The Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) met to discuss governance models, local government reorganisation, and major programme updates. The LCCA approved a governance review and agreed to share it with the government, while also agreeing to note the intention to seek clarification from the government regarding additional funding and powers for a Mayoral Combined County Authority. The LCCA also supported the joint submission of proposals for the restructuring of local government in Lancashire.

Review of Governance Models

The LCCA approved the governance review, detailed in Appendix A of the report, and agreed to share the outcome with the government. The review considered four options for the future of the LCCA:

1. No change to existing governance arrangements
2. A modified non-Mayoral CCA with new governance arrangements
3. A traditional combined authority
4. A Mayoral-led CCA

The review concluded that options 2 and 3 should be discounted. The LCCA also agreed to note its intention to seek clarification from the government regarding what additional funding and powers a Mayoral Combined County Authority would bring to Lancashire. If the government confirms clear and substantial benefits for Lancashire, the LCCA will consider a future report setting out the approach to conducting public consultation and engagement on the proposal for a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Lancashire. Any formal proposal to the government would also require the approval of each of the LCCA's constituent members.

Councillor Michael Vincent raised concerns about the lack of evidence of investment secured by the existing model, and the need to make a case for keeping the status quo. He also agreed with delaying any mayoral process until after local government reorganisation (LGR).

Mo Isap, Lancashire Business Board, highlighted the commercial and business investment opportunities that could be secured with a mayoral authority, and the risk of losing companies to areas with more support.

Councillor Lynn Williams supported Mo Isap's comments, noting that mayoral areas had received significant funding that Lancashire had missed out on.

Councillor County Stephen Atkinson, Leader, Lancashire County Council, clarified that the earliest a mayor could be in place was 2027, and that the government had been asked to clarify what a mayor would bring to the region.

Local Government Reorganisation

The LCCA supported the joint submission of proposals for the restructuring of local government in Lancashire. The proposals enable the government to consider and consult on a range of options. The LCCA also noted the collaboration that has been established in preparing a single joint economic and financial evidence base, upon which to build each of the proposals.

The LCCA acknowledged that its own governance arrangements and constitution will need to be reviewed at an appropriate point in the future, in order to reflect any changes to the structure of local government in Lancashire.

The LCCA confirmed that the strategic significance and role of the LCCA will remain unchanged as a result of local government reorganisation (LGR), and that any new unitary authorities would be asked to:

• Establish robust arrangements in order to ensure they have the capacity to support the delivery of the LCCA's priorities, including those set out in the Lancashire Growth Plan, Employment and Skills Framework and the emerging Local Transport Plan.
• Work in close collaboration with the LCCA, in order to bring forward projects of strategic importance that may cross administrative boundaries, but which support the future growth and prosperity of the whole area.
• Introduce appropriate governance structures to support effective decision making at the Combined County Authority level, including responsibilities such as the preparation of a Spatial Development Strategy¹ (SDS), and support proposals for further and deeper devolution in the future.

The LCCA noted the government's timeline for the creation of new unitary authorities in Lancashire and the potential opportunity to align and complement this process with the LCCA's ongoing review of governance models, and agreed to receive further reports updating on progress, at key milestones in the LGR process for Lancashire.

Councillor Phil Riley, Leader, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said that the report was a statement of the obvious, and that 28 November is a significant milestone for putting submissions in.

Major Programmes Update

The LCCA noted the Major Programmes Update, which provided an update on the major programmes being delivered using funds paid to the LCCA.

The LCCA noted that transport funding of £65.758m capital and £21.7m revenue has been received either directly by the LCCA or to the Constituent Councils in 2025/26, and is being used by the LCCA's Constituent Councils to deliver a broad range of transport projects as set out in Appendix 'A' of the report.

The LCCA also noted that funding for transport and skills currently paid to the Constituent Councils is expected to be paid to and allocated by the LCCA in 2026/27, including the £45m capital Local Transport Grant.

An update on the transition of Local Transport Authority powers and functions to the LCCA from 1 April 2026 will be brought to the LCCA meeting to be held on 16 December 2025.

