Future of Local Government in Ribble Valley Set to Be Debated
The future shape of local government in Ribble Valley will be debated by councillors next week (Wed 26).
A meeting of the full Ribble Valley Borough Council is recommended to endorse a proposal to split Lancashire into four new unitary councils, with Ribble Valley joining Preston and Lancaster to create an authority serving 374,000 residents.
It follows Central Government’s decision to launch the biggest shake-up of local government in England in 50 years, known as local government re-organisation.
While councillors have previously decided that RVBC would prefer no change, if it is forced upon the borough then dividing Lancashire into four unitary authorities would be the best approach – an approach dubbed Four Lancashire.
The proposed new unitary councils would be responsible for delivering all local authority services, including education, social care, highways, waste collection, planning, housing, and leisure.
“The Four Lancashire approach, with Ribble Valley joining with Preston and Lancaster, and Lancashire overall being covered by four unitary authorities, would deliver the best value for our residents compared to the other options being put forward,”
said RVBC leader Councillor Simon Hore.
He said the proposal would create a North Lancashire unitary authority providing:
- A strong rural base of Ribble Valley and Lancaster with a National Landscape area (AONB) encouraging tourism
- University links between Lancaster and Preston
- An economic area of Preston, including BAE, along with the strategic transport links including the M6 and M65 motorways and the West Coast mainline railway between London and Glasgow
- An established tourism base in Ribble Valley will compliment that of Lancaster and Preston to help promote the new authority area
Coun. Hore added:
“This is a challenging time for Lancashire but in proposing the Four Lancashire model we believe that this is the best alternative for a managed future of our region.
“It is also the most widely supported approach, with six out of Lancashire’s 15 councils working together on its development.
“Ribble Valley currently delivers top quality services to its residents while keeping council tax bills down to almost the lowest in the country. The fear is all that could be lost.
“However, change is being forced on us and we have a duty to our residents to put forward the proposal that best suits their needs and interests. We feel that joining with Preston and Lancaster would be the best option in terms of building for the future on the strong foundations we’ve already established.
“A four unitary model for Lancashire will create councils that are large enough to be financially sustainable yet locally responsive, bringing together areas with similar social and economic characteristics so that services can be better tailored to community needs.”
The full council meeting will be held on Wednesday 26 November when councillors will discuss a report that recommends a proposal to create four unitary authorities across the county.
They will also consider a 123-page report which sets out the business case for a four-council approach. The report concludes: “We firmly believe the four unitary authority model is the most balanced, sustainable, and future-ready solution for Lancashire.
“It is the option that delivers the most acceptable change for residents while also establishing safe, stable, and financially resilient councils. By combining scale with local responsiveness, it ensures that communities are represented, services are integrated, and decision-making is accountable.”
It is expected that a submission, with proposals ranging from two to five new councils, will be submitted to the Government on behalf of Lancashire's 15 councils on November 28.
The Government is expected to launch a public consultation on the proposals early next year, with a preferred option selected by summer 2026.
Elections for the new shadow authorities could take place in May 2027, with the new councils assuming full responsibility for services from 1 April 2028.
The council report and business case for the Four Lancashire approach can be found at Special Council 26 November 2025 | Ribble Valley Borough Council