Council shake-up referendum 'would not be binding'

The government wants to scrap all 15 local councils in Lancashire and replace them with larger authorities

The government has said it is up to Lancashire's leaders to decide whether to hold a referendum on plans to scrap all of the county's councils, but suggested the result of any vote would not be legally binding.

Lancashire County Council leader Stephen Atkinson asked for permission to hold a vote about the reforms, as well as the prospect of having an elected mayor.

In his reply, Local Government Minister Jim McMahon said a referendum was "not part of the statutory process which has already begun to sweep away two-tier arrangements".

Atkinson said he was "disappointed" that the government was "not willing to adjust their processes to allow a legally binding referendum on this important matter".

'Wide engagement'

The government wants to scrap all 15 of Lancashire's councils and replace them with three or four larger unitary authorities, which would provide all services under an elected mayor.

Lancashire's councils have been given a deadline of 28 November to set out their preferred vision.

McMahon's correspondence, which has been seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), noted that the government expected there to be "wide engagement" on any proposal before it was submitted.

Crucially, however, he added: "To reiterate, the context of that engagement is the view of [the] government that ending the two-tier system of local government is an essential part of the wider project to fix the foundations of local government, and create a system which is fit, legal and decent."

McMahon told Atkinson: "It is for you to decide on whether such a [referendum] poll would be an effective form of engagement in this context."

Reform UK's Stephen Atkinson says the people of Lancashire should be able to have their say

Atkinson has long been vehemently opposed to an elected mayor model.

He told the LDRS: "Local government reorganisation was not part of the Labour Party manifesto, which is why we have been seeking a referendum to ensure Lancashire residents can have their say.

"I am disappointed that the government are not willing to adjust their processes to allow a legally binding referendum on this important matter.

"We will now seek advice on the most appropriate course of action to ensure our residents can share their views."

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been asked to comment.