City of Lincoln Council elections cancelled
Lincoln elections have been cancelled to prepare for 'once-in-a-generation transformation'
The City of Lincoln Council elections, scheduled for May, will be cancelled as the focus shifts to establishing a new authority.
Opponents have been fiercely critical of the idea, which is intended to save money.
A third of the council seats would have been up for grabs in the elections, which cost £172,000, although the victors would only sit for two years before the council is dissolved.
The Labour-run council says the money and time would be better spent preparing for the major council shake-up instead, and the cash saved would enable it to freeze council tax.
The government has offered all councils with elections in May the option to cancel them, with a mixed response.
Councillor Naomi Tweddle, leader of City of Lincoln Council, said: “Delivering local government reorganisation to a high standard requires councils like ours to have the time and capacity to complete the vital preparation this process demands.
“Holding a local election is a major undertaking, requiring significant staff resources and costing more than £170,000. We believe this money would be better spent supporting the services our residents rely on, and enabling us to freeze council tax.”
She said that the “once-in-a-generation transformation” of councils requires extensive work, planning and coordination to ensure it delivers for residents.
Liberal Democrats and Conservatives urged leaders to hold elections at a heated meeting yesterday (January 14).
Tory group leader Councillor Tom Dyer said: “If the election is cancelled, the administration will be illegitimately squatting in City Hall.
“It doesn’t matter about the politics and the cost. If your term’s up in May, you should go to the polls if you want to continue serving.”
Liberal Democrat Councillor Martin Christopher described the cancellation as “a tragic end to the city’s rich democratic history.
“Shame on anyone avoiding the ballot box to cling onto power.”
Lincolnshire County Council’s Reform leader Sean Matthews also took to social media to criticise the cancellation.
“There is absolutely no legitimate reason to cancel these elections. It is only dictators that cancel elections,” he wrote on X.