A recap of Lancashire's election results this weekend
As we wait to find out who will be the next Police Crime Commissioner for Lancashire this morning, let's take a look at what happened with the election over the weekend.
New leader and deputy chosen for ruling Tory group
Lancashire County Council has a new leader-elect after the ruling Conservative group chose children and schools cabinet member Phillippa Williamson to take on the top job.
She was elevated to the role of county Tory leader on Sunday afternoon, just 24 hours after the party comfortably retained control of the authority in the local elections.
The position in charge of the Conservative group – and hence also the county council itself, in the wake of the election result – was vacant after Geoff Driver, who has led the authority for the past four years, stood down at last week’s poll.
County Cllr Williamson’s official instatement as leader of the council will require a confirmatory vote of all of the authority’s members at a meeting later this month.
It had been thought that deputy leader Keith Iddon was being primed to take over the reigns, after spending recent months working closely with County Cllr Driver on the running of the authority. He had been in the deputy role for two years and also featured heavily in the Tories’ pre-election media appearances, representing the party in a Local Democracy Reporting Service debate prior to the county vote.
However, as Saturday’s midday deadline for nominations passed, it became clear that any notion of a coronation had turned into a competition when both he and County Cllr Williamson made bids to become the County Hall boss. A secret ballot of the now 48 members of the Conservative group on the authority came back in favour of the latter.
Responding to the news, County Cllr Williamson said she was “honoured” that that her colleagues had “put their faith in me to lead them”.
“I am looking forward to the challenge and getting started straight away, delivering better services, inward investment, jobs and opportunities for the county,” she said.
On the election result, County Cllr Williamson described it as “reflecting the hard work of our councillors over the last four years”.
“We are pleased that voters have trusted us to deliver for them. We want to build on that trust and, with our new, expanded group of talented councillors, to continue that work, ” she added.
County Cllr Williamson, whose CV includes four years as chief executive of the Serious Fraud Office, was first elected to the authority in 2017 and represents the Lancaster Rural North division.
She was promoted to cabinet as the member for children, young people and schools two years later and has since overseen the introduction of a new family safeguarding model designed to reduce the number of children going into care.
Her deputy will be Alan Vincent, who is also currently the deputy leader of Wyre Council. No details of any other changes to the county’s cabinet have yet been revealed.
County Cllr Iddon, who has also held the high-profile role of transport and highways cabinet member on the county council for the last four years, said he had enjoyed his “moment in the sun”.
“I wish Phillippa and the group well and I hope they go from strength to strength,” said County Cllr Iddon, who was re-elected on Saturday to the Chorley Rural West division that he has served since 2009.
County Cllr Driver has led the Tory group at County Hall since 2008 and spent eight of the last 12 years in charge at Lancashire County Council when the party was in control of the authority. The 76-year-old announced his retirement from politics in February.
The leaders of all three political groups on Preston City Council now have a place on Lancashire County Council
The leaders of all three political groups on Preston City Council now have a place on Lancashire County Council, following the local election results.
Labour city leader Matthew Brown and Sue Whittam, who heads the Conservative opposition group at the town hall, will now join Lib Dem group leader John Potter who already sits at County Hall.
And in spite of their political differences, the trio have common cause not only in standing up for the city at a Lancashire level – but also in seeking the abolition of the county authority to which two of them have only just been elected.
They all want to see the current two-tier arrangements, which mean responsibilities are split between the city and county council, come to an end.
The move to create a standalone authority for Preston and the wider Central Lancashire area appeared to have gathered unstoppable momentum last year, when it was proposed by the county council itself and Preston City Council as part of an attempt to secure a Lancashire devolution deal from the government.
Ministers will demand a simplification of the local authority map before they hand the county extra powers and cash, along with the likely requirement to form a Lancashire-wide combined authority, whose membership would be drawn from local councils.
Speaking after her election to County Hall, Cllr Sue Whittam said that she hoped to be able to “push that agenda forward” as part of the ruling Conservative Party at the county council,
“That’s probably what all the city group leaders are thinking – and the only way to influence it is to be on the inside rather than the outside,” she said.
Lib Dem city group leader John Potter agreed, saying that while Preston has been well-represented by prominent figures in recent county administrations, it feels like the move to a so-called unitary authority is “the way things are going”.
At a Lancashire Post debate just before the election, he said Preston would have a greater say in a solo council where “there aren’t two different officers from two different organisations, with two different political parties running it – it’s one council, speaking with one voice to get the best for Preston”.
Labour city leader Matthew Brown shares the desire for a local authority revamp – but warns that disagreements within Lancashire over what form it should take mean that the government will have to show “flexibility” over the size of any new councils. Ministers are currently insisting that they must service populations of between 300,000 and 600,000 – causing some Lancashire authorities to balk at the idea of being swallowed up by much bigger bodies.
“My personal view is that the size of council that they have in Greater Manchester – of about 250,000-300,000 would be more sensible. But the reality is we have to do something, because we’re falling behind the likes of Manchester and Merseyside.”
While both the city and county councils last year suggested to the government a four-way standalone council for Central Lancashire, to cover the areas currently represented by the Preston, South Ribble, Chorley and West Lancashire authorities, the latter three districts proposed their own tie-up, which excluded Preston.
Neither suggestion has yet been progressed by ministers, after Lancashire failed to feature on the latest list of areas with which the government would seek to agree devolution deals.
Cllr Brown added that, whatever the changes to come, he will be using his new place at County Hall to seek greater support for Preston from the county council in the meantime.
“I think they need to see if they can invest more in Preston directly – because under the previous Tory administration, they chose not to invest in our Youth Zone. We have got our cinema and restaurant development – potentially the county council could be a partner with us, if they chose to do so – and also in our community bank.”
The Green Party is welcoming doubling of numbers
The Green Party in Lancashire has been reacting to the doubling of its representation on the county council.
For the past eight years, Gina Dowding has been the party’s sole voice at County Hall. But now the Lancaster Central member is going to be joined by a colleague, after Andy Fewings raced to victory in the Burnley Central West division.
County Cllr Fewings – who also leads the Greens on Burnley Council – leapt from fourth place in the seat at the last county election in 2017.
He said he was delighted to see the “Green surge” in the town, with the party also breaking through the 1,000-vote mark in the Burnley Rural division.
“For years people in the borough have felt let down by politics but can now see that another way is possible.
“It is hardworking Green supporters, members and councillors who have shown that we don’t take people for granted. Instead, we try to do what it takes in order to help improve their lives.
“Other parties try to exploit people’s fears to gain their votes. The Green Party encourages hope and a vision for a better and more prosperous society.
“I am glad the people of Burnley Central West share our vision and I would like to thank them for putting their faith in me,” he said.
The Green victory saw Labour former cabinet member Tony Martin was ousted from the seat he had held since 2013, pushed back into fourth place in the division.
County Cllr Dowding said she was looking forward to the difference two Greens could make to Lancashire at County Hall..
“I am so delighted Andy has been elected for the Greens representing the east of the county. He will bring his passion for fairness and getting things done for the people he represents.
“We will be able to work together to push for action to transform Lancashire’s economy and reap the benefits in terms of creating training and green jobs, better public transport and infrastructure for walking and cycling – and ensuring quality services near to where people live,” County Cllr Dowding added.