On 7 February 2025, the UK Government announced a major change in the governance of Lancashire, confirming the establishment of a Combined Authority for the area. The Lancashire Combined Authority Regulations 2025 state that the local constituent councils located in Lancashire, Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen consented to the new regulations.
The change was announced in the news section of the Lancashire County Council website on 5 February 2025. The Council welcomed the changes, stating that they will “give local leaders extra powers to tackle key priorities”, such as:
- Improving employment and skills
- Increasing economic prosperity
- Better public transport
But is a Combined Authority the right answer for Lancashire? And how will it handle the extra responsibilities?
What is a Combined Authority?
Combined Authorities are where a number of councils join forces to oversee and provide functions and services. They are usually established to deal with problems affecting matters such as housing and transport. They are usually part of the devolution of powers from central government to local authorities and allow decision-makers in local areas greater authority to develop solutions tailored to their communities.
A Combined Authority enables local authorities to collaborate, make collective choices, and manage resources over a larger geographical area. Its key features include:
- Local decision-making across multiple geographical areas and political issues
- A central funding pool to support regional projects
- Coordination among local authorities to share resources and deal with regional problems
Other Combined Authorities in the North West
Lancashire’s new Combined Authority is not the first of its kind in the North West of England. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority was formed in 2011, bringing together ten local authorities, including Wigan, Manchester, Trafford, Salford and others. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority followed in 2014.
How do Combined Authorities impact the North West?
Combined Authorities can bring advantages and disadvantages.
- Increase financial resources
- Shared expertise
- Enhanced collaboration to provide services more efficiently
- Greater local decision-making, allowing policies to reflect regional priorities rather than simply following national directives.
However, challenges remain. Disagreements over how cash is split between geographic areas can cause conflict between councils, particularly if smaller authorities feel that they are not receiving sufficient funding for their services. Financial disputes can even cause decision-making to grind to a halt if a consensus cannot be reached.
Despite the establishment of a Combined Authority, the original councils remain in place and continue to provide local services such as social care, the collection of waste, and education.
Do Combined Authorities have more cash and do they need a mayor?
Generally, Combined Authorities have access to larger funding pools to spend on areas such as housing and transport upgrades. However, concerns exist that some local schemes that might be seen as lower-priority may receive less funding than they would have in the past, potentially leading to imbalances.
Combined Authorities are under no obligation to put a mayor in place. However, if a mayor is appointed, as they have been in Liverpool City and Greater Manchester, they take on official accountability for supervising the Authority’s activities and act as a regional ambassador. Alternatively, a Combined Authority may choose to have a ‘metro mayor’ – as in West Yorkshire – whose role is more focused on facilitating collaboration between local leaders rather than exerting overall control.
Criticism of Combined Authorities
Not everyone is in favour of Combined Authorities. The Centre for Cities has argued that “extending combined authorities to the shires is not the best way to do devolution”, as shire counties need a different governance structure to the big cities. Additionally, some Combined Authorities have struggled to manage increased responsibilities outside metropolitan areas.
Ed Hammond from the Centre For Public Scrutiny criticised a lack of clear accountability mechanisms. He warned against vague notions such as “acting as a check and balance” and emphasised the critical need for well-defined roles for the Combined Authority, the mayor (if appointed) and the individual councils to ensure effective governance.
Why is the UK Government introducing the Lancashire Combined Authority?
The Secretary of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon, approved the creation of the Lancashire Combined Authority after reviewing a submitted proposal, with the suggested benefits described above.
The changes were not just foisted on the people of Lancashire and its surrounding area. The changes were debated by the Grand Committee of the House of Commons on 27 January 2025, where Baroness Taylor of Stevenage’s motion to bring in the change was agreed to.
First meeting planned of the new Combined Authority
It will be interesting to see how successful the new Combined Lancashire Authority will be and whether it will cope with the increase in responsibilities. Its first meeting is scheduled for 11 March 2025 at the County Hall in Preston – a significant event that will set the tone for its future governance and decision-making.
