About the Combined County Authority
Introduction
The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (CCA) is a new authority which will deliver unprecedented investment and local powers to residents and communities in Lincolnshire, improving better outcomes for Greater Lincolnshire and its communities.
The Mayor
The first Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire is Dame Andrea Jenkyns, from the elections on 1 May 2025, with a responsibility to be a powerful advocate for Lincolnshire, providing strong, visible leadership and ensuring that local priorities are at the heart of decision-making.
As the head of the combined county authority, she will oversee strategic planning, investment, and the delivery of key services, including transport, skills, employment, business growth, and infrastructure.
Working closely with local councils, businesses, and government, the Mayor will champion Greater Lincolnshire on a national stage, securing funding, driving economic growth, and creating new opportunities for residents and businesses.
With a mandate from residents, she will be accountable for ensuring that devolution delivers real, tangible benefits for communities.
How the Greater Lincolnshire CCA works
The combined county authority will be governed by a main board responsible for overseeing strategic decision-making and ensuring that devolution powers are used effectively to benefit the region.
Alongside this, three specialist boards will focus on key areas critical to Greater Lincolnshire’s growth and prosperity: Transport, Skills & Employment, and Business & Infrastructure. These boards will bring together local leaders, industry experts, and stakeholders to develop targeted policies, drive investment, and deliver tangible improvements in each sector.
- The Mayor: Serving as the chair, the Mayor is elected by residents within the combined county authority area every four years.
- Constituent members: Six members appointed by the constituent councils. Agreed at the first GLCCA meeting on 6 March, these are:
- Councillor Martin Hill OBE – Leader of Lincolnshire County Council
- Councillor Patricia Bradwell OBE - Lincolnshire County Council Councillor
- Philip Jackson – Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council
- Councillor Stan Shreeve - North East Lincolnshire Council
- Councillor Rob Waltham MBE – Leader of North Lincolnshire Council
- Councillor Richard Hannigan - North Lincolnshire Council
- Non-constituent members: Four people nominated by the district councils within the area. Agreed at the first GLCCA meeting on 6 March, these are:
- Councillor Richard Wright – Leader of North Kesteven District Council
- Naomi Tweddle – Leader of City of Lincoln Council
- Craig Leyland – Leader of East Lindsey District Council
- Nick Worth – Leader of South Holland District Council
- Additional non-constituent or associate members: Up to two further members, including one of the police and crime commissioners for the area and another from a business background. Agreed at the first GLCCA meeting on 6 March, these are:
- Marc Jones – Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire
- Neal Juster- Interim Associate Member
Transport Board - Dedicated to enhancing connectivity and infrastructure across Greater Lincolnshire.
Skills and Employment Board - Focused on workforce development, education, and training initiatives to meet local employment needs.
Business and Infrastructure Board - Aimed at driving economic growth, supporting businesses, and overseeing infrastructure projects and investments.
Each board comprises relevant stakeholders, including local authority representatives, industry experts, and community leaders, ensuring that decisions are well-informed and aligned with the region's priorities.
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.
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 a 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 newly elected Mayor will chair 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 will lead the CCA, 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 will champion 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, which are ceremonial roles.