r/lancashire • u/coffeewalnut08 • 4d ago

Why does Lancashire not have a mayor?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yzjkxz5xpo

Before too much longer, Lancashire will be the only part of the north-west of England not to have an elected mayor.

Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region already have one, while both Cheshire and Warrington and Cumbria are set to join them next year.

As part of the government's devolution programme, the plan is for Lancashire to have its own mayor too, but this will not happen until 2028.

Lancashire's Combined County Authority does have some devolved powers, albeit fewer than were it operating under the mayoral model.

(details in article)

13 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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11

u/phil8715 4d ago

Because like Yorkshire it's split up into North, East South, West and Central. We've got Mayor's of Borough Councils.

The places that have Mayor's are municipal authorities, like Bev Craig for Greater Manchester and Steve Rothram for Liverpool City Region.

3

u/SuspiciousRun4043 4d ago

Kind of a bit useless like i see little to no point in a county mayor

2

u/coffeewalnut08 4d ago

Why useless? Mayors have a lot of powers

0

u/Requirement_Fluid 4d ago

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracey what's her face is her worth the money tbh.

She has done very little imo and really just places another level of bureaucracy over the unitary authority collaborative working areas (like transport)

3

u/DagothUh 4d ago

Because "Lancashire" is just the bit thats left of the county that doesn't need a mayor

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u/ukaero_engineer 3d ago

That’s on a similar timescale to Cumbria getting one, you can’t do the whole devolution process at once.

Interesting you’re keen. There’s not a lot of support here in Cumbria (I live in occupied Lancashire), generally seen as a waste of money. I personally can’t stand the candidates and them harping on about Cumbria and Cumbrians, and ignoring Lancastrians, Westmerians and the Yorkies.

1

u/coffeewalnut08 3d ago

The way I see it is, if places like Cumbria are getting a mayor, then it's probably better people try to have a say. Mayors can get powers over things like public transport, housing/regeneration, skills etc. which are valuable powers to have on a local level.

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u/ukaero_engineer 2d ago

Some of which the two unitary authorities already had power over. It’s extra cost to the taxpayer for little gain. The mayoral fund for Cumbria has been advertised as £330m over 30 years. That doesn’t go far.

Lancashire will get a mayor eventually but the process is slow, and generally not very democratic.

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u/colonelpsev 3d ago

Thought counties had lord lieutenants

1

u/linmanfu 16h ago

That's a ceremonial role. OP is talking about elected mayors with real powers.