Today 23rd November 2017 leaders of Lancashire County Council, Fylde and Ribble Valley walked out of the Combined Authority meeting indicating that they were not prepared to be part of a Lancashire Combined Authority, joined by Wyre Borough Council who indicated by email that as an authority they were not willing to take part,.
Ken Hind leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council commented: “The Chairman of the shadow combined authority Simon Blackburn Labour leader of Blackpool unitary authority at the commencement of the meeting went round the table asking each authority to state whether they were in or out, nothing more. When I pointed out that we needed to consider that without Lancashire County Council we were going nowhere and we should consider as we have done in the past a substitute Association of Lancashire Local Authorities co-operating over infrastructure and other matters,,there was no debate allowed by the chairman. Those who rejected the current arrangements for the Combined Authority were asked to leave, which we did. Not a good start for future co=operation.”
''4 months ago the Ribble Valley Borough Council at full council voted overwhelmingly not to take part in the Lancashire combined authority based upon the constitution put before them . Wyre has never been part so one authority was missing from the 15 in the County from the start. The Ribble Valley Council rejected a mayor for Lancashire which has now been dropped and pressed for equality for all authorities in decision making .With 226 square miles the Ribble Valley is the largest local authority in area in Lancashire with thousands of miles of roads, rail links east and west and to Manchester Victoria and Piccadilly Stations. RVBC wanted a vote on transport. It was denied to us in the LCA constitution. Only 3 out of 15 authorities had a vote on transport issues. ''All animals are equal but some are more equal than others'' to quote George Orewell from Animal Farm.”
''RVBC assessed the funding to benefit the Ribble Valley Borough was going to be very low based on the fact that our areas of deprivation are surrounded by those of prosperity, undermining our claims to funding. The benefits of the combined authority will all go to the urban Lancashire towns leaving the rural areas of the county as an aunt Sally. There was nothing in the present proposal for Ribble Valley residents.”
''At todays meeting there were no details of the funding available from central government for a Lancashire Combined Authority without a mayor. No details of powers that may have to be given up by Boroughs and Districts to be part of a Combined Authority. We were being asked to bid in an auction for an unknown item, which for the residents of the Ribble Valley would be more than likely a wooden spoon.”
''At the first meeting I attended in June of the Lancashire Combined Authority I made RVBC”s position clear. I have spoken to the Minister in Manchester at the Conservative party conference to set this out. I have on behalf of RVBC proposed alternative vehicles, smaller combined authorities which do not include 3 tiers of local government to which a combined authority will add a fourth. This is expensive bureaucracy gone mad. There are 14 authorities in the Lancashire shadow combined authority making it cumbersome and unworkable.”
''RVBC will work with the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership to obtain grants for business expansion and infrastructure for the whole of the County, but reject the current model for the Lancashire Combined Authority. We will work with other local authorities in Lancashire on co-operative ventures: transport, skills, broadband and connectivity generally because all this makes sense but without compromising the integrity and powers of the Ribble Valley Borough Council.”
''I have an appointment with Jake Berry MP, the Northern powerhouse minister in which I will set out RVBC reasons for taking the stance it has and argue for alternatives to the present plans for a combined authority in Lancashire.”