A new national report has identified Lincoln as a key example of how smaller UK cities could drive regional growth if given greater powers through local government reorganisation.

The Case for Cities report argues that devolving authority to city-led unitary councils could help tackle challenges in health, housing and economic productivity. It suggests that current administrative boundaries, many unchanged since the 1970s, limit cities like Lincoln from coordinating long-term investment and infrastructure planning across their wider urban areas.

Lincoln is highlighted as a city that balances historic character with growth, serving as an employment and education hub for surrounding towns and villages. The report notes strong foundations in sectors such as defence, security, digital technology, and the creative industries, with potential for expansion through better integration of planning and investment.

It points to Lincoln’s collaborative model involving local agencies, housing providers, and voluntary organisations as an example of how targeted partnership can improve community wellbeing.

The findings support proposals for a single, right-sized authority capable of aligning housing, transport and health systems, accelerating affordable home delivery, and supporting inclusive development across Greater Lincolnshire.

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“He was so poorly and we knew he was going to pass away.” These are the poignant words of Laura Yarlett as she remembers the precious moments she and husband Steve had with their beautiful son Edison. Edison was born premature at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham in September 2022 with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia meaning his abdominal organs had moved into his chest area impacting on his lungs. The hospital’s neo-natal team worked relentlessly to save him but sadly he passed away, just 16 hours old. Laura recalls: “Even though the team knew what the outcome would be, they did not give up on Edison. He was showing so many signs of distress on the machines that were keeping him alive so eventually we made the heartbreaking decision to turn them off. We held him for a while, and he opened his eyes and then it just seemed as if he had fallen asleep.” Last Sunday evening Laura and Steve joined over 250 parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters on the Lantern Walk organised by United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity in partnership with the maternity bereavement team from United Lincolnshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) to highlight Baby Loss Awareness Week. Led by The Very Rev Dr Simon Jones, Dean of Lincoln Cathedral, the procession walked from Lincoln Bishops University to Lincoln Cathedral where the lanterns were placed in a heart shape in front of the building. Families were then invited into the building to light a candle, say a prayer or simply sit and listen to the softly sung voices of Digby Military Wives Choir. The Lantern Walk is important to Laura. She said: “It brings the baby loss community together and allows us to show that our babies matter. None of us chose to be part of this community, but we are, and we all support families when they don’t get to bring their baby home.” Other events were held throughout the week. On Saturday 11 October, families met at Dion’s Wood, Boston and planted tiny daffodil bulbs. These will grow and flower in the Spring and be a living reminder of their baby. As Baby Loss Awareness Week came to an end last night, families across the world lit a candle in a ‘Wave of Light’ to remember all their precious babies who are no longer with them. Rachel Bond, Specialist Bereavement Midwife at ULHT, said: “I am immensely proud of the success of the events. It means so much to be able to make a positive difference to families, not only during the time of their loss but to their future too.” Laura will always be grateful to the care she and Steve received; from the doctors and nurses who tried to save Edison’s life, to the support from Rachel and her team when she returned to her home at Waddington near Lincoln. She found one of the hardest things was telling Edison’s siblings that their little brother was not coming home as there was very little support information available. Laura felt passionately about remedying this and has created the charity ‘Edison’s Light’ in her son’s memory, which provides support packs for siblings and children. More information can be found at www.edisonslight.co.uk. United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Manager, Ben Petts, explained why he was proud to support Baby Loss Awareness Week. He said: “We support hospitals to deliver compassionate care to patients and families. This doesn’t stop when they leave hospital, we are there to support families for as long as they need it.” More information on the charity can be found at www.ulhcharity.org.uk.   Image shows the Lantern Walk nearing Lincoln Cathedral

North Lincolnshire Council has joined the national Age-Friendly Employer Pledge, signalling its support for retaining and developing employees aged 50 and over. The commitment forms part of its broader strategy to build a skilled, inclusive workforce that mirrors the community it serves.

