Hyndburn Council rejects Lancashire devolution deal

A devolution deal for the county has been years in the making

A council has rejected the latest devolution deal for Lancashire which was agreed in November.

Hyndburn Council deputy leader Steven Smithson had urged the authority's full meeting to back the scheme.

However, councillors voted by 17 to 11 with two abstentions to reject the "Level Two" deal struck by the area's three top-tier local authorities.

The vote in Accrington Town Hall was part of a consultation process that runs until 26 January.

In November, Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council agreed a deal which, if ratified, would see Lancashire handed new powers with the creation of a new combined authority

The powers would include the opportunity to improve public transport, boost economic prosperity, employment and skills.

The deal does not include creating a directly-elected mayor for the county as in neighbouring Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

If approved, the Lancashire Combined County Authority would receive more than £20m in extra government cash and would start work by 2025.

Councillor Munsif Dad, leader of Hyndburn Council's opposition Labour group, said although the deal was a step forward it was an "opportunity missed" which would create an "even bigger gap in service provision, economic opportunities and democratic accountability with neighbouring authorities".

Lancashire currently has one county council, two unitary authorities and 12 city or borough councils

He added: "The £20m capital investment is derisory and is primarily aimed at a Lancashire County Council asset at Samlesbury, Blackburn Town Centre and the Blackpool Economic Zones.

"There is no money for Hyndburn or its residents and it does not touch most of Lancashire.

"The agreement was carried out behind closed doors and rushed through for political reasons.

"Only a directly-elected mayor would have provided true accountability and a balanced decision making process."

Mr Smithson's report to the meeting said: "Securing a devolution deal has been a long-standing ambition for leaders across Lancashire to address years of historically low investment in the area whilst providing a platform for accelerated growth."

The council's acting leader Peter Britcliffe said after the meeting: "We are where we are Hyndburn Council is now opposed to the devolution deal.

"But this exposed divisions in Labour as Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool - where the party is in control - and Labour county councillors support it."

The meeting at Accrington Town Hall voted by 17 to 11 to reject the deal