Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency: funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. It’s like a franchise: different companies with different approaches, but using common editorial standards and all publishing into the same system.

A total of 165 reporters are allocated to news organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The core purpose of the LDRS is to provide impartial coverage of the regular business and workings of local authorities in the UK, and other relevant democratic institutions such as mayoralties, combined authority areas, P&CCs, quangos, etc.

The Local Democracy Reporters' (LDRs) brief is to report on the decision-making process: what decisions are made in the public's name and how they are arrived at, what evidence is presented to the council, etc.

Ashley Dalton MP is urging LCC to take urgent ation on potholes

'Use the funding' - MP calls urgent pothole action after amber rating

Parents and carers are being advised not to use baby sleep pillows, which can cause serious harm or death to babies and infants

Parents issued major safety alert over item that 'suffocates' babies

More than 7,600 penalty charge notices were issued in 2025 across the 10 most ticketed streets in Lancashire

The 10 Lancashire streets where the most parking tickets were issued in 2025

Eight locations have been revealed for this year's Manchester Christmas markets

All locations for city's Christmas markets as Albert Square returns

After moving to Malta to study medicine, Sean Welsh, 32, agreed for a friend of his cousin to send out drugs, including cannabis, to his home on the island through the post.

Doctor's future on the line over the drugs he had in his birthday card

Dr Sean Welsh agreed to receive a package containing cannabis and ketamine

Doctor caught with drug-filled birthday card knew what he was doing

Campaigners at the compound which is part of the ongoing coastal defence work currently being undertaken at Anchorsholme by contractor Balfour Beatty

Residents will get a say on seafront compound after petition protest

Water levels at the Yarrow reservoir near Bolton

Startling pictures show how water levels are tumbling at reservoirs

Liv Cooke, left, and Copster Hill Road in Oldham where she in converting a home into a four-bed HMO

Record-breaking footballer and TV pundit grows her property empire

Donkeys seen on Blackpool beach are looked after at Latham House Farm at Kitt Green, Wigan, during the winter months

Mega development threatens to swallow Blackpool donkeys' farm

Matthew Tomlinson has lost his Leyland Central seat 24 years after first being elected, ousted by Reform UK

I feel like I've been hit by a tsunami as surging Reform ousts me

Illustration of the Northern Gateway employment proposals

10,000 jobs to supercharge economy: mega new site with hotel and shops

The holder of Lancashire County Council's purse strings, Alan Vincent, has dismissed claims by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage that the authority is in financial trouble

Tories rubbish Farage 'bankruptcy' claim amid council's £100k-a-day debt row

Nigel Farage at the Parbold Bottle statue in West Lancashire (image credit: Stuart Mitchell)

Nigel Farage visits Lancashire: here's how he was greeted and what he had to say

The elections to Lancashire County Council take place on 1st May

YOUR chance to put the politicians on the spot in big Lancashire election debate

Northern Loop: Highways England proposal for M60 Junction 18 at Simister Island

The massive motorway changes affecting millions of journeys a year
A decision on a huge motorway upgrade which would transform the network around the notoriously congested Simister Island will be made within weeks.
Chris Gee

Local government minister Jim McMahon says Lancashire can hold a referendum on his council shake-up plans if it wants - but he won’t be obliged to take any notice of the outcome (image: UK Parliament)

Lancs taxpayers' cash wasted on too many councils, minister says ahead of cull

The A49 link road near Pearson's Flash in Wigan connecting M6 and M61

Pressure mounts for new road to ease traffic chaos dogging town

Mark Wynn, the new chief executive of Lancashire County Council

County Council's new chief executive given the thumbs up by members

Council tax bills are set to increase from April

Council tax: here's how much you'll pay after county council's planned hike

Some of the current Lancashire County Council minibuses used for school transport - part of a fleet that will be bolstered this autumn

County's staggering school transport bill - and what is being done to reduce it

Mark Wynn has been the interim chief executive of Lancashire County Council for six months - and is now poised to get the job permanently

Here's how much the new boss of the county council will be earning

Will the NHS in Lancashire - and its patients - feel the benefit of an increase in public health spending?

