Our councils can still collaborate despite merger being stalled, says Blackpool councillor

A leading Blackpool councillor is calling for Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre and Lancashire County councils to create a new partnership despite a proposed merger hitting a major setback.

The controversial Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) proposals were put on hold after the government launched a review in light of new legal advice.

After the process hit a road block the leaders of Wyre and Fylde council reiterated their opposition to LGR.

Wyre Leader Michael Vincent stated that the reorganisation process should be abandoned completely, while Fylde Council Leader Karen Buckley condemned the "prolonged uncertainty" created by the sudden pause in the government's plans she had opposed from the start.

Even Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Labour-led Blackpool Council, expressed concerns about LGR after the authority’s preferred merger option was overlooked.

Despite this, Blackpool Conservative Group Leader Cllr Paul Galley believes some of the ideas of LGR, particularly the prospect of the councils working more closely together, had some positive aspects which could still be taken onboard.

Cllr Galley wants to see a new ‘Fylde Coast Partnership’ which he says would cut duplication, share expertise and make it easier for residents to access council services across local authority boundaries.

He is proposing a practical partnership between the four councils based around five commitments:

1. One clear route for residents to report cross-boundary problems - with councils passing reports between themselves rather than expecting residents to work out which authority is responsible.
2. More shared procurement and purchasing – using the combined buying power of neighbouring councils to secure better value for taxpayers.
3. A review of shared services – identifying areas where councils can share expertise, technology, specialist staff or back-office functions rather than unnecessarily duplicating them.
4. Sharing best practice – creating a regular forum where councils compare performance and learn from services that are working particularly well in neighbouring authorities.
5. Joint planning on major infrastructure and economic issues - recognising that roads, transport, employment, tourism and economic growth do not stop at council boundaries.

Cllr Galley said: “Local Government Reorganisation may have been put on hold, but that shouldn't mean putting better local government on hold.

“Residents don't live their lives according to council boundaries. Thousands of people travel between Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde every day to work, shop, visit family or use local services.

“Yet sometimes the boundary between two councils can make getting something relatively simple sorted unnecessarily complicated.

“A perfect example is the road towards Aldi in Cleveleys. The condition of that road is terrible. A small section is Blackpool's responsibility while most of it falls within Lancashire.

“Residents shouldn't need a map of local government boundaries to work out where to report a pothole.

“We should have a clear public-facing route where residents report the problem once and the councils sort out between themselves who is responsible for fixing it.

“And that principle should go much further. Why should four neighbouring councils buy the same things separately if purchasing together could get taxpayers a better deal?

“Why duplicate systems or specialist functions if sharing them could improve the service and save money?

“And if Blackpool is doing something brilliantly, Fylde, Wyre and Lancashire should be able to learn from it.

“Equally, if one of our neighbours has found a better way of delivering a service, we should be prepared to learn from them.”

He says his proposals are not about recreating LGR through the back door. Each council would remain independent and accountable to its own residents.

He added: “It comes down to a pragmatic approach: recognising that we are far more effective when we work together than when we operate in silos.

“I would like the four councils to establish a Fylde Coast Partnership and systematically look at where we can reduce duplication, share services, combine our purchasing power and make dealing with local government simpler for residents.

“The test should be straightforward: does working together improve the service, save taxpayers money or get more resources onto the frontline?

“If the answer is yes, we should do it.“We don't need to redraw council boundaries to start delivering some of the benefits of closer working. We can start now.”