Agenda item

To consider a report on a potential Lancashire Combined Authority.

Consideration was given to whether the Council should work with other Lancashire Councils to explore a Lancashire Combined Authority with a directly elected Mayor.

It was moved by Councillor Charlie Briggs and seconded by Councillor Margaret Lishman that

1.    That Full Council approves that the Council should work with other Lancashire Councils to explore a Lancashire Combined Authority with a directly elected Mayor; and

2.    If Full Council supports 1. above a report be brought back to a future Full Council for further consideration on the results of the work and any associated options.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Mark Townsend and seconded by Councillor Lian Pate (amendment shown in bold and underlined) as follows;

2a. Council notes the previous decision of the Council in December 2015 on a Combined Authority without an elected Mayor and no requirement to acknowledge that local government functions may need to be simplified.

2b. That Council approves that, after the Governments  English Devolution White Paper has been published, the Council should work, with all 14 other Lancashire Councils to explore a Lancashire Combined Authority with a directly elected Mayor, with limited powers as agreed by Lancashire Leaders at their meeting on June 10th, 2020.

2c. If full Council supports 2b. a report would be brought to a future Full Council for further consideration on the results of the work and any associated options.

2d. That Council rejects any form of local government reorganisation, or simplification, as a condition for the establishment of a Lancashire Combined Authority.

Adjournment of meeting

The mayor adjourned the meeting at 7.48 pm

The meeting reconvened at 8.03 pm

On being put to the vote the amendment was declared to be carried

An amendment to 2 (b) of the substantive motion was moved by Councillor Andy Fewings and seconded by Councillor Sarah Hall (amendments shown in bold and underlined)

2b. That Council approves that, after the Governments  English Devolution White Paper has been published, the Council should work, with all 14 other Lancashire Councils to explore a Lancashire Combined Authority with all governance options on the table, including without an elected mayor, at the outset of these new discussions.

On being put to the vote the amendment was declared to be LOST

On being put to the vote the substantive motion was declared to be CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED

1.    The Full Council approves that the Council should work with other Lancashire Councils to explore a Lancashire Combined Authority with a directly elected Mayor;

2.    (a) Council notes the previous decision of the Council in December 2015 on a Combined Authority without an elected Mayor and no requirement to acknowledge that local government functions may need to be simplified.

(b) That Council approves that, after the Governments  English Devolution White Paper has been published, the Council should work, with all 14 other Lancashire Councils to explore a Lancashire Combined Authority with a directly elected Mayor, with limited powers as agreed by Lancashire Leaders at their meeting on June 10th, 2020.

(c) A report be brought to a future Full Council for further consideration on the results of the work and any associated options: and

(d) That Council rejects any form of local government reorganisation, or simplification, as a condition for the establishment of a Lancashire Combined Authority.