Lancashire County Council

Lancashire County Council
Name	Lancashire County Council
Type	County council
Foundation	01 April 1889
Jurisdiction	Lancashire
Headquarters	County Hall, Preston
Leader title	Chair
Leader name	County Alderman
Leader title2	Leader
Leader name2	Philippa Williamson
Website	https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/

Lancashire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Lancashire, England. Established in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888, it provides a wide range of strategic services across the historic county, excluding the unitary authorities of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen. The council is headquartered at County Hall, Preston and administers one of the country's largest local government areas by population.

History

The council was created on 1 April 1889, following the passage of the Local Government Act 1888, which established county councils across England and Wales. Its initial jurisdiction covered the entirety of the historic county of Lancashire, one of the most populous and industrially significant regions during the Industrial Revolution. Major boundary changes occurred with the Local Government Act 1972, which transferred areas like Liverpool, Manchester, and the Fylde coast to new metropolitan counties, significantly reducing its area. Further reorganization in 1998 saw Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen become separate unitary authorities, creating the present two-tier structure where the council shares the county with twelve lower-tier district councils, including Lancaster City Council and Preston City Council.

Governance and structure

The council operates under a leader and cabinet executive model, with the political leader selected from the majority party. Full council meetings are held at County Hall, Preston, with decisions scrutinized by various committees. The ceremonial head is the Chair of the Council, a role distinct from the ancient office of the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire. For administrative purposes, the county is divided into electoral divisions, each represented by a single councillor. Key strategic partnerships include collaboration with the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Lancashire Constabulary, and National Health Service trusts across the region.

Responsibilities and services

As an upper-tier authority, it is responsible for major strategic services across the county. This includes the maintenance of over 7,000 km of roads and public rights of way, managed through the Highways England partnership framework. It is the local education authority, overseeing hundreds of schools, special educational needs provision, and adult education services. The council operates an extensive network of public libraries, including the flagship Harris Museum, Art Gallery & Library in Preston. Other critical functions include social care for children and adults, public health initiatives, waste disposal via facilities like the Farington Waste Recovery Park, and trading standards enforcement.

Political control and elections

Elections for the council are held every four years, with the next scheduled for 2025. The council comprises 84 councillors representing 84 single-member divisions. Since the 2021 election, the Conservative Party has held a majority, with Philippa Williamson serving as council leader. The main opposition is the Labour Party, with significant representation also from the Liberal Democrats and Green Party. Historically, political control has alternated between the Labour Party and the Conservative Party, with periods of no overall control.

Finances

The council's annual budget exceeds £1 billion, funded primarily through a combination of Council Tax, revenue from business rates retained under the Local Government Finance Act 2012, and grants from the UK Government's Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. Major expenditure areas include adult social care, children's services, and highways maintenance. The council also manages a significant capital program for infrastructure projects, such as the Preston Western Distributor Road and investments in school buildings. Financial planning is heavily influenced by the national Local Government Finance Settlement and the Fair Funding Review.

Controversies and issues

The council has faced significant challenges, including a severe financial crisis in 2017 that required a £77 million support loan from the UK Government and led to major service cuts. It has been involved in protracted legal disputes, notably concerning the development of the Cuadrilla Resources fracking site at Preston New Road. The council's handling of children's social care has been scrutinized by Ofsted, and its transport policies, including the closure of several Lancashire County Council libraries and Sure Start children's centres, have provoked substantial public protest. Ongoing issues include managing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing regional inequalities within the government's Levelling Up agenda.

Category:Local government in Lancashire Category:County councils in England Category:1889 establishments in the United Kingdom