Businesses Back Devolved Powers for Lancashire but Support for a Mayor Depends on Funding and Value for Money

Lancashire businesses have given cautious backing to the introduction of a Mayoral Authority, provided it brings meaningful powers, additional funding and delivers value for money without increasing costs for businesses or council taxpayers.

The findings come from a survey undertaken by the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Lancaster & Morecambe Chamber of Commerce to understand business views on the potential introduction of a directly elected Mayor for Lancashire. The research explored support for devolution, concerns about governance changes and priorities for future economic leadership.

The results show that 65.16% of respondents either strongly support or tend to support the introduction of an elected Mayor for Lancashire, while only 13.55% oppose the proposal. However, more than one in five businesses remain neutral or undecided, highlighting the need for further engagement and information.

A clear message emerged from the survey that businesses are primarily interested in the benefits devolution could bring rather than governance reform alone. More than 92% of respondents said securing additional devolved funding from Government was important, making it the strongest area of consensus identified in the research.

Businesses also believe a Mayoral Authority could strengthen Lancashire’s voice on the national stage, with almost 67% agreeing that a Mayor would improve the county’s ability to influence Government and attract investment.

However, significant concerns remain over cost. Nearly 80% of respondents said they would be concerned if new governance arrangements resulted in increased costs for businesses or residents. This emerged as one of the most important issues requiring further clarification and reassurance.

When asked about their preferred approach, half of all respondents said they would support a Mayor only if additional powers and funding were guaranteed for Lancashire, while fewer than one in five supported the introduction of a Mayor without conditions. Overall, almost 69% were broadly supportive of a Mayoral Authority but only if it delivers tangible economic benefits for the county.

Commenting on the survey results, Babs Murphy, Chief Executive of the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said: “The message from Lancashire businesses is clear. They recognise the opportunities that greater devolution could bring and they want Lancashire to have a stronger voice with Government. However, support for a Mayor is not unconditional.

Businesses are telling us that any new governance arrangements must deliver real benefits in the form of additional funding, greater local powers and improved economic opportunities. At the same time, they want assurances that these changes will not create additional costs or bureaucracy.

Recently appointed Chief Executive of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Simon Brierley said “As Chambers of Commerce, our role is to ensure the voice of business is heard throughout this process. These findings provide valuable evidence for policymakers and demonstrate that the business community is prepared to support further discussions, provided Lancashire secures a genuinely stronger deal through devolution.”

Confirming the views of the County’s business community, Graham White, Chief Executive of the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce said “The Chambers’ will continue to engage with businesses, local authorities and Government as discussions around Lancashire’s future governance arrangements progress. The survey findings suggest there is a mandate for further exploration of a Mayoral Authority but that businesses expect a strong economic case and clear accountability before any final decisions are made”.

Headline results of the Chamber’s survey can seen HERE.