Special edition: Devolution deal agreed
What you need to know as government signs off agreement
Hello and welcome to a special edition of The Lancashire Lead. It’s only been a day since the last issue went out but in that time there’s been major devolution news. Read on for everything you need to know, including reaction from political leaders and Lead Editor (North) Ed Walker.
After months of calls for change from council leaders and recently elected MPs, requests that the deal be revisited or drawn up from scratch… the new Government has signed off on the old deal.
That deal was agreed under the Conservatives but was not passed through Parliament before the election, leaving it hanging in the air. Hopes had been raised that the new Government would reopen talks on devolution after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor put out a call for proposals from regional leaders.
But the Labour administration today announced it has signed off that original agreement, meaning more decisions will be made at local level. Local democracy reporter Paul Faulkner has the lowdown on the current state of play:
The changing of the political guard at Westminster sparked a sustained attempt by Lancashire’s Labour MPs and the majority of the county’s district authorities – including Preston and Chorley – to have the deal ripped up and renegotiated.
Their aim was to secure more control and cash for the county than it will get under the arrangement now being put in place – an outcome that would almost certainly have resulted in Lancashire getting an elected mayor, like Greater Manchester’s Andy Burnham, which has proved a perennially controversial prospect in some quarters.
After the deputy prime minister and local government secretary Angela Rayner put out a call to local leaders across England asking them for proposals that would pave the way for a devolution revolution, it looked like those agitating for a deeper – and, as they see it, stronger – deal for Lancashire were poised to win the day.
However, the three local leaders who signed the deal – along with Lancashire’s three Conservative-controlled districts – pushed for the provisional agreement to be honoured first before any attempts were made to change its terms.
The government has now said that it will sign off on the deal currently on the table – under which Lancashire will be handed power over policy areas including adult education and regeneration, along with a one-off £20m fund to help boost “innovation-led growth”.
It means a new combined county authority (CCA) will be established to oversee Lancashire’s additional responsibilities, subject to the set-up being approved by Parliament.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service understands the CCA could hold its inaugural meeting as soon as January.
The moment would mark the end of more than eight years of torturous – and often tortuous – negotiations about how devolution could be brought to the county. Lancashire’s 15 council leaders have more often than not failed to agree amongst themselves on the shape of any deal – and that is before the ever-shifting devolution demands of successive governments, whether in relation to a mayor or the streamlining of the local authority map, have been factored in.
That debate has raged while Lancashire has become something of an island in the North of England – left without a deal long after most of its nearest neighbours have started to feel the benefit of more local decision-making.
Notwithstanding the now imminent implementation of the agreement signed last November, Lancashire is unlikely to have seen its last political wrangles over devolution.
In announcing its decision to push the current deal over the line, the government is nevertheless encouraging Lancashire to move towards what it describes as the “gold standard” of mayoral devolution at a later date.
The news has, naturally, been announced with great delight by both Raynor and the upper tier council leaders.
“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 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.
“We want to work closely with them to unlock this area’s untapped potential, and keep the red rose of Lancashire blooming proudly.”
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor
Lancashire County Council leader Phillippa Williamson described the moment as a “very significant step forward in our devolution journey”.
“We know our county is already a brilliant place to live and work, but we also know that we can be even better if we are able to make more decisions locally, this is just the start and we are committed to exploring how we can go further.”
Lancashire County Council leader Phillippa Williamson
Blackpool Council leader Lynn Williams said she was looking forward to being able to implement plans for the county “that will benefit residents across the whole of Lancashire and not least here in Blackpool”.
“It is really important that decisions that affect our residents here in Lancashire are made at a local level,” Cllr Williams said.
A deal done, but big challenges lie ahead
By Ed Walker
Lancashire's journey to a Devolution settlement has not been an easy one, a county riven with divisions and colours not just red like the rose.
Casting my mind back to February when I heard County Hall chiefs consistently refer to it as 'the best deal on the table' certainly made lots across Lancashire roll their eyes when looking down the M61, M6 or across the M62. But, it is a step.
For all the talk of more powers, while unlikely to be the transformation many want to see, there is more on offer for Lancashire than the status quo.
What is clear is the districts in particular will be agitating. There will be much puffing of chests in Preston, Leyland, Burnley, Lancaster and the age-old divide between the unitaries and the district councils will intensify further.
Those sat in County Hall - and Whitehall - will know they now need to come out with something that is substantial for every part of Lancashire. But whether the war chest and clout will be there to do this remains to be seen.
New bridges over the River Ribble, public buildings that aren't RAAC ridden and tackling connectivity issues, poor housing stocks and the litany of challenges the county has will take time. But impatience will come from the public, the politicians and the mandarins.
In granting the current Deal their backing, the current government also put the county in an interesting political position. With Labour holding the majority of county MPs, district councils and indeed unitaries, it leaves Tory controlled LCC as an increasing anomaly.
Is it a case of giving those in power at County Hall enough rope ahead of the elections in May next year...
Thanks for reading this special edition of The Lancashire Lead. I’ll be back with a regular edition on Sunday - feel free to get in touch with any thoughts or feedback via jamie@thelead.uk
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