HOW IT WORKS NOW

LANCASHIRE County Council delivers major services such as social care, schools and highways.

The county is then divided into twelve district councils which look after areas such as leisure, parks and waste collection - and also make most planning decisions. The two-tier system would be likely to be replaced by a so-called ‘unitary’ model as part of any reorganisation. That would see the creation of new single-tier councils covering wider areas than current district and standalone authorities. were raised at this week’s meeting about the effectiveness of a combined authority if it included 15 separate voices. Previous discussions have faltered over whether individual councils would have a veto on the new body, which could have powers over issues such as transport, skills and strategic planning - and attract an extra £30m a year in government funding for the next three decades.

According to the Local Government Chronicle magazine, MHCLG officials have stipulated that any new single-tier councils created in Lancashire - similar to those currently in place in Blackpool and Blackburn - should cover populations of between 300,000 and 700,000 people

That could lead to the creation of anything between two and five standalone councils across the county - provided the government offers some flexibility over the population size of each authority. The LDRS understands that concerns expressed about the prospect of reorganisation at this week’s meeting cut across party lines.

But County Coun Driver described the latest discussions as “constructive”.

“We understand that the Secretary of State would expect simplified governance arrangements for the combined authority, which means a revised local government structure in Lancashire. Discussions about the way forward are set to continue,” he said.

There was consternation among district councils last month after it emerged that the then Northern Powerhouse minister and Rossendale MP Jake Berry had held a meeting with the leaders of the three top-tier authorities - Blackpool, Blackburn and Lancashire County councils - at which they proposed a combined authority consisting just of that trio, with County Hall representing the districts as a “convenor”.

The idea was rejected by the government, which insisted all councils must sign up to the plans.

It is 12 months exactly since Rossendale, Blackburn, Burnley, and Pendle councils proposed an East Lancashire standalone authority.

Burnley and Pendle have since backed away from the idea after the councils changed political control at the local elections.

Speaking last February, Rossendale council leader Alyson Barnes said: “Given the tough times and challenges we, our residents and businesses face, the time is right to look at how local government is structured in future in this area. One thing I am sure about is that the answers don’t lie in Preston.”

Former Haslingden MP Graham Jones has also

●● Rossendale council leader Alyson Barnes and former Haslingden MP Graham Jones have backed a Pennine-wide authority backed a authority.

Mr Jones told the Free Press this week: “I’m 90 per cent in favour, as long as it’s set up right. I don’t want to see red tape get in the way of public services, I don’t want to see a remote Preston a barrier to helping people and working together and a Hyndburn council which is too ineffective and too small to do much.”

In South Ribble, fellow Labour council leader Paul Foster threw his weight behind the ideas discussed with government officials.

He said: “We completely support the idea of a combined Lancashire authority and an elected mayor of Lancashire. We feel that there are clearly massive economic benefits to these proposals, which we hope

Pennine-wide can now progress with the pace and intensity needed to make an ambitious goal into a working reality. The people of .Lancashire deserve the very best services, the very best representation and the very best facilities - whether that’s social care, leisure, libraries, refuse collections, roads, transport, the lot.

“Now more than ever, we need to pull together to realise our collective strengths to really deliver for the people of Lancashire and both myself and my cabinet are adamant we can, and will, do that,” said Coun Foster.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted all of Lancashire’s 12 district councils, Blackpool Council and the MHCLG for comment.