The County Councils Network (CCN) has welcomed North Lincolnshire Council as its newest unitary council member.
CCN, which has represented unitary councils in historic non-metropolitan county areas since the late 1990s, now includes 18 authorities across England.
With a largely rural population and geography, North Lincolnshire joins to collaborate with councils facing similar challenges, access CCN’s research and support, and contribute to national debates on funding, housing, children’s services, and planning.
The council becomes the third authority from the 1990s reorganisation to join, following East Riding of Yorkshire and Herefordshire.
The addition of North Lincolnshire means CCN unitary councils now represent 43% of England’s unitary authority population.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said the move would ‘strengthen the network further,’ while CCN Chief Executive Simon Edwards welcomed the authority.