Decision details

As part of the Autumn Budget Statement on 22 November 2023, the Government announced the opportunity for a devolution deal for Lancashire and proposed the creation of a Combined County Authority for the administrative area covered by the three upper tier councils, Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council.  The Deal Document is available here http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lancashire-devolution-deal

To progress the potential devolution deal, under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023, a consultation is required on the draft Combined County Authority (CCA) Proposal (‘the Proposal’).  The Proposal is attached at Appendix A.

Following consultation, the three Councils will need to submit their final Proposal to Government, which will take account of the outcome of the consultation, and which, if appropriate, will formally propose the creation of the CCA.

Council is asked to approve the draft Proposal and agree to consult formally upon it with the residents and other stakeholders of the wider CCA area for a period of 8 weeks commencing on 1 December 2023.

It is anticipated that a further meeting of each of the three Councils in March 2024 will consider the results of the consultation and agree whether or not to formally submit the final Proposal to Government.

All three Councils are considering the same report and recommendations at respective Full Council meetings at the end of November 2023.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson moved a report on the Lancashire Combined County Authority and Devolution Proposal.

The following Amendment to the resolution was proposed by County Councillor Azhar Ali OBE and seconded by County Councillor John Fillis:

Add an additional recommendation:

(viii)  If the consultation does not receive a response from at least 30% of the population of Lancashire then the consultation period will be extended for a further 8 weeks.

On being put to the vote, the Amendment was LOST.

Following a period of debate, County Councillor Scott Cunliffe proposed an additional Amendment which was to add the words "to note" at the beginning of recommendation (ii). Following a brief adjournment and following advice given to Council from Heloise MacAndrew, Director of Law and Governance (Monitoring Officer), the Amendment was withdrawn.

There being no further Amendments, the substantive Resolution was then put to the vote. In accordance with Standing Order B45(4), a recorded vote was taken. The names of the county councillors who voted for or against the Motion and those who abstained are set out below:

For (58)

Against (0)

Abstain (0)

The Resolution was therefore CARRIED.

It was therefore:

Resolved: That the Deal Document as announced by the Government, linked here http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lancashire-devolution-deal, be noted, and the following be agreed:

1. The draft Proposal attached at Appendix 'A' of the report, to create a Lancashire Combined County Authority (CCA) for the administrative areas of Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Lancashire;
2. A formal consultation on the draft Proposal with the residents and other stakeholders of the wider CCA area, in a partnership between Blackburn with Darwen Council, Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council;
3. The approach to the consultation as set out in the Proposal document;
4. The Chief Executive be authorised to approve any minor amendments to the draft Proposal or consultation arrangements, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and is conditional upon such amendments being agreed by all three upper tier Councils;
5. The draft Equality Impact Assessment at Appendix 'B' of the report; and
6. To receive and consider the results of the consultation and whether to formally submit a final Proposal document to Government at a meeting of Full Council in March 2024.