLCCA, working with partner councils, business representatives and stakeholders on transport, housing, regeneration, employment and skills, economic growth and investment. They have the powers and responsibilities to make decisions which affect every community in Lincolnshire. The Mayor champions the needs of the area and continue to make a strong case to the Government for more investment and to encourage new ideas to be piloted in Greater Lincolnshire.

The Mayor’s term of office will run for four years from 2025 to 2029. The elected Mayor is not a replacement for the civic mayors or chairs in other councils, which are ceremonial roles.