8 IN VIEW
DEAL OR NO DEAL? Local political leaders and business people give their views on the devolution offer
Miranda Barker, chief executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and LEP board member
What has been offered so far is not in itself hugely significant – it’s the promise of more to come.
Phillippa Williamson
Phillippa Williamson, leader of Lancashire County Council
The signing of this document is a hugely significant milestone for us and marks the start of a new beginning for Lancashire.
We are hugely ambitious for our county and believe devolution will unlock so many more opportunities for our businesses and residents.
Ensuring local decisions are made at a local level is absolutely key to what devolution is all about.
Through this deal Whitehall will pass these powers to us in Lancashire, as well as the resources to make them happen.
Afrasiab Anwar, leader of Burnley Council
The deal is underwhelming in terms of the proposals that are on offer and is a poor deal for Lancashire.
The issue throughout this process is that the district councils have not been involved.
The unitary authorities and the county council have gone off and done this and not engaged very much, if at all, with the district leaders and councils. That has led to issues of trust and transparency in terms of what the role of the districts will be.
This deal is going to happen and we need to engage in the process, what we are pushing for is the district representatives on the CCA to have voting rights.
I would like to see a better deal similar to Manchester and Liverpool’s and if this can be a step towards that it can be seen as a positive. We want devolution and we want decisions to be made locally.
Mo Isap Mo Isap, chief executive In4 Group
It is very much a starting point to get to somewhere and from that perspective it is a good thing. There is a long way to go.
It does feel like it is the beginning of a marathon, with some people already running the race while others have yet to get to the starting line.
When you look at devolution in Greater Manchester you can’t underestimate the importance of the officers and civil servants and the serious work they do in the background.
It is also about relationship building and having that shared vision.
It is a huge opportunity for the whole of Lancashire to invest in itself in a truly transformative way and to be able to do it at a county-wide scale.
It must not be seen by Lancashire authorities as a back-office cost cutting exercise, they must invest in the rest so they match the best.
Look at the path Greater Manchester has gone on, securing more and more devo funding. We need that level of aspiration and local powerful leadership. Will we get it? Businesses are hopeful, and challenging!
Phil Riley, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council
We’ve talked a lot about getting on the bus so we can start the journey to meaningful devolution. We have made that first step to accessing more funding and using local knowledge to benefit people in Blackburn, Darwen and wider Lancashire. This is something which can lead to real improvements over time.
We have a strengths and opportunities across the whole of the county and by pulling together we can make the most of them.
Just imagine how much more sense it will make to have transport which operates as one across Lancashire.
At the Making Rooms in Blackburn, we were able to demonstrate the impact of encouraging innovation and creativity. Projects like this will directly benefit from devolution.
Michael Vincent, leader of Wyre Council
The deal is a starting point. The government made clear in the White Paper that this was for upper tier authorities.
The districts can have a say but that’s a matter for the county and unitaries, so I am grateful that they have agreed to let us have a voice. My irritation that the voice isn’t as loud as we would have liked is towards government.
I hope that once the CCA has built a relationship with government that more powers and money will be devolved. Manchester did not get all they have now in the first instance. It took time.
Businesses should see this for what it is: a £20m investment in Lancashire with more to come. It’s money given to a legally distinct authority that has none of the financial pressures that councils do so can focus on big, strategic plans.
The proposals so far are off the shelf plans but as the authority is established and gains skills, knowledge and experience I expect the plans to be more transformative. I’m not excited by what this is today but am about what it can be if it’s properly resourced and supported by politicians, businesses and residents.
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