THE prospects of a seeing a combined authority for Lancashire were dealt a blow on Thursday as four council leaders declared themselves out of any negotiations to secure a devolution deal from central government.

Leaders of Lancashire County Council, Ribble Valley and Fylde walked out of the meeting indicating that they were not prepared to be part of a Lancashire Combined Authority, joined by Wyre Borough Council who indicated by email that as an authority they were not willing to take part.

The move came as all 15 councils were invited to a crunch meeting to determine who was in or out of progressing the Lancashire Combined Authority.

Ken Hind, leader of Ribble Valley Council, said: "The chairman asked each authority to state whether they were in or out, nothing more.

"When I pointed out that we needed to consider that without Lancashire County Council we were going nowhere there was no debate allowed by the chairman.

"Those who rejected the current arrangements for the combined authority were asked to leave, which we did.

"Ribble Valley Council wanted a vote on transport yet it was denied to us in the combined authority constitution.

"Only three out of 15 authorities had a vote on transport issues. ''All animals are equal but some are more equal than others'' to quote George Orwell from Animal Farm.”

"The Lancashire Combined Authority is truly dead."

The remaining 11 council leaders will reconsider the next steps with a meeting already set up with the secretary of state for communities and local Government, Sajid Javid, in the coming days.

Cllr Simon Blackburn, chair of the shadow combined authority and leader of Blackpool Council, said: "It is really disappointing to see certain councils turn down the opportunity to get us to a stage where we can take on more powers from the Government and have more of an influence over what happens here in Lancashire.

"The credibility of Lancashire is at stake here and I've not met a single person from the business community who doesn't think this is a good idea for Lancashire."

Cllr Blackburn will meet with Government ministers next week seeking clarity over whether the government will consider working with 11 of the Lancashire councils and whether the process is now a waste of time.