West Lancashire Explained

West Lancashire
Type:Borough
Blank Emblem Type:Arms of West Lancashire Borough Council
Mapsize:frameless
Subdivision Type:Sovereign state
Subdivision Name:United Kingdom
Subdivision Type1:Constituent country
Subdivision Name1:England
Subdivision Type2:Region
Subdivision Name2:North West England
Subdivision Type3:Ceremonial county
Subdivision Name3:Lancashire
Seat Type:Admin. HQ
Seat:Ormskirk
Government Type:West Lancashire Borough Council
Leader Title:Leadership
Leader Name:Leader and Cabinet
Leader Title4:MPs
Leader Name4:
Established Title:Founded
Area Rank:
Population Rank:Ranked
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:Greenwich Mean Time
Utc Offset:+0
Timezone Dst:British Summer Time
Utc Offset Dst:+1
Postal Code Type:Postcode
Postal Code:L, PR, WN
Blank Name:ISO 3166-2
Blank1 Name:ONS code
Blank1 Info:
  • 30UP (ONS)
  • E07000127 (GSS)
Blank2 Name:OS grid reference
Blank3 Name:NUTS 3
Demographics Type1:Ethnicity (2021)
Demographics1 Title1:Ethnic groups
Demographics Type2:Religion (2021)
Demographics2 Title1:Religion

West Lancashire is a local government district with borough status in Lancashire, England. The council is based in Ormskirk, and the largest town is Skelmersdale. The district borders Fylde to the north, over the Ribble Estuary; South Ribble, Chorley, and Wigan to the east; St Helens and Knowsley to the south; and Sefton to the south and west.

The borough has a population of 117,400 and an area of 133.8sqmi.[1] It is primarily rural, and the most populous settlements after Ormskirk and Skelmersdale are Burscough (9,935), Up Holland (7,578), and Tarleton (5,959).[2] The borough council is based in Ormskirk, and there are twenty-one civil parishes.

The west of the borough contains much of the southern part of the Lancashire Plain, a low-lying region of mossland. A large lake called Martin Mere occupied much of the area until it was drained for agriculture. The northern border of the borough is the Ribble Estuary, and both it and the remnant of Martin Mere are Ramsar sites.[3] In the east the land rises to Harrock Hill, Parbold Hill, and Ashurst Hill; the River Douglas flows west through the valley between the last two, then turns north and forms the borough boundary.

History

The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, covering the whole area of two former districts and parts of another two districts, all of which were abolished at the same time:[4]

In 2009 the district was awarded borough status, causing the council to change its name from West Lancashire District Council to West Lancashire Borough Council, and allowing the chairman of the council to take the title of mayor.[5] [6]

Proposals to divide Lancashire into three unitary authorities were put forward in 2020, which would have seen both Lancashire County Council and West Lancashire Borough Council abolished.[7] The Government did not pursue that proposed reform, although left open the possibility of other forms of reorganisation in future.[8]

Governance

West Lancashire Borough Council
Logo Pic:West Lancashire Borough Council logo.jpeg
House Type:Non-metropolitan district
Leader1 Type:Mayor
Leader1:Julian Finch
Party1:
Labour
Election1:15 May 2024[9]
Leader2 Type:Leader
Leader2:Yvonne Gagen
Party2:
Labour
Election2:18 May 2022[10]
Leader3 Type:Chief Operating Officer
Leader3:Jacqui Sinnott-Lacey
Election3:2020[11]
Members:45 councillors
Structure1 Res:250px
Political Groups1:
Administration (26)
  • Other parties (19)
  • Last Election1:2 May 2024
    Last Election2:7 May 2026
    Meeting Place:52 Derby Street, Ormskirk, L392DF

    West Lancashire Borough Council provides district-level services. County-level services are provided by Lancashire County Council.[12] Parts of the district are also covered by civil parishes, which form a third tier of local government.[13]

    The council employs around 600 people, making it one of West Lancashire's largest employers. It is responsible for the administration of various services, such as leisure, waste collection, planning permission and pest control.[14]

    Political control

    The council has been under Labour majority control since 2023.

    The first election to the council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:[15] [16]

    Party in controlYears
    1974–1976
    1976–1986
    1986–1987
    1987–1991
    1991–1994
    1994–2002
    2002–2014
    2014–2015
    2015–2021
    2021–2023
    2023–present

    Leadership

    The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in West Lancashire. Political leadership is instead provided by the leader of the council. The leaders since 1992 have been:[17]

    Councillor Party From To
    Alan Bullen 1992 15 May 2002
    Geoff Roberts 15 May 2002 21 May 2008
    Ian Grant 21 May 2008 25 May 2014
    David Westley 11 Jun 2014 20 May 2015
    Ian Moran 20 May 2015 8 May 2022
    Yvonne Gagen 18 May 2022

    Composition

    Following the 2024 election, the composition of the council was:[18]

    PartyCouncillors
    26
    14
    5
    Total 45
    The next election is due in 2026.

