Today (March 26) is the deadline day for a public consultation into plans for sweeping changes to local government affecting the Lancaster and Morecambe Bay area.
The government's consultation into Local Government Reorganisation in Lancashire launched on February 5 and closes today.
You can still have your say by completing the online survey. Paper copies are also available in council town halls/civic centre buildings.
Local Government Reorganisation is the government's plan to change how local councils are organised across England.
It means that the current system of county, district, borough, and unitary councils could be replaced by new unitary authorities. These new councils would run all local services in their area, and could see Lancaster City Council scrapped.
In November Lancaster City Council voted to support an option that would see the creation of four new unitary councils in Lancashire. This, if approved, would see Lancaster join with the local authorities in Ribble Valley and Preston to form a new council.
The government is expected to choose its preferred option in summer 2026.
If approved, elections for shadow authorities could take place in May 2027, with the new councils taking over all services from April 1 2028 (vesting day),
In total, five proposals for reorganisation on Lancashire have been submitted and the Government is now asking people and local stakeholders for their views.
They are:
- A proposal for two unitary councils
- A proposal for three unitary councils
- Two proposals for four unitary councils
- A proposal for five unitary councils
You can read more about these proposals HERE.
In 2025, communities and stakeholders across the county were invited to have their say. Two surveys were conducted to understand which council services Lancashire residents see as most important, priorities for local government to focus on in the future, and initial thoughts on moving to larger unitary councils.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)?
LGR refers to the process of changing how councils are structured and what services they deliver. In Lancashire, this means potentially replacing the current two-tier system (county and district councils) with new unitary authorities that deliver all local services.
Why is this happening now?
The government has outlined its ambition to devolve more powers to regions and streamline local governance by replacing the current two tier system with a smaller number of unitary councils to deliver all services in one place.
This means Lancaster could become part of a larger council area.
What services are affected?
Currently Lancashire County Council provides services like social care, education, roads, and libraries. District councils (e.g. Lancaster City Council) manage bin collections, planning, housing, and leisure.
These would be replaced by one council that would deliver all these services.
What are the proposed changes?
If LGR goes ahead, existing councils will be dissolved and replaced by new unitary authorities. This would mean that Lancaster City Council would no longer exist and in its place there would be a new larger council representing a greater geographical area.
Options being considered include creating between two and five new unitary councils.
How will this affect council staff?
Most staff are expected to transfer to the new councils. The aim is to maintain service continuity and job security throughout the transition.
Will this affect Council tax?
It’s too early to say. Any changes to Council tax would depend on the structure and financial model of the new unitary authorities. Proposals must demonstrate value for money and financial sustainability.
What happens to existing council services?
Services will continue as normal for now. If reorganisation goes ahead, new councils will take over all services, including bin collections, planning, social care, and education.
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