Greater Lincolnshire Mayor contenders debate key issues at online hustings event

Candidates vying to become the first-ever mayor of Greater Lincolnshire on May 1 debated farming, housing, the economy and more in a hustings event.

There are days to go before voters choose the county’s first mayor and the winner will lead the newly-established Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority. This directs an annual investment budget of £24m a year, and holds powers over economic development, skills, transport, and planning.

The debate was co-hosted by Reach PLC – publishers of the Lincolnshire Echo and Lincolnshire Live, Grimsby Telegraph, Scunthorpe Telegraph and Grimsby Live – and Iliffe Media, publisher of titles including the Grantham Journal, Rutland and Stamford Mercury, Lincolnshire Free Press, Spalding Guardian and the associated website LincsOnline. Thousands tuned in across multiple Facebook pages.

Five of the six candidates standing attended – Sally Anne Horscroft – Green Party; Marianne Overton – Lincolnshire Independents; Jason Stockwood – Labour Party; Rob Waltham – Conservative Party; Trevor Young – Liberal Democrat. Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns declined.

Local Democracy Reporter Ivan Morris Poxton looks at the key points discussed…

Solar farms and farming

All candidates expressed opposition to solar farms. “Why are we not putting them in the wasted space above car parks?” asked the Green’s Sally Anne Horscroft. Conservative Rob Waltham also believed solar should be on roofs and pointed to his “track record” as North Lincolnshire Council leader, and its recently updated Local Plan to require all new homes and industrial buildings to have solar.

“We shouldn’t be preferencing farmland,” said Labour’s Jason Stockwood, but felt farmers should have the choice. Lincolnshire Independents’ Marianne Overton criticised “profit for big global companies” from solar farms and called solar farms “completely daft”. “We’re not going to end up with a farming industry across Lincolnshire,” argued Liberal Democrat Trevor Young.

Mr Stockwood suggested this was “sensationalist”. “Who are we to tell farmers what to do with their land?”.

Candidates vied to convince voters they would be the ultimate farming champion. Mr Waltham talked about developing “a really strong brand” to buy Lincolnshire produce.

Facing criticism of Labour Government policy to farmers, Mr Stockwood mentioned speaking to NUF members and felt issues recently raised reflected “decades of neglect” of farmers. “For me, it’s about having a seat at the table,” he said, of advocating for Lincolnshire farmers as Mayor. Ms Horscroft called Brexit “a disaster” for farmers, and for more research into regenerative farming and AI’s possibilities.

Economy, housing and transport

The mayoral candidates were quizzed on support for business and the economy in Lincolnshire, housing policy, and if they would bring public transport into public ownership.

On the latter, Ms Horscroft and Mr Waltham expressed support for a mix of providers. Mr Stockwood leaned towards public ownership, but after consultation with the independent bus companies to assess its merits.

Mr Young said profitable bus services “can never be achieved in many parts of our county”. He favoured nationalisation as an option. Citing her County Council shadow cabinet experience, Ms Overton said she had worked to make sure needed services were subsidised, so it was already not entirely profit-based.

On housing, Ms Horscroft wanted social housing prioritised and the need for smaller one and two bedroom properties. Labour’s Mr Stockwood felt it was “important for the Mayor to coordinate the housing strategy to make sure we’re not building blindly”.

Mr Waltham said older people’s housing in the county “is at a crisis point”, and supported more retrofitting of houses to make them energy efficient.

Lib Dem Mr Young felt Government housing targets were “undeliverable” and noted barriers to more housing to tackle, such as skills shortages. Lincolnshire Independents’ Ms Overton wanted local need to be the driving force for homes.

On business and the economy, Mr Stockwood pledged if elected, he would raise an extra £1bn to invest in agricultural and green tech, and the economy in Lincolnshire. “It’s a massive opportunity for the whole county,” he argued of the Mayor’s ability to encourage economic investment.

Conservative Mr Waltham said he would work with businesses to develop their confidence and to get land allocated developed on. Access to skills and education were emphasised by Mr Young, stating current Post-16 education in Lincolnshire was “unsatisfactory”. He also said more focus was needed to address large unemployment numbers.

Has Lincolnshire been neglected by various governments?

Candidates were asked if they felt Lincolnshire had been neglected by various governments, and what to do to change this. Mr Waltham said “because we haven’t had one voice to fight for us, that’s why we’ve lost out”.

The mayoralty would be “the best job in the world to be able to fight for the great county we all live in”. Ms Horscroft said under Conservative-run councils, MPs and Government, the county had “still not got our fair share of funding”.

Ms Overton said, “We need money for fundamental services and that’s what we need to make clear.” She argued she was “probably the most experienced in tackling central government” for extra funding, as Vice Chair of the national Local Government Association (LGA).

Candidates were also asked about Lincolnshire County Council’s decision to turn off streetlighting after midnight, and if they would oppose it. “The Mayor should not be wading in all the time on issues like this,” contended Mr Stockwood. Mr Young said he had campaigned on it for years, but the Conservative-run council would not listen, he claimed. Ms Horscroft suggested motion sensitive lighting as a solution.

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