Deal was rushed through and is ‘highly inappropriate’
tier authorities without district involvement.
“It was rushed-through for political reasons.” Coun Gagen’s motion said West Lancashire Council should continue working with other boroughs in negotiating a deal.
She called for a review of the current ideas to ‘deliver tangible benefits for West Lancashire and the county’.
And assurances that any deal and governance arrangements will only be implemented if supported by the ‘majority of communities’.
Her motion also called for ‘extensive and meaningful consultation with district councils’ and for future cash from the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund to be allocated to West
Lancashire Council and other districts for distribution, enabling ‘the greatest local and social benefit to businesses and community sectors’.
However, Conservative Coun David Westley, who is also a county councillor, said: “It is the best deal yet unless we want an elected mayor.
“You need to have an elected mayor for the systems in Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
“This proposal for Lancashire is the first step. “I think Greater Manchester is now on its seventh devolution deal and Merseyside is on its fifth.
“You cannot compare Lancashire with those areas because we have a two-tier district and county system.“Our West Lancashire Coun Ian Rigby said: “For devolution to work, West Lancashire must have a place at the table. I support this motion.”
Conservative Coun Thomas De Freitas said he understood Labour county councillors had voted in favour of the devolution idea at a Lancashire County Council meeting.
However, Labour’s John Fillis, also a county councillor, said: “That vote was for consultation, not for the deal.
“You really need to know the facts.
“We need to consider the best deal. This was rushed-through.”
He added: “There will be no Lancashire combined county authority until 2025 or 2026, if we are lucky and once the outcome of the general election is known.
“It’s all about ‘jam tomorrow’ from the Conservatives.”
Labour’s Mark Anderson said: “I believe in devolution but at the appropriate level.
“I have believed in it for years, long before the Conservatives.
“This motion is about the current deal offered to Lancashire. It’s highly inappropriate.
“This current idea is not a curate’s egg. It’s a dog’s dinner.”
In a vote, the majority of councillors supported Yvonne Gagen’s motion.