The LCCA further noted that UK Shared Prosperity² and Rural England Prosperity Funds³ totalling £22.4m continue to be managed on behalf of the LCCA by Blackpool Council, with local authorities required to use their remaining allocations by 31 March 2026. Funding uses range from advice and support to businesses, to improving health and wellbeing.

Noel Isap questioned how much work had been done to ensure that the successor to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund would be demand-led, rather than being in a rush to get the money commissioned.

Councillor Phil Riley said that the LCCA needed to move into a more proactive way of behaving like a combined authority, and that there was plenty of time to prepare for when the large amounts of money arrive in April. He also raised the issue of capacity, and the need to work out how to increase resources and capacity.

Lancashire Business Board Update

Mo Isap and Andy Walker, Head of Service Business Growth, Lancashire County Council, provided an update on the work of the Lancashire Business Board.

It was noted that communications support had been secured via Limitless PR, helping to amplify the board's messaging and lobbying efforts. The board had also begun incorporating a standing item on economic challenges and opportunities on their agenda, with recent discussions being had on the impact of Boohoo/Debenhams restructuring in Burnley, and the Jaguar Land Rover cyber attack.

It was also proposed that a Lancashire Economic Growth Summit be held in 2026. The purpose of the summit would be to highlight investment-ready projects, strengthen engagement between the business community and political leadership, attract ministerial involvement and national attention, and promote Lancashire as a region that is open and ready for business. It was agreed that a report be brought to a future meeting of the authority with proposals for the summit.

Councillor County Stephen Atkinson supported the proposal for a Lancashire Economic Growth Summit, and it was agreed that a report would be brought to a future meeting of the authority with proposals for the summit.

Advisory Board Updates

The chairs of the three advisory boards provided updates on their work:

• Councillor Phil Riley reported that the Transport Advisory Board will have a joint Bus Service Improvement Plan⁴, and that locally there has been increased patronage and infrastructure improvements. EV infrastructure funding had also been secured, particularly benefiting areas with terraced housing and no off-road parking. The Local Transport Plan was out for consultation until the end of November, with final sign-off expected in April 2026. Emphasis was also placed on learning/benefitting from Greater Manchester's integrated transport systems.
• Councillor Lynn Williams reported that the Economy Advisory Board had begun aligning the Growth Plan with transport priorities and exploring diversified funding models. The last meeting of the board included a sector deep dive focused on energy, with presentations from Global Energy Systems, Organic Heat Exchangers, and Cavendish Nuclear. The importance of linking energy sector growth with skills development was also highlighted and the board planned to review economic development staffing at its next meeting.
• Councillor County Simon Evans reported that the Skills Advisory Board discussed the Local Transport Plan and its role in facilitating access to employment and education, devolution of the Adult Skills Fund, and Skills Bootcamp Programme, which had exceeded its Q2 target. Updates were also provided from the Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub.

Councillor Alyson Barnes raised the issue of linking into the Atom Valley project, and the green skills agenda.

Mo Isap said that there were opportunities to work with neighbouring authorities more effectively, and that the B network had a great opportunity for Lancashire to extend that into the region. He also said that the board should look at adding to the central brains trust to create an integrated way of working.

Andy Walker said that the combined authority structure allows for better communication with neighbouring authorities, and that the government thinks of the investment that's going into Salmsbury and GCHQ in Manchester as a northwest hub.

Lancashire Combined County Authority - Forward Plan

The LCCA considered a report that set out an updated Work Plan for the LCCA to April 2026 and provided the link to the Forward Plan of Key Decisions as published on the LCCA's website. It was noted that the content of the Work Plan would be kept under continual review alongside the development of the LCCA's functions.

The LCCA noted the current future plan of items/decisions as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, and the intention to revise the format of the Forward Plan to reflect the evolution of the LCCA from initial set-up to delivery.

Councillor Alyson Barnes said that it would be good to get a feel of the energy and dynamic and delivery of the LCCA.