Lancashire council leaders don’t want their councils to be abolished under devolution plans

“If you take adult social care out of the Lancashire-wide model… you’ll be competing for staff you don’t currently have (don’t need to do) and you’ll lose some of the existing economies of scale.” Commander Vincent said.

He told LDRS that Wyre would hold a referendum for its residents on any changes that were eventually proposed and said all other council areas should do the same.

“It wasn’t in the government’s manifesto – they don’t have a mandate to do it. So we will take our position based on what the people of Wyre want,” he added.

His Conservative colleague on Ribble Valley Borough Council has long been a firm believer that the services provided by district authorities like his should remain local, in sub-Lancashire.

“It (would be) civic vandalism leading to even more remote decision-making – it destroys local democracy,” Cllr Stephen Atkinson said of MPs’ project.

“Lancashire residents will remember who abolished their councils in four years – and I predict huge disruption, less responsive and remote services and millions wasted on reorganization while we fail to focus on delivery.”

Leader of Labour-run Preston City Council Matthew Brown suggested the move by MPs was premature, including their call to cancel next year’s Lancashire County Council elections before new local authorities are created in 2026.

“We will have to see what the final details will be when the new law is published. At this early stage an attempt should be made through Lancashire’s (group of) leaders to try to reach a consensus, with the support of the Local Government Association or other relevant bodies, on the structure, number and size of councils if restructuring occurs.

“I feel that an imposition from central government – without a further and final attempt to reach agreement on new structures – will not be well received throughout the county. If an agreement cannot be reached, there may be no choice, but councils must first make their own proposals to the government,” Colonel Brown said.

South Ribble Borough Council Labor Party leader Jackie Alty says her government’s aim “is – and always has been – to ensure that any changes made to local government take into account the different areas of Lancashire and serve the interests of its residents.”

“We know there is a lot of discussion going on around the government’s devolution ambitions and how local government should be structured to ensure the greatest impact and efficiency,” she added.

MPs’ call for an overhaul of Lancashire councils comes with an accompanying attempt to upgrade the current county devolution agreement to a gold standard “Tier 3” agreement – a move that would also require Lancashire to agree to elect a mayor.

This politically charged prospect prompted a joint response from the three “senior” authorities who negotiated the current devolution agreement (excluding the mayor), underlining their confidence that the agreement signed with the last Conservative government and has since been endorsed by the new Labor administration , “is under implementation.” in the interests of Lancashire.”

A spokesman for the trio added: “We have also agreed with the government that following the publication of the new English devolution white paper, due before Christmas, we will examine all governance models that reflect Lancashire’s geography, economy and political landscape. working closely with local councils and other important stakeholders, ensuring we remain in a strong position to secure additional powers and funding in the future.”

Speaking specifically about the proposed council shake-up, Blackburn and Darwen council leader Phil Riley said the “sensible approach” was to concentrate on implementing the deal already in place “until we hear a firm direction from the government with on the reorganization of local self-government.”

Philippa Williamson, Leader of Lancashire County Council, added: “The devolution deal received strong support during the public consultation and was supported and endorsed by all three councils (participating), all four universities and businesses across all sectors of industry and our economy. “

She added that proposals to redraw the council map had “no consensus” among local authority leaders.

Elsewhere, the Labor leaders of Chorley, Hyndburn and Rossendale councils are yet to respond to requests for comment, as are the leaders of coalition-controlled authorities in Burnley and Pendle.

West Lancashire City Council’s Labor Party leader said she had no comment, while Lancaster City Council said it could not answer the policy question as it did not currently have a leader or cabinet.

The Conservative-controlled Fylde council told LDRS it was not aware of the letter sent to the government by Labor MPs.

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