Authority told to have a plan for 'deeper' devolution

The government's response to the LCCA will be discussed at a future meeting of the authority, as part of the conclusion of a review into Lancashire's existing devolution deal and the powers and cash that come with it.

- 

Andy Burnham at the Convention of The North 2025 held at UCLan in Preston

That agreement was concluded with the previous Conservative government just over two years ago, before being rubber-stamped by the new Labour administration last year and finally coming into force back in February.

However, Labour's decision to honour the Tory deal came with a demand that Lancashire come forward with proposals for “deeper” devolution by autumn 2025 - the suggestion appearing to be that a mayor should be part of any future devolved package for the county. It is that-slightly delayed-process which the LCCA is now in the midst of.

Lancashire's current deal entitles it to a one-off £20m government payment to help boost “innovation-led growth”.

The powers on offer are in the second tier of what were three levels of deal available at the time the agreement was signed, with the most extensive local control being given to those areas with a mayor to oversee the implementation of their devolution package