Preston City Council has put forward its preference for forming a new authority for Central Lancashire.
The government’s plan for local government reorganisation means that two-tier council structures – wherein some services are provided by Preston and some by Lancashire – will be abolished.
The 15 local authorities in Lancashire are being asked to put forward suggestions on how that will look – with basic guidelines on population sizes and the overarching point that councils are unlikely to be able to form authorities outside of the county’s existing boundaries.
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That may have have been an option for West Lancashire to explore with Merseyside or Lancaster with South Cumbria.
Preston, Lancaster and the Ribble Valley are aligned on their desire to group together – as are South Ribble, Chorley and West Lancashire. But there’s other points of view for the government to consider and we’ve had a look what they are below.
Lancaster and Ribble Valley
By Robbie Macdonald
Councillors in both Ribble Valley and Lancaster have indicated that their preference is to merge with Preston into a new Central Lancashire authority.
Lancaster councillors were asked to back an idea to create four new unitary councils across Lancashire from 2028, with Lancaster City Council joining Preston and the Ribble Valley.
Having four new Lancashire ‘unitaries’, each with all services under one roof, would be best way forward, according to a new report for Lancaster City Council. New councils would cover north, west, east and south Lancashire, under the idea.
In the past, Lancaster has been interested in linking with south Cumbria around Morecambe Bay. But that idea was rejected by a previous government. And the current government will only allow cross-county mergers in ‘exceptional circumstances’.
As part of this, a new Lancashire regional ‘strategic authority’ with appointed top council leaders would sit above the new unitary councils. And there could possibly be an elected regional mayor, like Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham.
A city council report stated: “The transformational potential of having a four-unitary Lancashire far-exceeds other options, such as having three unitaries, and could realise over £195 million in savings between 2027 and 2033.
“There would be advantages in local responsiveness and innovation. Four unitaries would align with real economic geographies, preserving key economic areas. Four unitaries would simplify governance, improve service delivery and align with economic corridors. It balances scale for efficiency and local identity, enabling tailored services and stronger community engagement.”
A council report states at Ribble Valley meanwhile stated: “Earlier this year, councillors said they were opposed to local government reorganisation. But if it is forced on the council, the preferred option would be to split Lancashire into four new unitary councils, with Ribble Valley Council combined with Preston and Lancaster.
“With that decision, we have worked with some other councils to develop the four unitary option. To summarise, the business case is that four new councils would be rooted in communities, financially sustainable with investment in a safe transition and transformation delivering over £190million in savings.
“The four unitary model would also kick-start economic growth for Lancashire and the country. It would transform public services.”
Blackpool
By Richard Hunt
Blackpool Council has formally confirmed its proposals to merge with Preston to form a new council.
The Labour-led authority has opted for the creation of a new local authority which would also include Fylde and western parts of Wyre – and serve 475,000 people.
A meeting of Blackpool’s Executive committee last night ratrified the propsals and now local authorities across th country must wait for the process to enfold.
it is all part of the Local Government Reorganisation proposals, the biggest shake-up of loacl governments since the dramatic upheaval of 1974.
The proposal has been put forward by Blackpool Council in response to a government call for suggestions about how to streamline the local authority system right across Lancashire.
Ministers have resolved to abolish all 15 of the county’s existing councils in 2028 – including the standalone authority for Blackpool, Lancashire County Council and the districts of Fylde and Wyre.
Although Fylde annd Wyre councils have made it clear they wpuld rather keep the status quo, both hav reluctantly made their choices too – they have put bforward plans to join up in a combi ne authory of Wyre, Fylde, Blackpool -and Lancaster. Presto is not part of their favoured scenario.
Blackpool Council’s Labour leader Lynn Williams said it made sense on many levels.
She said: “Blackpool and Preston are areas that are really pushing the issue of regeneration and [we both have] that urbanness – so there is far more in common [between us than not].
“I think [the proposed area] also reflects how people live and how they travel to work – a lot of people who live in Blackpool work in Preston and vice versa. You’ve got the connectivity of the M55, so there’s [west-east travel] as much as there is up to Cleveleys, Poulton and Fleetwood [which we have] a lot in common with.
“So there’s a real feeling of connectivity, work and community,” Cllr Williams said.
The bid document trumpets the ”large-scale regeneration programmes and ambitions” found in Blackpool and Preston – with a coming together of the two areas being promoted as an opportunity to bring “a clarity of purpose” on projects that could be developed between them, “together with consideration of the complementary roles of west Wyre and Fylde”.
However, the proposal also acknowledges the challenges posed by deprivation across the suggested new council area – pointing to the particularly concentrated pockets of poverty found in parts of Blackpool, Fleetwood and Preston.
But it posits that the footprint of the new council would promote “innovation” in what would be better co-ordinated and “scaled-up” efforts to help those areas facing “systemic inequalities and interlocking disadvantages across health, education, employment, housing and access to services”.
The three-council option
By Robbie Macdonald
There is still the potential that Preston could be grouped with West Lancashire, South Ribble and Chorley – despite none of those councils being in favour of it.
Councillors in Rossendale were asked to back a vision for a three-authority area.
Under the proposals, detailed in a report by Rossendale Council, the authority would join Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle and the Ribble Valley.
Creating three new unitary authorities for Pennine, central and coastal Lancashire areas, each with all their services under one roof, would be best for public services, efficiency, savings, local economies and community identities, according to the report.
Preston would fall into the central area, along with South Ribble, West Lancashire and Chorley.
The two super councils
By Paul Faulkner
Lancashire County Council will tell the government that just two new local authorities should be created to replace the 15 that currently exist across Lancashire, as part of a radical shake-up being ordered by ministers.
County Hall’s ruling Reform UK group backed the establishment of standalone North Lancashire and South Lancashire councils at a meeting about the future shape of local government in the county.
Under the county council’s vision, the new North Lancashire Council would incorporate the existing Preston, Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre, Lancaster and Ribble Valley council areas – and serve more than 722,000 residents.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Ribble, South Lancashire Council would combine South Ribble, Chorley, West Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Rossendale and Pendle – and provide services to just under 888,000 people.
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