The pledge focuses on promoting flexible working options, training opportunities, and clear progression routes for staff in later stages of their careers. By encouraging experienced professionals to remain in employment, the council aims to strengthen service delivery and safeguard valuable expertise across departments.

The initiative also contributes to wider regional goals by maintaining a stable and skilled labour market in North Lincolnshire. The council views the inclusion of older workers as essential to sustaining productivity, supporting families, and ensuring continuity of knowledge across generations.

This move places North Lincolnshire among a growing number of local authorities adopting age-inclusive workforce policies, aligning with national efforts to address skills shortages and improve employment prospects for people over 50.

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A firefighter from Boston recently completed an extraordinary 90-mile ultra-marathon around The Wash estuary to raise funds in memory of eight-year-old Billy Slater, the son of close family friends who passed away in December 2024. Dad of four Leyton Hubbert took on the challenge to support The Sick Children’s Trust, the charity that provided Billy’s parents, Max and Jo Slater – who also live in Boston – with a place to stay at Magnolia House, a ‘Home from Home’ for families with a seriously ill child in hospital, while Billy was cared for at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Billy, who lived with a rare metabolic condition that required his protein levels to be carefully managed, was a bright, adventurous boy with a huge smile, a love of football and Lego, and a boundless zest for life. Despite his health challenges, he was always full of joy and energy, a memory that Leyton carried with him throughout the gruelling 90-mile endurance challenge. “Billy was larger than life,” said Leyton, 35. “He faced more than most people do in a lifetime but did it all with a smile on his face. I thought about him so many times during the challenge, especially when things got tough. Remembering his strength and positivity kept me going.” The route saw Leyton travel from the Norfolk seaside town of Hunstanton to Skegness in Lincolnshire, arcing around the vast Wash estuary. Battling fatigue, pain, and relentless coastal winds intensified by Storm Amy, the challenge took him just under 23 hours to complete. He was joined at the finish line by more than 30 family members and friends, including Max and Jo, who were there to cheer him home. “It still feels a bit surreal,” said Leyton. “You can plan and talk about doing something like this but actually finishing it was an entirely different feeling. “I’ve always been a runner, but this was on another level. It wasn’t just a physical challenge, it was emotional too. I wanted to do something that truly reflected how much Billy meant to us all, and the support The Sick Children’s Trust gave to his family when they needed it most.” Leyton, who works for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, had been training for months. Though a keen runner, he had never attempted anything on this scale. His preparation included completing the National Three Peaks Challenge earlier in the year, helping him to build both mental and physical resilience for long endurance efforts. “I first thought about doing this route about three years ago,” Leyton explained. “I’d mapped it out on Google and told myself one day I’d try it. But I never really committed to it until Billy passed away. I was there at the funeral and just thought, this is it — this is my reason, my ‘why’. From then on, there was no backing out.” Despite developing a knee injury during training, Leyton pressed ahead, relying on a small network of friends and family to meet him at checkpoints in King’s Lynn, Sutton Bridge, Fosdyke, Boston, and Wainfleet. “The conditions were brutal,” he said. “For the first half I was running into a constant headwind. There were points where I was walking with poles and it felt like I was climbing uphill, even though it’s completely flat. But at the same time, it was a blessing because all I could think about was getting through it, not the pain or the miles. “Seeing friends and family at the checkpoints kept me going, with [Billy’s dad] Max coming out early in the morning to meet me. Those are the memories that stay with me more than the long, hard miles.” Billy’s parents, Max and Jo, said: “When Billy arrived at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, we were emotionally and physically exhausted. The team at Magnolia House welcomed us in the early hours of the morning, gave us a key to our own room, and showed us around. It immediately lifted such a huge weight off our shoulders. “Being just minutes away from Billy’s bedside meant we could be with him at a moment’s notice. When he passed away on 28 December, we could leave without worrying about a bill or logistics. That kindness meant everything. “When Leyton said he wanted to take on this challenge in Billy’s memory, we were so touched. Watching him cross the finish line was incredibly emotional. We were blown away to see he had raised enough to fund around 100 nights’ stay for families like ours. He’s a hero.” So far, Leyton has raised nearly £3,500 for The Sick Children’s Trust, which will go towards providing more nights of free stays for families with seriously ill children in hospital. Ann Wyatt, house manager at Magnolia House, said: “We’re so grateful to Leyton for taking on such an incredible challenge in memory of Billy. His determination and compassion are truly inspiring, and the money he’s raised will make a real difference for families who, like Max and Jo, need to stay close to their seriously ill child in hospital. “It costs £40 a night to support a family in one of our ‘Homes from Home’, and with the cost of living rising, fundraising like this is absolutely vital. Thanks to Leyton’s amazing effort, we can continue to provide comfort, care, and a place to stay when families need it most.”   Image shows Leyton crossing the finish line, with colleagues from the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service following him home. Credit: The Hubbert family.

