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The petals are in danger of falling off the red rose of Lancashire. The county council is losing its chief executive to Liverpool, it has no local enterprise partnership (LEP) and the Preston Vision economic development company is to lose its entire staff. In contrast, Cheshire's two unitary councils, Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East, have got off to a good start. In partnership with Warrington, they have also won an LEP. There are ambitious people in Lancashire. The council's Conservative leader strained every sinew to try and get the county to put in a unified bid for an LEP. However, Geoff Driver's efforts were thwarted by Pennine Lancashire's determination to protect its identity, and Blackpool's commitment to an LEP focused on the tourist industry. The result? Lancashire was the only part of the North West not awarded an LEP. It's difficult to say if this disunity influenced chief executive Ged Fitzgerald's decision to take the Liverpool job. His previous career path does suggest he gets itchy feet every couple of years. However, Lancashire's 15-council structure can't be easy to work with. In nearby Cheshire, there are just four authorities. But work with it Lancashire must. Communities secretary Eric Pickles's appetite for reforming institutions stops dead at further moves to unitary authorities, which is surely the best way forward for Lancashire beyond Blackburn and Blackpool. Mr Pickles's zealotry on this subject was shown by his determination to unravel unitary legislation in Devon and Norfolk. Nevertheless, a campaign should be mounted to show him the error of his ways. In the meantime, the only way forward is for district councils to share more of their back-office functions and appoint joint senior executives. But this is no substitute for clear, economic, accountable, unitary status.

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WHITEHALL

Soap Box

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