Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies received.

Members are asked to consider any Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the Agenda.

None.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To answer any verbal questions and supplementary questions from a county councillor, about any matter which relates to any item under Part I on the agenda for this meeting under Standing Order C35(7).

To submit a question to Cabinet, click here.

There will be a maximum of 30 minutes for the questions to be asked and answered.

There were no questions received.

Cabinet considered a report on the medium term financial strategy update 2024/25 - 2026/27. The medium term financial strategy provided a forecast of the financial position for the county council for the next 3 financial years, and provided an update of the position and highlighted any changes since the last report to Cabinet in November 2023.

It was noted that the overall position reported was a forecasted financial deficit of £2.908m in 2024/25 with a projected surplus of £4.892m by 2026/27, compared to the position that was reported to Cabinet in November 2023 of a forecast deficit of £14.505m in 2024/25 increasing to £18.294m by 2026/27.

The county council's transitional reserve (currently standing at £165m at the end of 2023/24) would be utilised to bridge the 2024/25 funding gap and remained sufficient to allow plans to be developed over the coming years to continue to aim for a balanced long term sustainable budget. The transitional reserve also served a purpose going forward to allow modernisation and transformation of council services. All reserves were to be reviewed as part of the county council's forthcoming budget report including the General Reserve which currently stood at £23m representing 2.25% of net expenditure.

In relation to proposal GET007 on the introduction of on street pay and display parking across the county, it was confirmed that, following representations from district councils and the Scrutiny Management Board, consultation would take place with the district council Leaders, and that their views would be fully considered by Cabinet before any proposals were developed further or implemented.

Resolved: That

i.  The updated budget assumptions and changes to budget requirements for 2024/25, and following years' changes, included in the revised medium term financial strategy, be agreed;

ii.  A consultation be carried out with key stakeholders on the savings proposals in Section 3.6 of the report; and

iii.  The contents of the county council's reserves position be agreed.

Cabinet considered a report that proposed the provision of bus stops which are compliant with the Equality Act 2010 in Longridge. It was noted that the proposed bus stop improvements would provide a raised boarding area and accompanying clearway restrictions to allow buses to stop parallel to the kerb, providing inclusive accessibility to public transport in the area.

Resolved: That the proposed creation of 16 bus stops with clearway restrictions which are compliant with the Equality Act 2010, as set out in the report and in Appendices 'A' – 'E' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report seeking the approval of Cabinet to submit the Schools Block budget pro-forma and approval for the Early Years, High Needs and Central Schools Services Block budgets for 2024/25, in accordance with the Government's school funding Regulations and Guidance.

It was noted that Appendix 'B' of the report was circulated to Cabinet after the agenda publication and is attached to the minutes.

It was also noted that on page 78 of the agenda, under the Disability Access Fund heading, it should read 2024/25, instead of 2022/23.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the comments made by the Lancashire Schools Forum:

i.  The 2024/25 budgets for the Early Years, High Needs and Central Schools Services Blocks and local proposals for the High Needs Supplementary Grant allocation for 2024/25, be approved;

ii.  The Principal Accountant – Schools Finance be authorised to submit the final Schools Block budget pro-forma for 2024/25 to the Education and Skills Funding Agency by 22 January 2024, on the basis set out in the report;

iii.  Approval be given to the Dedicated Schools Grant Reserve underwriting the uncertainties around the 2024/25 Schools Budget; and

iv.  The decision be implemented immediately for the purposes of Standing Order C28(3) as any delay could adversely affect the execution of the county council's responsibilities. The reason for this is to ensure that the necessary pro-forma can be submitted to the Education and Skills Funding Agency by the required deadline of 22 January 2024.

Please note that Appendices 'A' and 'B' to this report are in Part II and appear as Item No. 15 on the Agenda.

Cabinet considered a report that provided an update on the School Place Planning Delivery Programme 2023-25. It was noted that in October 2022, Cabinet approved the School Place Planning Delivery Programme 2023-25, which set out a series of projects to provide additional primary and secondary school places, where projected shortfalls had been identified. The proposal sought to provide these places through expansion of existing schools and the establishment of new schools. However, it was noted that since the inception of the 2023-25 School Planning Delivery Plan there had been a decline in birth rates nationally which was showing in the county council's primary school places forecasts. The report therefore provided an update on the current position of primary and secondary provision in Preston, and the new school at Whittingham Hospital.

It was also noted that Appendices 'A' and 'B' to this report were in Part II and were set out at Item No. 15 on the Agenda.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet thanked the schools and their governing bodies for working collaboratively with the county council.

Resolved: That

i.  The additional capital allocation for Lea Community Primary School, Preston, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved;

ii.  The capital allocation for phase 2 of the Capital project to permanently expand Cottam Primary School, Preston by 1 form of entry for September 2024, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved;

iii.  The capital allocation for phase 2 of the Capital project to permanently expand Broughton-In-Amounderness Church of England Primary School, by 25 places per year from September 2024, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved;

iv.  Approval be given for a consultation to be undertaken on the permanent expansion of Archbishop Temple Church of England High School, Preston, to increase the Published Admission Number from 155 to 210 from September 2025;

v.  The capital allocation for the temporary expansion of Archbishop Temple Church of England High School, Preston by 55 places for September 2024, as set out in Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved;

vi.  The proposal to permanently expand Christ the King Catholic High School, Preston by 20 places per year from September 2025, be approved;

vii.  The Capital allocation for Christ the King Catholic High School, Preston to permanently expand the school by 20 places per year from September 2025, as set out in Appendix 'A' of the report be approved;

viii.  Approval be given for further consideration to the proposals set out in the 2023-25 School Planning Delivery Programme for the primary and secondary projects in Preston North, in response to the change in forecast data which had been impacted by the national downward trajectory of births impacting on reception numbers and the future trajectory of pupils, with revised proposals being brought to Cabinet as required; and

ix.  Following the outcome of the Whittingham Hospital consultation which provided a further option as set out in Appendix 'B' of the report, it was agreed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Cabinet considered a report that outlined details of the obligation to process separately collected food waste from April 2026, the options considered, the financial implications and a proposal to provide an in-house solution through Lancashire Renewables Limited.

Resolved: That the following be approved:

1. The proposal to provide an in-house solution to process separately collected food waste; and
2. The provision of capital to fund the proposal as set out in the report.

The following urgent decisions have been taken by the Leader of the County Council and the relevant Cabinet Member in accordance with Standing Order C16(1) since the last meeting of Cabinet, and can be viewed by clicking on the relevant link:

-  Network North Additional Highway Maintenance Capital Allocations for 2023/24

Resolved: That the urgent decision taken by the Leader of the County Council, and the relevant Cabinet Member, since the last meeting of Cabinet, be noted.

An item of urgent business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chair of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Chief Executive should be given advance warning of any Member’s intention to raise a matter under this heading.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

The next meeting of Cabinet will be held on Thursday 8 February 2024 at 2.00pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday, 8 February 2024 at County Hall, Preston.

No representations have been received.

Click here to see the published Notice of Intention to Conduct Business in Private.

Cabinet noted the Notice of Intention to Conduct Business in Private and that no representations had been received.

The Cabinet is asked to consider whether, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, it considers that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as indicated against the heading to the item.

Resolved: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The appendices contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The appendices contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). It was considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Resolved: That Appendices 'A' and 'B' of Item 8 - Update on the School Place Planning Delivery Programme 2023-25, be noted.