Local Government Reorganisation and Why It’s Not Quite as Apocalyptic As Some Would Have You Believe.- My contribution to the Ribble Valley Borough Council Preferred option

On Wednesday evening we held a Special Meeting of Full Council at RVBC to choose our preferred option as to what form the new Unitary Authority to replace both Ribble Valley Borough and Lancashire County Council.

There was a unanimous decision across the Council that residents of the Ribble Valley would be best served by joining with Preston and Lancaster in a Four Unitary Model across Lancashire. Our preference will be considered by the Secretary of State for consideration when they make the final decision in Spring next year. The full details of all the available options can be seen in this useful video created by RVBC

My Speech to Special Full Council

I have given my contribution tonight a title-

Local Government Reorganisation and Why It’s Not Quite as Apocalyptic As Some Would Have You Believe.

But I will begin with a quote by Harold Wilson

“He who rejects change is the architect of decay.” (Harold Wilson)

This quote serves as a note of caution to all this evening, because what we’re discussing tonight is a massive change, a radical change. One we will be undertaking. And the major focus of what I have to say is that we must embrace both the challenges, of which there are many, but also the opportunities.

The focus of my contributions to this discussion is not the merits, or demerits, of any other option, indeed I’m certainly not opposed to the four Lancashire option put before us tonight, but I want to highlight that this decision tonight must not be the end of our input into how the new organisation is formed.

Discussion after tonight has to turn to how we want to shape not just the boundaries but the values and relationships with all stakeholders.

This council demonstrates its core values by initiatives such as the Armed Forces Covenant. In my time on this council we have become a Living Wage employer, in line with most of the Lancashire Councils. We have declared a climate emergency, in line with most of the Lancashire councils. We have a farming champion and an Armed Forces champion. All of these are values and ideas which we will have in common with our friends in our neighbouring boroughs with whom we may join.

And we can go further, we now have the opportunity to imbibe the great ideas driven by our neighbours including Lancaster’s Fair Employment Charter and Preston’s Economic Community Wealth Building Model. We will benefit from those ideas as much as they will benefit from what we will be bringing to the table. At recent Parish Council Liaison meetings, the depth of our work with Parish Councils in the Ribble Valley is something we must work to preserve and strengthen in the new arrangement. We can contribute to making the new Council a success and we must.

Tomorrow is Lancashire Day. I hope we will all be donning our flat caps and taking our ferrets for a walk. I view myself as a proud Lancastrian as much as any other identity I carry and I firmly believe that what is good for all of Lancashire is good for the Ribble Valley too.

I have always spoken about viewing local government reorganisation not through the lens of our limited Borough powers but through the lens of Lancashire County Council and the powers under their responsibility. By four Unitary Councils in Lancashire taking on those powers we will be bringing decision making over 80% of Local Government Powers including roads, schools, libraries and care homes closer to residents. We have a duty to prepare ourselves for the responsibility of those tasks which will be entrusted to us.

So what I’m calling for this evening is that as we go forward into the next phase of working with whichever of our neighbours we join with, to constitute and shape the new arrangement, we do in a spirit of fairness, open mindedness and optimism about the great things we can achieve together.

In closing Mr Mayor, to reinforce my call to embrace this change we find ourselves undertaking I’ll quote another Mr Wilson, namely Brian Wilson in the film 24 Hour Party People.

“Mutability is our tragedy but it’s also our hope.” (24 Hour Party People, Directed by Michael Winterbottom)

Note: the above quote is taken from a longer quote by Boethius and is a refrain throughout the film. It’s a great film and if you haven’t already then I really advise that you watch it.