Devolution disputes leave Lancashire looking lost once again
What's next for the long-awaited deal that almost became reality?
Just a matter of weeks ago, it seemed Lancashire’s devolution deal was done and dusted. While the lower tier authorities had been left unhappy, Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council signed off on a deal granting more power over adult education and public transport and this was on its way to becoming law.
But it hadn’t made its way through Parliament by the time Rishi Sunak called the General Election, leaving the whole matter in limbo. Next week, an entirely new raft of people will surely be in charge - so what happens for devolution?
Last night, The Lancashire Lead co-hosted a hustings in South Ribble alongside Blog Preston and The Lancashire Post and one of my takeaways from the event was just how disputed the devolution issue remains. Three of the four candidates spoke against the deal - with two not wanting any devolution at all - while Katherine Fletcher, who is hoping to be re-elected as Conservative MP, insisted it was the best offering available.
The candidates were asked what they would do to ensure Lancashire has an equal status to Manchester and Liverpool - areas which both have elected mayors and increased powers and funding - and the answers showed the strength of local opposition and the division which remains across the political divide.
Ange Turner, the Liberal Democrat candidate, said:
“We debated this in the South Ribble council chamber and we concluded there were more disadvantages to devolution and having a corporate mayor than the individual authorities having their own leaders and their own budgets and making their own decisions about what happens in their communities and what they spend their money on”.
To be clear, the agreed deal would retain those district and borough councils, though it would also create a new Lancashire Combined County Authority (CCA) consisting of four members of the upper tier councils and up to four other people.
Paul Foster, South Ribble Borough Council leader and Labour candidate, went further in his criticism of the agreed deal. He said one of the benefits of the election being called was the stopping of this deal.
“What I want to see a full on Tier 3 elected mayor combined authority for Lancashire, just the same as we have in Liverpool and Manchester. That will bring huge, huge amounts of investment into our county […] We need an elected mayor for Lancashire and all the Tier 3 powers that go with it, the huge investment and that is singularly the best opportunity this county has, that South Ribble had, to deal with the huge infrastructure and transport challenges that we face.
“You only need to look at what they’re doing in Greater Manchester and look at what they’re doing in Liverpool to evidence that.”
Challenged that the agreed deal and it’s £20m funding promise was second rate, Fletcher pointed out that Foster’s proposal involved adding a third tier of local government and argued the county needs “less people like us on the stage” and more ability to control its destiny.
“For too long, civil servants in Westminster have been making decisions for us and frankly they’re rubbish […] What we need is stop that kind of centralised thinking and give Lancashire more power. If I felt that we could get a deal that would take out a layer of local government I would consider an elected mayoral model but the truth is the Tories have a reputation for fighting like rats in a sack in Lancashire, the Labour Party definitely fights like rats in a sack in Lancashire and this is rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic.
“What we need is our own infrastructure, our own transport budgets, our own powers, our own freeports and that Tier 2 deal was good enough. It was not too hot and not too cold and the money associated with it was a start. And I have to be honest and say some of the things that were being said about that deal, how it was being inadequate were letting down our communities.
“We need our voice, Manchester and Liverpool are taking over and that devolution deal is the one we can get so it’s the one I was really happy to take. If you don’t believe me, believe the Labour leader of Blackpool and believe the Labour leader of Blackburn with Darwen. It was a great deal and if the Conservatives are re-elected then we will push it through.”
The reason all of this matters is because it showcases just how much the deal remains a bitter source of contention. It took years of negotiations and counter-proposals to reach any agreement in Lancashire and even that one has left many unsatisfied.
With it not being finalised and major changes coming to government, it stands to reason that Lancashire could be sent back to square one with another long period of negotiations to begin. In all likelihood, there will be a Labour government this time next week so it’s worth examining what the party says on the issue.
According to its manifesto, the party wants to transfer power out of Westminster and into communities, with “landmark devolution legislation to take back control”. This involves “deepening” existing devolution settlements and widening the concept to more areas, “encouraging local authorities to come together and take on new powers.”
It says: “Towns and cities will be able to take hold of the tools they need to pursue growth, create jobs, and improve living standards. Local areas will be able to gain new powers over transport, adult education and skills, housing and planning, and employment support.
“We will ensure those places have the strong governance arrangements, capacity, and capability to deliver, providing central support where needed.”
If these promises are to be believed, it stands to reason that a much changed devolution offering could be on offer for the county. Whether it’s one which can finally unite Lancashire’s many leaders and whether it’s one that could be delivered any time soon are very different questions.
Thank you for taking the time to read this special edition of The Lancashire Lead. Please share it so others can enjoy it and subscribe to make you sure you receive future editions. I’ll be back on Sunday with a regular edition of the newsletter.
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