Question
The Minister knows about my frustration with LGR and the original outcome. I know that my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Fleetwood (Lorraine Beavers) and the hon. Member for Fylde (Mr Snowden) agree that the outcome that came for Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre to merge as one authority was the worst outcome possible, given the challenges that we face in an authority like Blackpool. Will the Minister look at the “minded to” decisions to ensure that if local areas object, they are able to feed in other proposals that were originally on the table and may work better—not just for our area but across Lancashire? On top of that, if local areas want to go back to authorities of 500,000 people, will he look at that?
Answer
We have confirmed multiple times that the 500,000 population size was a guiding figure, and we were very mindful during the course of reorganisation that some councils went above that, with Gloucestershire being one example—I think the population was in the mid-600,000s. Other councils did not believe that was the way forward for their local population, for different reasons; sometimes it was because of a spread of different identities between a coastal community, an urban city or a rural shire surrounding it. In those councils, the view was, that the council should better represent the identity of the area, rather than being a single unit. That figure was always a guide. There is not a window in this process for new proposals, but there will be a “minded to” process. When we confirm our preferred option, if there are proposals for tweaks that would make it better, we will be open to receiving them during that process.
Verdict: AMBER (30/100)
The reply only partly answers the question. On whether new local government reorganisation proposals can be submitted, it clearly says there is no window for them, but gives no reason and does not address resubmitting the originally tabled proposals; it does point to tweaks to the preferred option being welcomed during the 'minded to' stage. On whether the Government would let areas return to unitary councils of around 500,000 people, the reply explains the background, including councils that went above that guiding figure and the reasons given for it, but never says whether such a change would be considered. A member of the public would probably need to ask again for a clear answer on both points.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Government consider allowing local areas that object to a 'minded to' decision on local government reorganisation to submit other proposals that were originally on the table, including proposals that may work better across Lancashire. | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply declines new proposals outright ('There is not a window in this process for new proposals') but gives no reason for that refusal, and does not address resubmitting the originally tabled proposals. It does name a concrete alternative: during the 'minded to' process, tweaks to the preferred option will be welcomed, which partly answers the item. |
| Will the Government consider allowing local areas that want to return to unitary authorities of around 500,000 people to do so. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply discusses the 500,000 guiding figure, councils that went above it (Gloucestershire, mid-600,000s), and identity-based reasons for that, but never says whether the Government would consider letting areas return to unitaries of around 500,000. It explains the background without answering the forward-looking question. |