Blackpool and Lancashire councils respond to fears of digital calamity in controversial council merger

Two leading councils have responded to fears of a digital calamity being caused by the controversial merging of local authorities within the next two years.

Concerns have been raised about what could occur if there is not a seamless integration of IT systems across all merging entities when Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde become one bigger unitary authority, known as West Lancashire.

Digital problems did occur when Cumberland Council was created in April 2023, following Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) merging of Allerdale Borough Council, Carlisle City Council, Copeland Borough Council, and the western half of Cumbria County Council.

Blackpool Council has reassured residents that there will be a smooth transition because of work already carried out to prepare for changes, and problems experienced north of the county border re highly unlikely to happen in Lancashire.

Cumberland inherited multiple legacy IT systems, data estates, and websites from predecessor councils, leading to a complex process of splitting and disaggregating shared infrastructure.

Rather than a single catastrophic system crash, the transition faced chronic hurdles from incompatible software and old digital infrastructure inherited from predecessor bodies

Blackpool resident and community activist William Banks raised the concerns, seeking assurances that there would not be a serious issue on the Fylde coast.

Mr Banks contacted both Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council, the latter of which is to be broken up into smaller authorities but currently shares data systems with many smaller councils, raising concerns.

Lessons must be learnt

He said: “Regarding the reorganisation of our local authorities' progress, it is imperative that we prioritise the immediate and seamless integration of IT systems across all merging entities.

“The digital infrastructure of a council is not merely a back-office concern; it is the central nervous system upon which our statutory obligations—most notably the provision of Children’s Social Care—entirely depend.

“We must look to the lessons provided by the recent formation of Cumberland Council as a cautionary tale.

“Following the amalgamation of its predecessor authorities, Cumberland faced significant disruption due to fragmented and incompatible IT systems.

“Reports from the region highlighted how these technical failures hindered basic administrative functionality, which subsequently cascaded into frontline service delivery.”

It’s under control, say councils

Blackpool Council leader, Cllr Lynn Williams, said such issues recurring were unlikely.

She said: “While the final footprints to create a new council for the Fylde coast were agreed by government earlier this month, we have known for years that we would have to make major systems changes as part of local government reorganisation.

“Behind the scenes, officers across Lancashire have been working for the last nine months on the safest and most effective ways to make sure that social care, IT and infrastructure systems are integrated and talk to each other.

“Because the Fylde coast already works as an entity in itself our children and adult social care teams have been working together to keep people safe for decades and that commitment won’t change.

“The priority of the new council on day one is for it to be safe and legal and all councillors and officers are committed to working together to make that happen and have been learning the lessons from other areas that have recently undergone reorganisation.”

She added: “Not everything will change overnight on 1 April 2028. Some transformation will take years as contracts come to an end, but our number one priority right now is to make sure that the new council complies with its statutory duty and people who need support continue to receive that seamlessly.”

A Lancashire County Council spokesman said: "Work is underway to ensure a smooth transition and minimal disruption. It is recognised that future IT arrangements are critical and these issues are being progressed.

"This work will be shaped with the needs of Lancashire residents in mind, as they remain at the heart of everything we do."

When do changes occur?

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) across most of England is officially scheduled for April 1, 2028, replacing old county and district structures with single-tier unitary authorities.

Key milestones include shadow council elections on May 6, 2027, and full vesting day on April 1, 2028

Three other authorities will form for North Lancashire (Lancaster, Preston, Ribble Valley), South Lancashire (Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancashire district), and East Lancashire.