Extra public health cash will 'cut waiting times in Lancashire'

Is an elected mayor the best person to fly the flag for Lancashire's interests? The government thinks so. (image: Adobe Stock)

Lancashire mayor moves a step closer - and new devolved county authority is born

Here's how many Lancashire hospital staff have had their flu and Covid vaccines

Defects like this have cost Lancashire County Council a pretty penny

Here's how much compensation for pothole damage has been paid out in Lancashire

Lancashire looks set still to go to the polls in May 2025 - in spite of major council changes being on the horizon

What the plan to scrap the county council means for next year's local elections
Lancashire County Council has no plans to seek the cancellation of elections to the authority next year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands.
Paul Faulkner

Chorley Council leader Alistair Bradley and the leader of Wyre Council, Michael Vincent, are different sides of the the divide over the future of local government in Lancashire

Death of local government - or exciting opportunity? Council shake-up split

Historic names are set to disappear from the local government map in Lancashire

Every council in Lancashire set to be scrapped - just not yet

Serife Mehmet, 30, said she has often wished to move away from the area due to the extent of the rubbish

Revolting rubbish and nightmare potholes are making my car filthy

The huge mountain of rubbish has built up at a property in Dalkeith Street

Disgusting mountain of rubbish attracting rats and plaguing street

Lancashire County Council members get £2,000 a year to hand out to local community groups

More than £120K of Lancashire community funding so far unaccounted for

Some Lancashire bus users say their lives are dictated by the lack of services

I have to wait in a library all day for my kids to finish school thanks to buses

Lancashire County Council is developing new facilities for the children in its care

Locations revealed for new children's homes providing 'better outcomes for kids'

There are far fewer potholes in Lancashire on Reform’s watch, the party has said

'Long-lasting' pothole repairs promised for Lancs after success of new technique

Cllr Stephen Atkinson says Ribble Valley residents must have the final say over the future of the council that serves them

Residents will get referendum over whether council is abolished

Does Lancashire need its own Andy Burnham to fly the flag for the county?

New government ‘wants Lancashire to have an Andy Burnham-style elected mayor’

Angie Ridgwell will hand over the reins at the top of Lancashire County Council to Mark Wynn, who will become acting chief executive

New boss for Lancashire County Council - before the current one has even left

Lancashire County Council has revealed the budgetary pressures it faced during the last financial year

School transport and children's services put council budget under pressure

Will Lancashire's devolution deal remain intact now there is a new government - and what could come in its place?

Council leaders say it's time for a Lancashire mayor

Covid vaccine boosters are now available privately - but NHS and public health leaders in Lancashiee have been silent on the subject

'Don't ask us': NHS and public health silence over private Covid booster

Parts of Lancashire are under pressure for school places - and some pupils are missing out altogether

Over 1,000 Lancashire kids are 'missing' from school

Sellers along the promenade still stock the original rock which is made in Blackpool.

MP calls on Parliament to help save famous Blackpool rock

A fire broke out at Blackpool's £100m Civil Service Hub

Council gives damage update following fire at £100m Civil Service Hub

Some of Lancashire's Long Covid patients - [clockwise from left] Melanie, Miriam and Alissa

'Long Covid left me housebound': Lancashire sufferers tell their stories

At the signing of Lancashire's devolution deal at Lancaster Castle in November: [from left] Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Phil Riley, Lancashire County Council leader Phillippa Williamson, Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young and Blackpool Council leader Lynn Williams after the devolution deal was signed at Lancaster Castle (image: Martin Bostock Photography)

Lancashire residents and businesses back long-awaited county devolution deal

Joanna Sebborn hopes her mocked-up mast is the closest Beacon Fell ever comes to seeing the real thing (images: Tom Pooley/Lancashire Creators [main image] Paul Faulkner [inset])

'A ruddy mast would ruin it': fury at plans for beloved Lancashire beauty spot

Assumptions have been made about how much Lancashire County Council will increase its council tax bills in the the years ahead - but nothing is certain until members decide

Five percent council tax rise ‘assumed’ by county council for next three years

Eight district councils gave a resounding 'no' when Lancashire County Council asked if they would like on-street pay and display machines in their area

Pay and display rethink after districts say they do not want on-street machines

Social care is under pressure across both adult and children's services

Here's how much Lancashire will get from government cash boost for social care

Leslie Eastham (left) has found friends at his local warm hub

How Lancashire's warm hubs are providing friendship as well as as sanctuary

Lancashire preparing to lead the way in cyber defence as ‘one of the good guys’

Revelry Bar

Town centre bar shuts after police dispute over young child on premises

Does Lancashire need better bus services?

How Lancashire plans to spend 'unexpected' £7m on the county's bus network

Is Lancashire finally on the cusp of a devolution deal?

Lancashire devolution explained: what does it mean and how will it work?

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