A CALL to review plan for a new Lancashire Combined Authority will be made next week.

Lancashire County Council’s Labour group is unhappy with progress on the proposed body now Ribble Valley has joined Wyre in pulling out of negotiations about it.

Its leader and Nelson East Cllr Azhar Ali has put forward a motion to Thursdays’ full meeting of Lancashire County Council calling for a root and branch review of the plans.

It calls for any combined authority to recognise the independence of the existing councils and says this should not include a Mayor or new authority.

Cllr Ali said “The political landscape has changed.

The government is opening up new opportunities to enable local authorities across Lancashire to work closer together and is actively seeking discussions to build a new partnership that delivers improved services to our communities.

Lancashire has a very strong heritage in local government that people can be proud of. This is about improving local people’s services and supporting their aspirations.

“Providing them with the tools to do the job, while supporting them when they need it.”

Involved in the scheme are the county council, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool boroughs and ten district councils including Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale, and Chorley.

Cllr Ali added: “If local people don’t feel the benefit of what we our doing, then why are we doing it. No one will thank us for another level of local government. By working together we can and will deliver.”