Lancashire Combined County Authority

A devolution deal was signed in November 2023 but did not come into effect until the public consultation was concluded.^[6] The deal proposes to devolve certain powers, i.e. housing, transport, education and skills as well as environmental matters to LCCA. The deal leaves room for Lancashire to progress to level 2 or 3 devolutions which on top of increasing the depth and breadth of the powers devolved, would also create the position of an elected mayor. However at the signing ceremony the leader of Lancashire county council stated that Lancashire was not a good fit for a mayor due to its rural nature.^[6] Proposals for a non-mayoral combined county authority for Lancashire were approved by the new Labour Government on 19 September 2024.^{[7][8][9][10]} Draft statutory instruments to establish the combined authority were laid before parliament on 26 November 2024 ^[11] and the first meeting of the shadow authority took place at Preston County Hall the following day.^[12] The authority was formally launched on 5 February 2025.^[13][2]

In March 2025, Anegla Rayner confirmed that Lancashire Combined Authority would get a mayor "within 18 months" to replace the previously agreed chair, in line with other combined authorities. This would be alongside the current process of local government reorganisation. ^[14] In March 2025, Lancashire County Council leader Phillippa Williamson was chosen as chair. However, in May 2025 Williamson lost her council seat.^[15] At the subsequent annual meeting of the combined authority on 17 June 2025, Stephen Atkinson, the newly-appointed Reform UK leader of Lancashire County Council, was also appointed chair of the combined authority.^[16]