    Premises

    The council is based at 52 Derby Street in Ormskirk, which was originally a pair of large semi-detached Victorian houses called Beaconsfield (number 52) and Abbotsford (number 54).[19] Beaconsfield was purchased in 1925 by West Lancashire Rural District Council, one of the modern council's predecessors, and converted to become its headquarters, being formally opened on 30 July 1925.[20] Abbotsford was acquired later and the building has been significantly extended to the rear.[21]

    Elections

    Since the last boundary changes in 2023 the council has comprised 45 councillors representing 15 wards, with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) being elected each time for a four-year term. Lancashire County Council elections are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections.[22]

    Parliamentary constituencies

    The south of West Lancashire, including the towns of Burscough, Skelmersdale and Ormskirk fall under the West Lancashire constituency in the House of Commons, which has been represented by Labour Party MP Ashley Dalton since the 2023 West Lancashire by-election, whereas the north of West Lancashire falls under the South Ribble constituency, which has been represented by Conservative Party MP Katherine Fletcher since the 2019 general election.

    Geography

    Skelmersdale, a former New Town, and Ormskirk are the two main towns in the borough. These are surrounded by a patchwork of smaller settlements to the west and north.

    Civil parishes

    There are 21 civil parishes in West Lancashire. The main towns of Skelmersdale and Ormskirk are unparished areas. There is a movement to establish a town council in Skelmersdale.[23] The parish council of Burscough takes the style "town council".[24]

    All the civil parishes have a parish council, with the exception of Bispham, which has a parish meeting instead.

    Media

    In terms of television, the area is served by BBC North West and ITV Granada broadcasting from the Winter Hill transmitter.[25]

    Radio stations for the area are:

    Local newspaper is the Lancashire Telegraph.[26]

    Twin towns

    West Lancashire is twinned with:[27]

    References

    53.562°N -2.827°W

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: How life has changed in West Lancashire: Census 2021 . 2023-12-18 . . en.
    2. Parish populations.
    3. Web site: NCA Profile: 32 Lancashire and Amounderness Plain - NE512 . 2023-12-18 . . en-gb.
    4. si. The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972. 1972. 2039. 22 August 2022.
    5. Web site: Orders and changes made by the Government and Councils between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009. Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. 4 July 2022.
    6. Web site: The Royal Charter . West Lancashire District Council . 13 May 2009 . 28 May 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606064405/http://www.westlancsdc.gov.uk/council__democracy/borough_status/royal_charter.aspx . 6 June 2011 .
    7. Web site: Lancashire councils face abolition in shake-up. BBC. 22 September 2020.
    8. News: Faulkner . Paul . Where plans to carve up Lancashire and abolish its 15 councils are up to . 26 August 2022 . Lancs Live . 28 July 2021.
    9. Web site: Council minutes, 15 May 2024 . West Lancashire Borough Council . 11 July 2024.
    10. Web site: Council minutes, 18 May 2022 . West Lancashire Borough Council . 26 August 2022.
    11. News: Jacqui Sinnott-Lacey appointed as West Lancashire Borough Council's new Chief Operating Officer . 27 June 2023 . Skem News . 7 January 2020.
    12. act. Local Government Act 1972. 1972. 70. 31 May 2023.
    13. Web site: Election maps . Ordnance Survey . 6 June 2023.
    14. Web site: Management of the Council . West Lancashire Borough Council . 13 December 2020.
    15. Web site: Compositions calculator . The Elections Centre . 4 March 2016 . 1 June 2023.
    16. News: West Lancashire . 2010-04-13 . . 19 April 2008.
    17. Web site: Council minutes . West Lancashire Borough Council . 26 August 2022.
    18. News: Local elections 2024: full mayoral and council results for England . 21 May 2024 . The Guardian . 4 May 2024.
    19. 1911 Census, Class RG14; Piece 22822; Schedules 220–221
    20. News: West Lancashire Council's new offices . 27 August 2022 . Ormskirk Advertiser . 6 August 1925 . 3.
    21. Web site: West Lancashire Borough Council . 27 August 2022.
    22. si. The West Lancashire (Electoral Changes) Order 2022. 2022. 1179. 27 June 2023.
    23. Web site: Skelmersdale Independent Party. Skelmersdale Independent Party. 22 September 2020.
    24. Web site: Parish councils contact information . West Lancashire Borough Council . 28 June 2023.
    25. Web site: Full Freeview on the Winter Hill (Bolton, England) transmitter . May 2004 . UK Free TV . 23 April 2024.
    26. Web site: Lancashire Telegraph. 30 May 2014. British Papers. 23 April 2024.
    27. https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/more/your-community/town-twinning.aspx West Lancashire Borough Council, Town Twinning