Local Government Reorganisation
Ribble Valley Borough Council is set to be abolished in the biggest shake-up of local government in over 50 years.
The Government asked Lancashire authorities to draw up plans for a substantial reduction in the number of councils in the county, from 15 to a small number of unitary authorities responsible for delivering all services from education and social care to emptying your bins and looking after your local park.
Four new councils for Lancashire
The Government has announced its preferred option for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Lancashire.
Subject to Parliamentary approval, four new councils will be created to replace the current 15 councils. Ribble Valley Borough County will join with Preston and Lancaster City Councils to create a new unitary authority. The new arrangements will be legally confirmed only once a Structural Change Order is made.
This means that residents in the Ribble Valley area will, from April 2028, be served by a new authority which will also cover Preston and Lancaster.
For now, it is business as usual. There are no immediate changes to services. Residents should continue to access support in the same way as they do now. Our focus remains on keeping services running smoothly and supporting our communities.
Local Government Reorganisation is about changing how councils are organised, not how people use services day to day. In the future, the new unitary councils will bring services together under a single organisation, making it simpler and more joined-up for residents.
This is a phased, long-term process. The new unitary councils are expected to take on responsibility for services in April 2028. This allows time for careful planning to ensure a smooth and well-managed transition.
We understand that people may have questions about what this means. We are committed to being open, honest and transparent, and we will continue to share updates as more information becomes available.
What happens next?
May 2027 – Elections take place for the new (shadow) councils
April 2028 – The new unitary councils officially launch and existing councils cease to exist