New powers for politicians with local Lancashire devolution deal
It means more local say on things like adult education and transport
After years in the making, the government has given its official backing to Lancashire's devolution deal.
The agreement - which is signed by Lancashire Council, as well as Blackburn with Darwen Council and Blackpool Council - has been in the works for some time, but was put on hold when the general election was called earlier this year.
It means politicians in the county will now be able to have more control over regeneration, adult education services and transport.
But, the agreement doesn't go as far as to create a Mayoral structure.
The agreement is subject to parliamentary approval and local consent.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: "This is only the first step of our major ambition to drive forward our devolution revolution, and ensure we empower more communities and strengthen the existing powers of our brilliant mayors."
Lancashire County Council’s Conservative leader Phillippa Williamson said she and her Labour counterparts at Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen councils had “never wavered in our belief this is the best deal that is achievable”.
“To do anything else would be ridiculous…and set us back a long time  I think we expected to have a sensible conversation with the government about it all, which was what we did – and we had all the evidence to be able to convince them.
“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.
“What’s not to like about bringing decision-making and powers that will make things better locally into our hands, to be able to make those decisions ourselves, rather than have them done at Westminster?” County Cllr Williamson asked.
The three signatories to the deal met with Jim McMahon a fortnight ago and Blackpool Council leader Lynn Williams says she is pleased that outcome has been a decision which allows Lancashire “just be able to get on with this”.
“It is really important that decisions that affect our residents here in Lancashire are made at a local level.
“We don’t have to sell it to business – they’re already on board and just wonder why it has taken so long,” Cllr Williams added.
Meanwhile, Phil Riley, who leads Blackburn with Darwen Council, says it would have been a “backwards” step to return to the drawing board and rethink the deal in its entirety. To those district leaders who are unhappy with the scope of the agreement and what it will bring to Lancashire, he says:
“You cannot compare where we are with where Greater Manchester now are. The more sensible comparison is…with where Manchester began – and that is probably not much different to where Lancashire is now beginning.
“We have to start to be in a situation where we can compete with all the other mayoral authorities.  If people want to see an example of where we are aiming to get to, then Manchester is that example…of a place that has been absolutely transformed in the last 10 to 15 years,” Cllr Riley said.
The government said in announcing its decision to push the current proposal over the line, that it is encouraging Lancashire to move towards what it describes as the “gold standard” of mayoral devolution at a later date.
It has been seized upon by those both for and against the idea as evidence of the government’s ultimate ambition for the county.
A combined county authority will be established in 2025, and they would be given responsibility for adult education.