Cabinet members to consider local government reorganisation

Cabinet members will be asked to consider the wide range of views across Lancashire about local government reorganisation at a meeting next week. 

As part of the government's English Devolution White Paper, published in December, local authorities in so called 'two tier' areas, which have county and district councils, have been asked to submit initial views on creating 'unitary' councils for their areas. 

Unitary Councils provide the full range of council services such as bin collection, highways and education. 

In Lancashire this could mean the county council, the 12 district/borough councils and Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen councils would be dissolved and replaced. 

The government have said services to residents should not be affected by these changes. 

Government have asked for initial views to be shared by 21 March with final, detailed proposals submitted by 28 November 2025.   

The county council has agreed to work collaboratively with the Leaders and chief executives of all the county's local authorities to inform the initial response, recognising that there isn’t yet a consensus on the way forward and a single preferred model isn’t expected by government at this early stage. 

Members will be told that a wide range of responses are being considered across the county including unitary models ranging from one authority covering Lancashire, through to two, three, four, or five unitary council models. There are also views that oppose the principle of reorganisation. 

Councillor Phillippa Williamson, leader of the County Council, said: "We have always been committed to strong and sustainable local government for Lancashire.  

"Our focus is to ensure that any potential changes are in the best interest of the people of Lancashire.   

"Cabinet will be able to consider the initial response to government, and the wide range of views across the county, recognising that we are not being asked to identify a preferred option at this early stage. 

"In the meantime, we remain focused on delivering excellent services, implementing our new council plan and maximising the opportunities that new devolved powers for Lancashire through the Combined County Authority will bring." 

It comes after Lancashire Business View reported Lancashire's new combined county authority (CCA) is officially up and running.

The Statutory Instrument which enabled the formation of the new body passed through Parliament late last week and has now been formerly signed by Jim McMahon OBE MP, Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution.