Plans for the large scale reorganisation of local government which would directly impact The Fylde have been put on hold. This move follows the government receiving new legal advice that suggested these changes might not comply with the law.
This means that the reorganisation proposals affecting Lancashire will be paused while further work is carried out. The Government has also confirmed that local elections in May 2027 will go ahead on the existing council boundaries.
In response, the Leader of Fylde Council, Karen Buckley, said,
“The Government’s decision today to reverse course at such a late stage is staggering. Councils were instructed to prepare at pace for major structural change, including the creation of shadow unitary councils and revised electoral arrangements for next May. Staff across the country have been living with prolonged uncertainty about their future employer and their roles, uncertainty that could and should have been avoided.
“Significant time, effort and public resources have already been committed to planning for changes ministers insisted were necessary. To halt the process at this late stage, after councils have been repeatedly told to press ahead, represents a serious failure of national leadership. It has left local authorities with the consequences of decisions that were not of our making, and now with the consequences of their reversal.
“Local government deserves clarity, consistency and respect. Communities deserve stability. Staff deserve better than being asked to prepare for major organisational change only to see the Government change direction once again. Today’s announcement adds to a growing pattern of U turns that undermine confidence in the Government’s approach and create avoidable disruption for councils who continue to deliver essential services every day.
“We will continue to serve our residents with professionalism and commitment — but ministers must recognise the real-world impact of these repeated changes of direction.”
The proposed changes, now on hold, are shown below:
