Agenda item

Report of Chief Executive. 

The Chair welcomed the Chief Executive to the meeting.

The Committee was provided with an update on the proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Lancashire prior to the full Council and Cabinet the meeting the following week when Lancaster City Council’s preference will be agreed.  The full proposals for reorganisation in Lancashire had to be submitted by 28^th November 2025.

Members were reminded that the Government had requested the Councils of Lancashire to work together to produce a single interim plan which was submitted in March 2025. The interim plan for Lancashire outlined high-level options for Local Government Reorganisation, reflecting a lack of consensus among the 15 Councils, and proposed between two and five potential new unitary authorities, while acknowledging the political, economic, and geographical complexities of the county.

The City Council had worked with Chorley, Preston, Ribble Valley, South Ribble and West Lancashire Councils on proposals.

Five options have been developed for local government structures in Lancashire, ranging from two to five unitary councils :-

a)    Two unitary councils with Lancashire split into North and South regions broadly across the River Ribble and M65. This has been developed by Lancashire County Council.

b)     Three unitary councils bringing Chorley together with South Ribble, West Lancs and Preston. In the North a council covering the area of Fylde, Wyre, Blackpool and Lancaster. In the east Blackburn with Darwen together with Hyndburn, Rossendale, Burnley, Pendle and Ribble Valley. This has been developed by Wyre, Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Fylde, and Rossendale.

c)     Four Lancashire which groups Chorley with South Ribble and West Lancs and creates a fourth unitary council of Lancaster, Ribble Valley, and Preston in the North. This is the most widely supported of all options having been developed by six councils; Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancs, Preston, Ribble Valley, and Lancaster.

d)    An alternate four option which has been developed by Blackpool and splits the current districts of Wyre and Ribble Valley and brings Blackpool together with Preston.

e)    A five unitary option, developed by Burnley and Pendle, which creates an additional council in the East of the county, splitting Pendle, Burnley and Rossendale from Ribble Valley, Blackpool and Hyndburn. This also divides districts along the Fylde coast into different authority areas.

The four unitary model that had been worked on by the six Councils took into account economic corridors and provided a model that balanced the output of economies within the County. A four unitary model for Lancashire would create Councils that were 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.

Resolved :-

That the Chief Executive be thanked for his presentation and attendance at the meeting.