The Leader of the Council presented Members with his report, pages 23 to 24 of the Agenda refer.  In addition to the report, the Leader provided Members with a verbal update as follows:

 

‘On Thursday 10th July we had the media launch of our LGR our Greater Lincolnshire for All proposal.  It went very well.  You will have all been sent the supporting briefing documents and social media links. 

 

We need to be bold and ambitious and our engagement will be county wide and seek the views of residents, partners and town and parish councils. 

 

We believe our proposal is the most sensible and will deliver for our residents and communities.   We believe our proposal best fits the government criteria

 

The other potential proposal that will most likely be considered is the LCC continuity model.  Like ours, a 2-council solution but with a significant imbalance of population.

 

Currently that would be 795000 and 329000 and by 2042 the population would be 865000 and 326000.  Our model accords with the population criteria of circa 500K.

 

That is better for the democratic relationship between resident and councillor and also means we can provide services of the highest quality across adult and children’s services and also on other areas of provision.

 

Of course, change is not always welcomed and be very clear we did not seek this.  Effectively government have said to us ‘engage positively or we will make this happen’. 

 

We have chosen to engage positively.  We will make sure this council is fully briefed throughout the process prior to submitting our completed proposal in November’.

 

‘A year ago, National Grid held their Stage 1 Consultation on the early proposals for their Grimsby to Walpole project.

 

We are now nearing the end of their Stage 2 Consultation which has run from 11th June and will close at midnight on Wednesday 6th August 2025.  If Councillors or residents have not made their submissions, I encourage them to do so.  ELDC as the Local Planning Authority will be making a detailed technical submission. 

 

Tonight, I speak as a concerned community and Council Leader.  Our residents, communities and affected ward Councillors are still grappling with the potential unwanted intrusion of this 400KV overhead transmission line across our district.

 

As I’ve stated before this will scar and destroy vistas that have existed for millennia and are valued by residents now and will be into the future. 

 

This will undoubtedly affect a tourism industry worth £874 million in 2024 employing 6500 residents in the sector. 

 

It will also alter the balance of economics for many operating farms across Lincolnshire who may be tempted to move away from food production to energy generation as nationally we ignore the necessity of food security.  It will also drive tenant farmers off the land and threaten compulsory purchase on those landowners who resist the move away from traditional agriculture. 

 

And all this is being assisted by changes this Labour government is making to the planning regime that will see compulsory purchase of land to facilitate solar farms and a change in the threshold of who makes decisions on large renewable energy applications.  More applications will be considered as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects decided by the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State. 

 

This scheme is being presented to us as a means of taking energy from where it is being produced to where it is needed in the south of England.  Seemingly all well and good, but the reality I fear is somewhat different.

 

There are a number of questions that have not as yet been fully answered.

 

Why is there not an alternative to this proposed route?  Surely it would make more sense to have an undersea link straight to the Thames Estuary?

 

Why are there 2 proposed substations near Alford?

 

The answers to these questions lie in the nature of what National Grid is.  It is a publicly traded company whose shares can be purchased on the stock market.  Its motivation is therefore not necessarily the interests of those that are affected by its transmission lines but rather its shareholders.  And while I’m happy to say I’m a capitalist, sometimes the interest of capital is not always benign.

 

This link is not just a transmission line north to south, it is an open door to future large scale solar and onshore renewable generation along its whole length.  If allowed, this district will be the generating and storage hub for the southeast of England with little or no benefit to our residents. 

 

Alford has two substations because one is not enough to connect all the anticipated connections that will be driven by multiple solar farms along its route.  We already know energy companies are lining up to purchase land.

 

It will decimate our tourism industry, it will distort our agricultural heritage into a grotesque sea of sterile solar panels and make institutions and companies with no connection to Lincolnshire very rich.  All to the detriment of what we value locally. 

 

I don’t believe National Grid has provided full costings for other routes including the seabed option.  This information must be detailed and made public.  They have arbitrarily determined that pylons are the best option without providing the detailed evidence.

 

The previous position of LCC under Conservative Control was that a legal challenge would be funded against National Grid forcing them to provide such information. 

 

While I read this morning that LCC will spend £750K on planning consultants I would urge you Cllr Brooks, that if the Reform party are serious about stopping the pylons you must make sure your Executive agree to use such a legal challenge. 

 

We must disrupt the onslaught of this monstrosity across our district.

 

Again, I say to residents affected, please make your submission on the consultation before the 6th of August’.

 

Following which, questions and comments were put forward as follows:

 

The Leader of the Council passed his thanks to Councillor Devereux, Portfolio Holder for Partnerships and the team for the very successful funding fair held on 9 July 2025 and commented that it was very well received by Parish councillors and all those attended.

 

In response, a Member echoed the Leader’s thanks to Councillor Devereux and was pleased to see so many local organisations looking to secure funding to make a difference in their communities.

 

The Leader of the East Lindsey Independent Group suggested that the funding fair should be held at other locations across the district.

