MPs want to abolish all of county's 15 councils

A group of MPs want to abolish all of a county's 15 councils in a bid to create a simpler local government.

The Labour MPs have written to the government asking to replace the councils in Lancashire with just three or four local authorities and create a Lancashire mayor.

Each replacement organisation would deliver all services in their own area rather than splitting responsibilities between county and district authorities, they said.

However, council leaders have either rejected the proposals or called for a referendum on the idea, with one saying the proposal was "civic vandalism".

Oliver Ryan, MP for Burnley, has written a report on the new idea, saying: "Our time is now.

"The new government has a once-in-a-generation chance to deliver for Lancashire.

" With ambition, vision and political bravery, we must grasp the challenge set for us by the electorate in the 2024 election and deliver a future fit for the red rose county."

In September, Political leaders in the county struck a devolution deal with the government to create a combined authority next year.

But the MPs' letter – seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service – describes the current deal as not being "ambitious enough" and says the county needs the resources and control "to tackle the great issues of our time", like health and social care services, transport, regeneration and growth.

The MPs' plan would see Lancashire County Council, the dozen district councils, as well as Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen councils axed within 18 months.

It would also lead to a vast reduction in the nearly 700 councillors.

The plan is backed by the majority of the county's MPs.

But Wyre Council’s Conservative leader Michael Vincent said there was "no evidence" that the streamlined system would be better and called for a referendum.

He said: "This was not in the government’s manifesto – this is not something they have a mandate to do.

"So we’ll take our position based on what the people of Wyre want."

Stephen Atkinson, Tory leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council, called the plan "civic vandalism".

He said the "more remote decision making" would "remove local democracy".

Matthew Brown, leader of Labour-run Preston City Council, said: “I feel an imposition from central government – without a further and final attempt to get agreement on new structures – won’t be well received across the county."

A spokesperson for the three authorities that signed the current devolution deal – Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council – said the trio believed the agreement with the government was "in the best interests of Lancashire".

"Already £20m has been released to support projects that we know will make a difference and create much needed employment."

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "As part of the biggest transfer of power from Westminster, we want to better support councils that want to move to simpler structures that make sense for their areas and where that better meets the needs of local people."

Further details would be in the upcoming English Devolution White Paper, it added.

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