Lancashire's devolution deal signed at castle ceremony

A proposed devolution deal for Lancashire has been signed after eight years of negotiations between the government and local councils.

Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young put pen to paper at Lancaster Castle along with council leaders.

The deal will now be put out to public consultation before it can be ratified.

South Ribble MP, Katherine Fletcher, said it was "the first step" to the county being able to make decisions on how to "boost ourselves".

The agreement will not officially be finalised until after the public consultation has finished and when it has been approved by the three top-tier councils., Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

If the deal is ratified it would mean the transfer of more money and power from the government to a Combined County Authority.

It would control things like public transport.

However, unlike other areas in the north-west of England, like Merseyside and Greater Manchester, Lancashire will not elect a regional mayor.

Philippa Williamson, leader of Lancashire County Council, said she did not think it was "necessary" to have a mayor as the county was "80% rural" and had "quite a complex system of local government".

She added: "The powers that we are getting, the funding that we are getting, will enable us to get everything that we want to do the best for Lancashire."

The Levelling Up department agreed the deal with the three councils and it was announced last week in the Autumn Statement.

Mr Young said: "We will be devolving powers here but also further funds here so people on the ground here in Lancashire are making the decisions that affect them.

"That's the key we want for people. Local decision-making and not Whitehall imposing decisions on Lancashire."

Ms Fletcher, Conservative MP for South Ribble, said: "Crucially this is the first step on a journey for us making decisions about how to grow our economy and boost ourselves in Lancashire, in Lancashire."

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