 

Campus for Future Living

 

The Leader of the Council informed Members that he, along with Councillor William Gray, Portfolio Holder for Better Ageing and Housing Communities had attended the official launch event at the Campus on 16 June 2025.  He described the day as a great success and was pleased to see strong attendance from the Council’s partners and the local MP.

 

He then invited the Portfolio Holder for Better Ageing and Housing Communities to provide Members with a briefing on the Council’s planned activities at the Campus and the anticipated benefits for Mablethorpe and the surrounding communities.

IMPACT Managers Development Programme

 

The Leader of the Council was supportive of the programme and pleased that this had added to the enhancement of officers’ skills and people joining the workforce.

 

A Member commented that she had taken part in the programme and that it was encouraging to see internal officer development taken seriously.

 

Age Friendly

 

The Leader of the Council stated that as an employer it was important to support the campaign, and he was very pleased that the Council was engaging with this.

 

Corporate Inductions

 

The Leader of the Council expressed his satisfaction that the corporate induction programme had successfully engaged staff and helped them gain a clear understanding of the organisation’s operations.

 

Vintage on Sea

 

The Leader of the Council was pleased to hear that the Vintage on Sea event had been a huge success enjoyed by so many visitors and local people and highlighted that Sutton on Sea was a fantastic setting for this to be held.

 

The Leader of the Labour Group stated that she was grateful for the support that Sutton on Sea received for hosting the event.  It was highlighted that residents had queried who made the decisions on where to place the stalls, for example beer was being sold from barrels outside a public house and an ice cream van was parked next door to a local ice cream seller.

 

In response, Councillor Robert Watson, Ward Member for Sutton on Sea and a representative of the Sutton Events Group, acknowledged what he regarded as fair criticisms.  He recognised that the organisational aspects of the event were not flawless and committed to reviewing these points for improvement in next year’s event.  He also praised the efforts of officers in helping the Seaview Colonnade reach its potential and highlighted the vintage cinema set-up in Merridale Hall as a standout example of successful collaboration between the Council and local residents, to the benefit of all involved.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council reiterated the success of the event and hoped that the issues highlighted could be reconciled with Councillor Watson for future events.  The Leader thanked Councillor Watson for his constructive comments and wished him well with future events.

 

Culture Conference

 

The Leader of the Council expressed satisfaction that the Culture Conference had been a vibrant and successful event, sparking continued interest in the concept that heritage and culture positively contribute to both wellbeing and the local economy.

 

Update on National Grid

 

The Leader of the Labour Group expressed disappointment with the Councillor briefing, stating that she felt Members were not given a genuine opportunity to share their views, as submitted questions appeared to be subject to vetting.  She encouraged Members to actively participate in the consultation process and to ensure their residents were aware of it before it closed on 6 August 2025.  She also expressed her anticipation that Councillors Danny and Jimmy Brookes, in their new roles as Lincolnshire County Councillors, would serve as strong advocates for the district and hold Lincolnshire County Council to its commitments.

 

Councillor Danny Brookes, Leader of the Reform UK Group, thanked the Leader for his update on the National Grid and expressed agreement that the proposed pylons would have a detrimental impact on Lincolnshire.  He warned that their installation could pave the way for widespread development of solar panels and wind turbines across the area.  Speaking in his capacity as a Lincolnshire County Councillor, he confirmed that the County Council had not altered its stance on the issue and remained committed to opposing the pylons.  He also noted that nationally, 110 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) had been approved since 2010, with 25 of those located in Lincolnshire, each determined by central government.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council welcomed the comments made but expressed concern about the high number of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) located in Lincolnshire.  He referred to his earlier verbal update, noting that land was already being acquired by prospective energy companies in anticipation of connecting to the potential coastal grid.  The Leader reiterated his appreciation for Councillor Danny Brookes’ remarks and expressed hope that any forthcoming proposals would be subject to legal challenge, based on the evidence provided, and that these issues would be raised during the inquiry process in due course.

 

A Member referred to a recent presentation by Andrew Roberts, a former adviser and consultant to LCC who was advising on the NSIP projects throughout Lincolnshire and suggested that a full Member briefing be arranged to explore the development implications associated with the proposed pylon infrastructure.  They highlighted the technical aspects discussed, such as AC/DC voltage, data centres, artificial intelligence, and large-scale data projects which were particularly insightful.  Concern was raised about the significant water usage associated with such facilities, which could have implications for the district.  The Member emphasised the importance of Members being well-informed in order to respond effectively to the consultation, which closed on 6 August 2025. 

 

In response, the Leader of the Council advised Members that he had spoken with Andrew Roberts and found his insights highly informative.  He expressed willingness to arrange a Member briefing, while acknowledging the limited time available.  The Leader also commented on the significant planning changes underway, suggesting these were not coincidental given the emerging proposals for local government reorganisation and he raised concerns about the increasing distance between residents and decision-makers.

 

A Member expressed agreement with the Leader’s remarks during his update and commented that the National Grid appeared to prioritise the interests of its shareholders, demonstrating a short-sighted approach that came at the expense of the people of Lincolnshire.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council thanked the Member for her support and stated that he was happy to discuss any further issues outside of the meeting.

