In Lancashire, there are different tiers of local government and a number of elected representatives. This page explains what each level does The "two tier" local government system operates in Lancashire. This means that, except in the Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool areas (which are run by a unitary council – see below) all Lancashire is served by two local authorities, the county council and one of 12 district councils. The county and district councils have separate responsibilities. You can find out more about each tier of local government below:

There are 16 MPs whose constituencies are partly or wholly in the Lancashire area. Fourteen of these partly or wholly have their constituencies in the Lancashire County Council area, with two hose constituencies are entirely in Blackpool or Blackburn. MPs have no direct say over the running of Lancashire County Council, although we recognise their importance in speaking up for the people of Lancashire locally and in parliament, so we seek to work closely with them. MPs also often will undertake casework of their constituents about council services. 

View our Lancashire MP's: Council - Your MPs (moderngov.co.uk). 

View more information on MPs, please visit the House of Commons constituency search engine. 

The Lancashire Combined County Authority (CCA) has been set up to transfer powers from central government to local decision-makers in Lancashire.

It provides a single body for the whole of the county, covering the Lancashire county, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen council areas to champion its interests, deliver on local priorities and provide greater local accountability.

The CCA aims to address key priorities such as improving public transport, boosting economic prosperity, and enhancing employment and skills.

It will also tackle historically low investment in the area and support accelerated growth

View more information about Lancashire devolution. 

Lancashire County Council is the fourth largest council in the UK covering a geographic area of 2,894km2, providing services to 1.25m residents of Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre.  

Our responsibilities include Schools and education; Adult and children's social care; Highways and transport; Registration of births and deaths; Public health; Waste and minerals management; Libraries and heritage; and Economic development.

County Councils are responsible for:

  • education
  • transport
  • minerals and waste planning
  • social care
  • libraries
  • waste management
  • trading standards

We have 12 district councils across Lancashire (Burnley, Chorley, Fylde, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Pendle, Preston, Ribble Valley, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire and Wyre), who provide local services such as household waste collection, environmental health, housing and leisure facilities. 

District council are responsible for:

  • waste collection
  • recycling
  • Council Tax collections
  • housing
  • domestic planning
  • leisure

Within Lancashire, we have two neighbouring Unitary Councils, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool. Unitary Councils are responsible for delivering both county and district services in their own areas. However we work closely with both unitary councils in Lancashire on the new Combined County Authority.

Additionally, we have over 200 Parish and Town Councils. Our Parish and Town Councils in Lancashire are very diverse in their geographical locations, size, budget, aspirations and socio-demographic factors. Parish and Town Councils are the 'grass roots' local authorities serving local communities. Not every area  in Lancashire is “parished”. A list of powers and duties is available here: https://www.localgov.co.uk/Parish-council-responsibilities/29135  

Parish and Town Councils have two infrastructure organisations they can lean on for support:

Lancashire Association of Local Councils

The aim of the Association is to offer support to member councils to help them achieve the highest standards of Local Government, to offer training and to represent the first tier of local government as widely as possible.

Society of Local Council Clerks

Representing clerks to over 5,000 councils in England and Wales, we provide the necessary training, advice and support you need to promote best practice within the sector.

We also have a dedicated team within LCC who work to strengthen relationships between parish councils, LALC, SLCC and the county council.  You can reach them on parishcouncils@lancashire.gov.uk

Further information  on Lancashire’s parish councils is available at: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/parish-and-town-councils/  

Prior to your election as a County Councillor, you may already be a District Councillor or a Parish and Town Councillor, or even both. We refer to a councillor who holds two or more positions, as a 'dual hatted councillor'. As a 'dual hatted' councillor, you will need to consider 'which hat' or which council you are representing on a case by case basis. 

Dual hatted councillors should refer to the Protocol for Dual Hatted Members, which is located here Additional Protocols - Lancashire County Council