10 IN VIEW
DEVO DEAL WINS SUPPORT
Plans for a historic devolution deal to bring extra powers and money to Lancashire have received support in a public consultation.
THE HOME OF
The eight-week process asked residents, businesses and other stakeholders to give their views on the proposed deal.
If the proposal is implemented, existing funding and powers would move from central government to Lancashire through a new Combined County Authority (CCA).
Supporters of the deal say it will give local voices a greater role in decision-making, securing more investment and deliver better outcomes for communities. It would not mean removing or merging existing councils.
A total of 1,881 responses were received, including 186 from businesses and representative groups, including key organisations and large employers, who supported the deal.
Research has shown the number of responses received was similar to public consultations
Views from Westminster
INVESTMENT WILL DRIVE TRANSPORT
IMPROVEMENTS By Antony Higginbotham
Member of Parliament for Burnley
Last issue I wrote about the Autumn Statement and the measures the chancellor announced to support people back into work, to drive business investment, and to reward hard work.
With the Budget only days away at the time of writing, it’s that same focus we need to see at that fiscal event.
Lancashire Business View events
But I want to focus on something slightly different, but no less important – our transport infrastructure. Everyone reading this will know just how important that is. It’s how we move goods and people around our county, the country, and the world. But it is also something that most people take for granted.
The decision the Prime Minister took in October last year, to cancel the second phase of HS2, was undoubtedly contentious. And whilst I agreed with it, there will be some who didn’t. But in the last month we have seen the result of that decision.
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At the beginning of February, it was confirmed that Lancashire would receive more than £280m from reallocated HS2 funds, for potholes and road maintenance. And as any MP or councillor can confirm, roads are one of the top things those we represent complain about.
Because of this long-term funding announcement Lancashire County Council, alongside both Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen councils, will be able to plan strategically for the decade ahead.
But that wasn’t all. Just a few weeks later the government announced a further £494m for the county council, alongside £117m and £121m for Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool respectively.
This Local Transport Fund investment is part of the Network North plan that is seeing every penny of the £19.8bn of the HS2 northern leg going into the North.
This second funding announcement will allow us to relook at major transport infrastructure across our county. It will allow us to look at schemes like the Colne- to-Skipton rail line in East Lancashire, the M65, EV charge-points in our towns, bus and train stations, and so much more.
Taken together this funding amounts to more than £1bn in our transport infrastructure, and MPs and the councils will be engaging with residents and businesses to see what the pinch points are.
We spend much time arguing for greater certainty and more multi-year funding decisions. This delivers exactly that.
undertaken for devo deals in other areas. Feedback saw the majority welcome the proposal, which focuses on eight priorities: innovation, trade and investment, skills, transport, net zero and climate change, digital and cyber, culture and tourism, housing and land, and ‘delivering our ambitions’.
The overall positive reaction was welcomed by the leaders of Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool, the authorities which would form the CCA.
County council leader Phillippa Williamson said: “The findings from this consultation make it clear that there is a strong appetite for devolution in Lancashire.”
All three councils will discuss the feedback and their members will then decide whether to move forward to the next stage. If they all agree to proceed the findings will be presented to levelling up secretary Michael Gove, to consider laying an order in Parliament to establish the new combined authority.
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