Have your say on the future of local council services in Lancashire
Lancashire’s councils are calling on residents, businesses and community organisations to have their say to help shape the future of local government in the county.
Currently, Lancashire County Council provides services such as social care, education, roads, and libraries, while district and borough councils manage services like bin collections, planning, housing, and leisure.
Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen operate as unitary councils, which deliver all of the above services.
The Government has set out its ambition to dissolve these councils and instead create a number of new unitary councils to deliver all local services through single authorities.
All of Lancashire's 15 councils are now working together to develop proposals for what these new unitary arrangements might look like.
They are collectively calling on residents, businesses and community organisations to fill in a short survey to find out their views on local government.
Questions include how important services currently provided are, what people's experience of services has been and what they think about the creation of new unitary authorities, including benefits and opportunities as well as concerns.
The answers will help the councils shape their proposals for Lancashire's future, which must be submitted to the Government by November 28th.
Currently a range of options, from the creation of two through to five new councils, are being considered.
The proposals must demonstrate:
- Stronger local leadership
- Improved service delivery and outcomes
- Value for money and financial sustainability
- Economic growth and prosperity
- Community identity and effective local partnerships
Councillor Yvonne Gagen, Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, said: “The government has made it clear they want important decisions to be made on a much more local level.
“We welcome this in principle – truly ‘local’ authorities are best-placed to understand the challenges their areas face and how to overcome them. Having the power to make intelligence-based decisions, with direct feedback from residents, keeps local priorities at the top of the agenda.
“LGR is a great opportunity, but it has to be done right with residents' best interests at heart. As a borough council, the current system of governance somewhat removes our voices from important discussions and limits how we are able to tackle some of the most pressing issues we face in West Lancashire.
“This will be a huge change to local government and will dictate how services across the Borough are delivered for many years to come. I urge everyone in the Borough to make their views count by completing the consultation.”
The government is expected to lead a public consultation on the proposals early next year with a preferred option selected in the summer.
New elections for the shadow authorities could then take place in May 2027 with the new councils taking over all services on April 1 2028.
To take part in the survey visit www.givemyview.com/lancashirelgr . The survey will close on September 28 2025.
Help to complete the survey is available at libraries in Lancashire. Alternatively, paper copies are available by contacting lgr@lancashire.gov.uk or calling 0300 1236701, Braille and easy read formats will also be available on request.
