Local Government Reform in Lancashire
This Government are looking to radically change the face of local authorities by 2028, with a proposal to create a number of Unitary Councils across Lancashire, removing the current 2 tier system of district councils with the County Council
Currently, Ribble Valley Borough Council (RVBC) services for its 65000 residents include housing, local planning, waste collection, leisure and parks, environmental health, licensing, council tax and benefits and local economic development, with Lancashire County Council (LCC) responsible for adult and children’s services, waste disposal, highways and transport, libraries, museums and strategic planning.
Creating a new Unitary Council (an amalgamation of various districts) will potentially provide all these services.
The government are insisting on change and the Council need to respond with a proposal by November 2025 [28th]. A challenge for us all, to redefine, in months, a local government structure for Lancashire, much of which has been in place for 50 years since 1974.
RVBC have stated as our first wish to remain Independent…. but has suggested that, should there be reorganisation into a Unitary Council, our preference is for a link with Lancaster and Preston City Councils as part of 4 Unitary Councils across Lancashire. Alternative options are being put forward by other Lancashire Districts from a North/ South split into 2 Unitary Councils favoured by the County Council, with up to 5 Unitary Councils suggested by some East Lancashire Districts, with a 3 option that may see Ribble Valley linked with Blackburn.
Our 4 option proposal would give a ‘North Lancashire Unitary’ a strong rural base of RV and Lancaster with the National Landscape (AONB), encouraging tourism; University links between Lancaster and Preston, an economic area of Preston including BAE, along with the transport link of the West Coastline into London and Glasgow.
Currently, RVBC have the lowest district council tax in Lancashire, and
· retain weekly bin collections without charging for green waste collection
· maintain several face-to-face services for council tax and benefits
· provide local leisure and cultural facilities
· control our local plan and affordable housing allocations
· manage all licensable activities
The costs for transition or transformation to a new Unitary are as yet unknown, the timescale will be many years for it all to bed in, but it is very likely that council tax will be harmonised with the higher rates applied by other councils, and services such as weekly refuse collections will disappear. We will be working hard to ensure that we retain our ability to manage our local plan, affordable housing allocations, licensing and leisure facilities for the future.
The current timetable from the Government will see
· November 28th 2025- Proposals submitted by Lancashire.
· Spring 2026 - A consultation period on the proposals that the Government feel meet their criteria
· Summer 2026 – a decision from the Government on which Unitary Councils will be created.
· May 2027 – elections for Councillors to stand in the new Councils to operate as a Shadow Authority for a year.
· April 2028 – the new Councils will commence
Councillors representing residents would be reduced to 40, possibly around 12, with elected members covering a significantly larger area; with concerns raised on a loss of democracy, reducing local accountability and representation.
I have voiced concerns over the proposed restructuring, which will consolidate district councils into larger authorities, warning of a potential ‘democratic deficit’.
COMMENT FROM CLLR TONY AUSTIN
"Amongst many other serious mistakes, the Labour Government is planning to inflict compulsory Local Government Reorganisation on us in April 2028, without the matter ever having been mentioned in its election manifesto. English devolution should bring government closer to the people, as it has in Scotland and Wales, but it is rather the reverse in England.
"...if it is forced, the preference would be a combination with Preston and Lancaster City Councils, as the lesser of several evils. Lancaster does have tourist trade, historic buildings and a number of rural parishes in common with us. Preston provides many jobs to Longridge residents and shares the River Ribble with the Ribble Valley."
