Is my council going to change and how?

Lancashire's councils are voting on plans for local government reorganisation.

Currently Lancashire has two separate systems of local government, with a county council and12 district councils, as well as two unitary authorities for Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool.

The government wants to scrap all 15 and replace them with three or four new unitary authorities, eventually under an elected mayor. There are five different proposals.

The new councils will be responsible for delivering all local authority services, including education, social care, highways, waste collection, planning, housing, and leisure.

The proposals

One proposal is to have just two unitary authorities, which has the support of Lancashire County Council.

Under this plan, the county would be split into North and South, broadly divided by the river Ribble.

Lancashire County Council calls it "the most balanced and forward-looking solution."

Three unitary councils

This plan has the support of Wyre, Hyndburn, Blackburn with Darwen, Fylde and Rossendale borough councils.

Under these proposals there would be a coastal authority, covering Blackpool, Fylde, Lancaster and Wyre.

A central authority covering, Chorley, Preston, South Ribble and West Lancashire.

And a Pennine authority, with Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale.

Four unitary councils

This has support of Chorley, South Ribble, Ribble Valley, Preston, West Lancashire and Lancaster.

It would see the county made up of North, South, East and West.

North containing Lancaster, Preston and Ribble Valley.

South would be, Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire.

While East would cover Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle and

Rossendale.

West would be Blackpool, Fylde, and Wyre.

So far only South Ribble has formally proposed this, with meetings set to take place at the other authorities shortly.

The leader of South Ribble Council, Matthew Tomlinson, said: "I think the financial modelling done shows that it's just as sustainable as going bigger."

There are five different proposals to the council structure

Alternative four

This option has the support of Blackpool council.

It would also like to see four unitary authorities, but would like to see Wyre and Ribble Valley divided up.

So, a council containing Lancaster, Ribble Valley (north), Wyre (east).

Another with Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale, Ribble Valley (south).

A third with South Ribble, Chorley and West Lancashire.

And the fourth being Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre (west), Preston.

Five unitary authorities

This is the favoured option for Burnley and Pendle borough councils, with a petition being launched to try and stop them being merged with Blackburn.

It would see a Northern council made up of Lancaster and Wyre.

An Eastern, made up of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, with a Mid-Eastern made up of Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley.

A Southern, with South Ribble, Chorley and West Lancashire.

And a Western, made up of Blackpool, Fylde and Preston.

What happens next?

The government has set a deadline of 28 November for all proposals to be submitted.

A number of council meetings will take place over the coming days for all 15 Lancashire councils to make their proposals official.

Government ministers will then decide, subject to parliamentary approval which. if any, of the plans are approved.

A final decision is due to be announced in 2026, with new councils going live in 2028.