Lancashire County Council considers legal action over government pause in local authority plans
Deadline approaches as council remains uncertain about judicial review opportunity
Lancashire County Council is contemplating legal proceedings against the UK government following an unexpected pause in plans to reorganise local authorities in the region.
Initially, the government announced on 16th July that Lancashire would be divided into four new council areas, altering the county's current 15 local authorities. However, on 7th September, a shock announcement revealed a halt in the process pending legal verification, leaving the council seeking clarity.
The county council had already questioned the evidence supporting the creation of four new authorities as part of deciding whether to challenge the plan through a judicial review. They face a 16th October deadline to launch legal action against the decision, if desired.
Lancashire Council leader Stephen Atkinson sought an extension to clarify whether the review would reassess all proposals put forward or merely reinforce the original decision. Although correspondence has been exchanged, the government has yet to answer this critical question.
The potential reorganisation would end the county's current two-tier system, shifting responsibilities like social care, highways, and education, traditionally handled by the county council, to larger councils encompassing areas currently managed by district authorities.
The four proposed new authorities are North Lancashire, South Lancashire, Fylde Coast, and Pennine Lancashire, combining multiple existing council areas. The proposals included over 800 pages of supporting evidence, while the government's decision rationale was outlined in a brief four-and-a-half page letter.
Lancashire County Council intends to preserve its legal options open in response to the government pause, keeping flexibility for any future challenge according to County Councillor Atkinson. The cost is estimated to be around £5,000.
As the region awaits government clarification, the council underscores the importance of a fair process reflecting the various challenges unique to Lancashire.