With the council’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) approaching, county council leader, Cllr Sean Matthews, has reflected on what has been achieved over the last year.
A change in political administration took place following the May elections in 2025, and the new leadership were formally put in place at the 2025 AGM. On Friday 22 May, the council’s AGM for this year is an opportunity for councillors to reflect on the successes and challenges since those elections.
Cllr Sean Matthews, said: “My first year as Leader of Lincolnshire County Council has been an incredible privilege, and I once again thank residents for putting their faith in this administration to lead the council.
“We are delivering better value for money while keeping council tax low, and still investing in our services.
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved in our first year, and I am even more motivated by what lies ahead. More change is on the horizon, with a continued focus on innovation in our services so we can see better outcomes for our residents.”
Top ten achievements this year
1. First budget with lowest council tax increase in the country
“In February we set our first budget and I’m delighted that Lincolnshire residents will have the lowest council tax level of all comparable councils nationally. At the same time, we continue to invest in the vital services our residents rely on, including children’s services, adult services and road maintenance. A key success has been the creation of 11 new SEND hubs, the first wave of many that will be opened across the county. This £7m investment will offer SEND pupils the extra support they need to thrive in a mainstream school, making a real difference to families.”
2. Springwell Solar legal challenge
“We have always been against large scale solar factories on Lincolnshire’s prime agricultural land. Although there’s limited influence that the council can have on these enormous national projects, we recently started the process of taking legal action against the government decision to grant permission for Springwell Solar. We’re protecting our national food security and standing up for our rural communities.”
3. New property strategy
“In September we approved our new property rationalisation programme and already we’re saving money, helping our communities and have generated money to invest in other infrastructure. The council has a number of buildings that we don’t need, sitting empty and costing money - that’s no good for anyone. Recently we have sold Crown House in Lincoln and leased out Minerva House in Holbeach, which will help a local business and a local school to expand.”
4. Pot-hole pro trial and future use
“We know the state of our roads is a real concern for residents. Our thorough Pothole Pro trial has shown great results and we’ve now announced it will continue to be used to improve our roads and make journeys better across the county. We are still exploring other cutting-edge technology too to drive more improvements.
5. Stopping plans for a nuclear waste disposal site
“Our new executive took the decision at our very first meeting to withdraw from a community partnership the council had been part of. This meant any discussions about using the Lincolnshire coast as a site to store nuclear waste, were ended. Residents were really concerned about these plans, and they know now that we will deliver on our promises.”
6. Efficiency savings and reducing debt
"Working with the corporate leadership team, our executive has identified £35.5m of known savings for 2026/27. These savings will rise to £62.6m in the coming years. But this is just the beginning. We continue to look at the data to see where we can get better results and eliminating spending that simply does not deliver for our communities. At the same time we have taken measures to reduce borrowing to bring down the historic debt of the council.”
7. Investment in Lincoln Castle repairs
“Our executive have agreed to invest £12.4m over four years, to carry out essential repairs to Lincoln Castle – the jewel in the county’s crown – preserving it for future generations. The castle plays an important role in our economy, and last year it brought in £11m to the county, with people visiting from around the world to see one of only four original copies of the 1215 Magna Carta and enjoy sell-out events.”
8. Investment in new fire appliances and kit
“From house fires to road traffic collisions and water rescues – our fire service need to respond quickly and effectively to the most dramatic emergencies when residents need us most. Firefighters need modern equipment and fleet, so we’re investing an extra £4.4m for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue which will include nine new fire engines. This will also save us money in the long term as older appliances become more costly to repair.”
9. New council plan sets out what we want to achieve in future
“In February we set out our new council plan which sets out our commitments to Lincolnshire families, communities and the county overall. One priority is ensuring that working age adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and those who are autistic are supported to live independently within their community. In partnership with Acis Group and West Lindsey District Council, and with support from Homes England, we recently completed Grange House in Market Rasen, a supported housing development, offering 10 apartments with access to 24-hour care, as well as a range of communal areas. It will offer the residents a home of their own, with the support they need to live meaningful and independent lives.”
10. New IT contract
“The council’s existing IT contract was coming to an end, so in June we signed a new contract with a new supplier. Our partnership with Version 1 is already seeing improvements for both staff and the public, with fewer calls to the IT helpdesk, and a new modernised system for customer services. We had a seamless transfer in November last year, with the new contract saving around £30m over its lifetime. We’re embracing new technology and welcoming new ideas and already have identified new digital capabilities that could bring a further £2.4m of savings.”