Your Final Say on Future of Local Government in Lancashire

Lancashire’s 15 councils, including Ribble Valley Borough Council, look set to be abolished by 2028 in the biggest shake-up of local government in over 50 years.

And the Government has today (Thursday, February 5) launched a consultation into the proposed changes.

Currently, Lancashire County Council provides services such as social care, education, roads and libraries, while district and borough councils manage services such as recycling and refuse collection, planning, housing and leisure.

Unitary authorities in Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen deliver all of their services.

But the Government wants to replace Lancashire councils with single-tier authorities delivering all services.

The county’s 15 councils have been working together to develop proposals on how the new authorities might look.

These include business cases for two, three, four, an alternative four and five unitary authorities, which were submitted to the Government last November.

Following an initial public survey on the proposed changes last year, the Government wants to gather further evidence from named consultees and interested parties.

The consultation is targeted towards specific sectors, such as the police and health, but input from residents and businesses is welcomed and will be considered.

The consultation is not a referendum but aims to seek views on how each proposal meets the Government’s set criteria.

Ribble Valley councillors have unanimously agreed that four unitary authorities, which will see the borough combined with Lancaster and Preston, is the best option for the borough.

Council leader Simon Hore said:

“The Government has launched its consultation on proposals for local government reorganisation in Lancashire.

 

“These are fundamental and sweeping changes to how local government will look for decades to come, so we are asking our stakeholders and partners to make sure they have their say.”

To take part in the survey and / or see the different proposals on the new unitary authorities visit lancashirelgr.co.uk, any Lancashire library or the Ribble Valley Borough Council Offices in Church Walk, Clitheroe.

The Government’s preferred option is expected to be announced in the summer, with elections for the shadow authorities taking place next May and the new councils taking over services on April 1, 2028. Parish and town councils will not be affected by the proposed changes.