Agenda item

Report of the LGR Working Group.

Council received the report and recommendations of the Local Government Reoganisation Working Group, which was presented by the Chair of the Working Group and Leader of the Council, Councillor Caroline Jackson.

Councillor Caroline Jackson responded to questions from Councillors regarding the Working Group’s report before proposing the recommendations set out in the report:

(1)            That Council notes:

·       There are five cases for change being put forward for Lancashire in response to the government’s invitation

·       That Council’s LGR cross party working group requested the Chief Executive to work with five other Councils on the four unitary option –

North Lancashire - Lancaster, Ribble Valley, Preston

Fylde Coast - Blackpool, Wyre, Fylde

South Lancashire - Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancs

East Lancashire - Blackburn with Darwen, Rossendale, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle

·       The four unitary option is included in full within the report (at appendix 1a, 1b).

(2)            That council considers:

·       The case for change for the four unitary option as above.

·       Cases for change for two unitaries, three unitaries, five unitaries and an alternative four unitary option have been prepared by other Council groupings. (Links were provided in the report to these where available).

·       Cabinet will make the decision on the preferred case for change proposal for Lancaster City Council, the actual decision for Lancashire will be decided by Government.

(3)       That Council recommends to Cabinet, for the reasons outlined in the report and appendices, the case for change for a 4-unitary option (Lancaster, Ribble Valley and Preston) as shown in Appendix 1a of the report.

A very lengthy debate on the proposition followed, with many Councillors giving their views.

After all those who wished to had spoken, the proposer of the motion responded to the points raised in debate. The Mayor then called for a vote and the motion was carried.

Resolved:

(1)            That Council notes:

·       There are five cases for change being put forward for Lancashire in response to the government’s invitation

·       That Council’s LGR cross party working group requested the Chief Executive to work with five other Councils on the four unitary option –

North Lancashire - Lancaster, Ribble Valley, Preston

Fylde Coast - Blackpool, Wyre, Fylde

South Lancashire - Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancs

East Lancashire - Blackburn with Darwen, Rossendale, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle

·       The four unitary option is included in full within the report (at appendix 1a, 1b) .

(2)            That council considers:

·       The case for change for the four unitary option as above.

·       Cases for change for two unitaries, three unitaries, five unitaries and an alternative four unitary option have been prepared by other Council groupings. (Links were provided in the report to these where available).

·       Cabinet will make the decision on the preferred case for change proposal for Lancaster City Council, the actual decision for Lancashire will be decided by Government.

(3)       That Council recommends to Cabinet, for the reasons outlined in the report and appendices, the case for change for a 4-unitary option (Lancaster, Ribble Valley and Preston) as shown in Appendix 1a of the report.