The government wants councils to be simpler, so it’s clear who is in charge of local services. This will help councils be more efficient and make councils work better.
The English Devolution White Paper gives more power and money to mayors in England, so they can help make big decisions for their areas.
The plan also explains how local councils will be changed and improved. This will help local areas have more say in their future, make councils work better, and help people know who is responsible for services.
Local Government in Lancashire
Right now, Lancashire is made up of 15 councils. One county council, two unitary authorities and 12 district councils.
Having two levels is confusing and costs more. Local government reorganisation will replace the current two-tier system with unitary authorities.
With the current system some councils look after things like bins and parks. Others look after schools and care for children and older people. It’s hard to know who does what.
Local government reorganisation makes it easier for everyone - including local people, businesses, the NHS, and the police - to know who is in responsible for what and how we can work together to make Lancashire even better.
Local Government Reorganisation
Local government reorganisation (LGR) will change the current two-level council system into new, fewer, bigger councils called unitary councils. This will make things simpler.
Councils in Lancashire have sumbitted proposals to government with recommendations on how this can be achieved. The government is seeking to:
- Use areas that make sense on a map, usually based on current council borders
- Make sure the new councils can manage their money well
- Keep services working smoothly
- Think about local pride, history, and culture
- Aim for each new council to cover around 500,000 people (but this can change depending on the area)
Proposals
While all councils in Lancashire have submitted proposals for change, there are differing views on how best to deliver it.
Each council has their own unique local priorities, challenges, and opportunities which has led to the development a number of proposals. These proposals reflect a shared commitment to finding the most effective solution for residents and businesses.
View the proposals
Why it matters for Lancashire
LGR will change how councils are run and lead to services working better together.
Here are some ways it can help:
- Services can be easier to use and understand
- Councils can work together and stop doing the same jobs twice
- Running things more simply can cost less in the long run
- Bigger councils can speak up more for their areas
- Bigger councils can deal with problems better
- Changes can help people in Lancashire have more say in what happens in their area