West Lindsey District Council is advancing its Agricultural Growth Zone initiative to strengthen the region’s role in the UK’s agri-tech industry.

Centred on the A15 Growth Corridor and part of the national UK Food Valley programme, the Agri-Zone links the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme Campus with existing food enterprise zones and business infrastructure. The aim is to create a hub where innovation, investment, and workforce development can drive sustainable agricultural growth.

Local councillors and guests recently visited the Lincoln Institute of Agricultural Technology (LIAT) at Riseholme to see how agri-tech businesses are using research and technology to improve farming efficiency. The tour included the Barclays Eagle Lab, home to SmartFert Ltd, a company producing renewable fertilisers made from agricultural residues.

According to projections, the Agri-Zone is expected to add £165 million in gross value to the West Lindsey economy by 2035, creating more than 700 jobs. Around £94.5 million of that growth is projected to come from the food supply chain and £31 million from agricultural technology.

The council sees agri-tech as part of a broader regional strategy that also includes defence, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. A recent networking event at Riseholme explored links between agriculture and defence innovation, highlighting opportunities for collaboration across emerging sectors.

With its Agri-Zone initiative, West Lindsey aims to position itself as a national leader in agricultural innovation, uniting local government, academia, and industry to support modern farming and future economic growth.

Image credit: West Lindsey District Council

The UK government has approved plans for what is set to become the country’s largest solar farm, to be built near Glentworth in Lincolnshire. Covering around 3,000 acres, the Tillbridge Solar project will supply power to approximately 300,000 homes once completed.

Classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project, the development was approved by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, following a review that concluded the project’s benefits outweigh its local impacts. The decision adds to a growing list of large-scale clean energy projects, marking the seventeenth national approval since mid-2024.

The Tillbridge project is a joint venture between Tribus Clean Energy and Recurrent Energy. It will connect to the National Grid through infrastructure at the Cottam substation in Nottinghamshire.

Lincolnshire has emerged as a focal point for solar expansion, with two other major projects (Gate Burton and Mallard Pass) approved in 2024. Local councils have raised concerns about the cumulative effect of such large developments, while national energy planners view the region as critical to the UK’s renewable capacity goals.

Once operational, Tillbridge Solar will contribute to the government’s wider strategy of reducing dependence on volatile gas markets and accelerating the transition to low-cost renewable energy sources.

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North Lincolnshire Council has concluded the financial year with a balanced budget and a modest underspend, despite facing national cost pressures in areas such as care and education.

The 2024/25 financial report confirms the council maintained healthy reserves without cutting services, while continuing to invest in community priorities.

Spending over the past year has focused on road improvements, play area refurbishments, and new facilities aimed at strengthening local neighbourhoods. Support for families has also been expanded, particularly through early intervention and prevention programmes designed to reduce longer-term costs.

Independent auditors recognised the authority’s financial management for its accuracy and timeliness, reaffirming its reputation as one of the better-performing councils in the country.

The report highlights that consistent budget discipline has allowed the council to keep delivering visible improvements while planning for future projects across North Lincolnshire’s communities.

Image credit: North Lincolnshire Council