What’s Local Government Reorganisation and What’s Happening to Our Councils?
- Peter Collins
- Apr 10
- 4 min read
A Simple Guide to Local Government Reorganisation
By Peter Collins – Independent Candidate for Fylde East
If you’ve heard people talking about something called “local government reorganisation” and thought, what on earth does that mean? — you’re not alone. It sounds complicated, and that’s part of the problem. But it’s something that will affect everyone in Fylde, from how our roads are managed to who makes planning decisions about new housing.
In this blog, I’ll break it down in a way that’s easy to understand. We’ll look at what’s happening, why it’s happening, what it means for our community, and where I stand as someone who’s been involved in local government for over 40 years.
Q: What is Local Government Reorganisation?
Local Government Reorganisation (or “LGR”) is a fancy way of saying the Government wants to change how councils work.
In most of Lancashire there are town and parish councils which will remain unchanged after reorganisation. Above the town and parish councils in Lancashire, we have two layers of local government -Lancashire is presently a 2 tier authority:
Lancashire County Council – which manages big services like education, roads, and social care and minerals and waste planning applications .
District or Borough Councils – like Fylde Council, which deal with things like most other planning applications, waste collection, and housing environmental health and licensing.
There are two exceptions to this arrangement where these two layers are already combined into a single tier called a Unitary Authority—they are Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council and they handle everything in one go.
The plan is to scrap LCC, all the District and Borough Councils, and also the 2 existing unitary authorities and create new unitary authorities for the whole of Lancashire, there could be a just 1 new unitary or up to 5. The government would ideally like to see each new authority have 500K residents.
It’s a big shake-up, and it will change who makes decisions in our area.
Q: Why is this happening?
The Government says this will:
Save money by reducing duplication
Make local services more efficient
Help roll out powers faster through local “devolution deals”
Simplify things for residents—one council, one point of contact
Fewer councillors and fewer staff
Save over £50M a year in Lancashire
That might sound good in theory—but as I always say, the devil is in the detail.
Q: What does this mean for Fylde?
If these plans go ahead, Fylde Borough Council would disappear and be replaced by a larger council, probably merged with Blackpool and Wyre.
This raises big concerns:
Will rural communities like ours still have a voice?
Will services stay local, or get centralised miles away?
Will council tax go up, or will services be cut to save costs?
These are the questions we need answers to—before any changes are made.
Q: Has any proposal been submitted for Lancashire yet?
No, not yet.
Lancashire County Council submitted an expression of interest back in 2020, but no formal proposal has been put forward. If and when one is submitted, there must be a full consultation involving residents, businesses, and councils.
“And I’ll make sure Fylde is part of that conversation—not an afterthought.”
Q: What are the next steps?
If the process moves forward, there will need to be:
A detailed proposal
Engagement with local councils, residents, and other groups
Approval from central government
And most importantly: public consultation
That means you’ll get a chance to have your say before anything becomes final.
“We’re not just observers in this—we’re stakeholders. And I’ll make sure your voice is heard.”
Q: How does Local Government Reorganisation actually happen?
There are two main ways this can happen:
By Government Invitation
The Secretary of State invites councils to put forward a plan. This is the most common route. It doesn’t need everyone to agree—just enough to get things moving.
By Local Agreement
If all councils in a region agree on a new plan, they can send it to the Government themselves. But this is rare—it’s hard to get every authority to agree.
“Either way, the risks are the same if we’re not paying attention. We have to stay involved and alert.”
Q: What if not everyone agrees to form a new authority?
If local councils can’t agree, the Government can still step in. The English Devolution White Paper says they can issue a ministerial directive—basically, a top-down instruction to push the process through.
They say this would only happen if:
All other options have been exhausted
There’s majority support in the region
Or it’s essential to finish rolling out strategic authorities in England
“Translation: if enough councils say yes, and Fylde says no—we could still be forced into it. That’s why early involvement is key.”
Q: What are the timelines?
If included in the Devolution Priority Programme, the Government wants new authorities in place by April 2027. For others, the target is April 2028.
It sounds far off, but planning starts now. The decisions made over the next year or two will shape Fylde’s future for decades.
Q: Where does Peter Collins stand on this?
As your Independent Candidate for Fylde East, here’s my position:
✔️ I support making services more efficient—but not at the cost of local representation.
✔️ I will fight to protect rural voices, local decision-making, and Fylde’s identity.
✔️ I believe residents must be consulted properly—not presented with a done deal.
✔️ I’ll work with any party or authority—because I’m not here to serve party politics, I’m here to serve you.
“Local Government Reorganisation is a once-in-a-generation change. If we get it wrong, we risk losing the local control we value. If we get it right, we can build something better—together.”
Conclusion: Stay Informed, Stay Involved
This isn’t just an admin shuffle. It’s a real decision that will affect how your roads are repaired, how planning applications are handled, how local services are delivered, and who gets a say in all of it.
You deserve a voice in how Fylde is governed—and I’ll make sure you have one.
There is more to come on this – I will keep you informed
🗳 On 1 May 2025, vote for someone who will put your community first—not a party agenda.
📍 Vote Peter Collins – Independent for Fylde East📞 07429 094940📧 petercollins4568@aol.com
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