Rethink for Lancashire reorganisation
Government has officially withdrawn its proposals to redraw boundaries in the county, turning the current 15-council system into a simpler four-unitary-authority structure.
While the plans have been withdrawn, government said it has not closed the door on reorganising the local authority system in Lancashire. Instead, it is re-evaluating its previous proposals, with an outcome due to be announced either before Christmas or early next year of this review.
Lancashire’s reorganisation was one of 13 to be withdrawn pending a review. The government will also continue to examine best options for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and for West Sussex.
Explaining the decision to the local authorities, minister Jim McMahon wrote: “This is not a reflection of the quality of the proposals submitted by councils in your area, but rather the need to give each decision of such significance the careful consideration it deserves.”
In the meantime, the government promised to pay £450,000 per proposed unitary authority to the impacted local authorities. In Lancashire, where four unitary authorities had been proposed, this amounts to £1.8m.
Lancashire’s senior responsible officer for local government reorganisation, Mark Wynn, said: “It’s helpful to now have confirmation from Government of the timetable for its review of LGR in Lancashire.
“Since the review was announced, the Programme Delivery Office and councils across Lancashire have reviewed implementation plans to identify the activity that can continue while the review is undertaken.
“This includes work that is not dependent on a particular future council structure or implementation timetable, helping to ensure that progress continues while avoiding unnecessary expenditure or abortive work.
“By focusing on these priorities, Lancashire will remain in a strong position to respond quickly and effectively when the outcome of the government’s review is known.”
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