 

A Member commented that he was pleased the Council had taken the lead on this, however was disappointed that the consultation run over the busy summer period as many rural area parish councils broke during these months.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council explained that the timing of the consultation was beyond the Council’s control.  However, he assured Members that every effort would be made to promote the consultation as widely as possible, acknowledging the communication challenges posed by the summer period.

 

The Leader of the East Lindsey Independent Group commented that the pylons would be the greatest change to the district’s landscape since the Ice Age resulting in the industrialisation of a once beautiful rural area.  It was further highlighted that Lincolnshire produced 29% of the country’s food and concerns were also raised on tourism and the inland areas.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council acknowledged the concerns raised regarding the industrialisation of both the district and the wider county and agreed that the issue of food security was a significant and pressing matter.

 

A Member asked whether it would be possible to overlay the proposed pylon route maps with existing flood risk maps, noting that the overhead infrastructure appeared to avoid designated flood zones.

 

They expressed concern that this might lead to a concentration of solar panels and battery storage units along the coastline itself.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council confirmed that he would refer the query to the Portfolio Holder for Planning to ensure the Council had a clear understanding of how the flood risk maps intersect with the proposed infrastructure routes and the implications for the potential siting of renewable energy installations.

 

A Member noted the frequent references to the importance of tourism to the district, particularly along the coast, and asked whether any work was planned to assess the potential negative impact on the tourism sector should pylons and substations be constructed, especially in preparation for a potential public inquiry.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council confirmed that a technical report was being developed as part of the planning response which would include an assessment of the impact on tourism.  He assured Members that, if necessary, additional advice from consultants would be sought to support this work.

 

Update on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

 

A Member queried how the response to the proposal had been received to date and whether there had been a satisfactory amount of engagement.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council advised that the engagement would be a continuing process and as feedback was received from stakeholders this would help shape the proposal so that it made perfect sense to everyone across the county.

 

A Member remarked that any future model of governance in Lincolnshire would necessitate a new-style Local Plan to reflect the revised geography.  They sought reassurance that this was not contributing to the delay in the review of the East Lindsey Local Plan.  The Member also questioned whether the Executive Board had provided any input or commentary on the current consultation regarding reforms to planning committees and delegated powers, and whether the Executive’s views aligned with those of the wider Council membership.  It was further noted that the consultation was open until 23 July 2025, and Members were strongly encouraged to submit their responses.

 

N.B.  Councillor Graham Cullen left the Meeting at 7.07pm and re-joined the Meeting at 7.09pm.

 

A Member asked whether training would be provided for those Members supporting the proposal, enabling them to act as advocates within their parishes and the wider community.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council thanked the Member for their positive comments regarding the funding event and welcomed the suggestion of having well-informed Councillors serve as Ambassadors for the Council’s bid.  He confirmed that he would liaise with officers to ensure that appropriate briefing materials were made available in a timely manner, equipping District Councillors to engage effectively with their communities and clearly articulate the objectives of the bid.

 

N.B.  Councillor Terry Aldridge left the Meeting at 7.10pm and re-joined the Meeting at 7.13pm.

 

A further question was raised regarding how town and parish councils would continue to operate following Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and whether this might involve the establishment of area committees.  It was suggested that a briefing note be prepared for Members to take to meetings along with a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

 

In response, the Leader of the Council acknowledged the importance of keeping information current and accessible.  He noted that the FAQs and website content would need to remain flexible and evolve over time, but confirmed his commitment to ensuring that the Council did everything possible to keep Members and the public well-informed.

 

A Member referred to the update on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) and expressed concern over proposed government recommendations, particularly one suggesting a reduction in the number of councillors from over 400 to just over 100 and highlighted this as an indication of how disconnected the government appeared to be from local realities.

 

The Leader acknowledged the concerns regarding the proposed reduction in councillor numbers and advised that the Council was actively working with town and parish councils, as well as the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils (LALC), to explore how best to ensure effective local representation.  This included understanding what powers parishes might need in the future, and what responsibilities they would be willing to take on.  He noted that this could lead to an enhanced role for town and parish councils, potentially including changes to allowances, and recognised that this would be a significant and complex piece of work requiring careful consideration.

 

A Member raised a query regarding the £175,000 for consultants.  They questioned the source of this funding and whether East Lindsey District Council Members would have an opportunity to vote on the matter at any stage.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council advised that Executive Board had agreed for £175k to be used from the various reserves to undertake the consultation work in the run up to the Council’s submission. Members were advised that the decision to submit the proposal would be Executive decision. and the Executive would bring every stage of the consultation back to ensure a comprehensive understanding within the Council.

 

A Member referred to the ongoing consultation on the reform of flood funding, which was due to conclude on 29 July 2025 and asked whether the Council had submitted any input.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council advised that he would ask the Portfolio Holder for Planning to contact the Member directly to provide an update on the Council’s involvement in the consultation.

 

The Leader of the East Lindsey Independent Group commented that she would like to see the district’s market towns included more regularly in the Leader’s report, including details of investment and good news stories.

 

In response, the Leader of the Council stated that he would happily update on market towns in future reports and assured Members that money was being invested in market towns with various schemes and grants.