8 IN VIEW
By Ged Henderson
County Hall
A DEAL OF WORK STILL TO DO ON DEVOLUTION
Lancashire has finally got its devo deal – but it looks like that is far from the end of the wrangling over the contentious issue of an elected mayor for the county.
Proposals to create a Combined County Authority (CCA) for Lancashire passed a crucial stage in September after the government signalled it was happy to proceed with the plan.
Jim McMahon, local government and English devolution minister, told the leaders of Lancashire County Council, Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council, that the statutory tests to implement the devolution proposal have been met.
However, it came with a message, encouraging Lancashire’s leaders to take strides towards mayoral devolution as a “gold standard”.
Lancashire’s second-tier devolution deal, which has now been given the green light, does not require an elected mayor and as a result comes with fewer powers and less funding than a mayoral model.
It also has its vocal opponents in the county, with a number of district councils rejecting it and calling for a “a more ambitious” devolution settlement.
The deal was brokered during the previous Conservative government and put on hold after failing to make it onto the statute books before the general election.
The switch in power to Labour following the election saw attempts by opponents to have it ripped up and renegotiated.
The government has now decided to go with the deal on the table, which took eight years
government said that the Lancashire CCA will be established in early 2025.
It added that it “strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader.”
And went on: “Mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities,
This agreement will empower local leaders to
make key decisions locally, and ensure they have a say on how to shape the future of their area instead of having it imposed on them from Westminster
to negotiate. However, with its strong message over an elected mayor it is likely this is not going to be the end of the matter.
And it has been reported that the minister has requested that Lancashire brings forward proposals for “deeper and wider devolution” by this time next year.
Announcing the signing off of the agreement, the
working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible.”
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to mark another moment in Lancashire’s rich history by agreeing the first steps of its devolution journey.
“This agreement will empower local leaders to
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