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.

County Councillor Peter Buckley declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 8 - Lancashire County Council (Various Roads, Lytham St Annes, Fylde Borough) (Motor Caravan Restricted Waiting, Bus Only Limited Waiting and Various Parking Restrictions) Order 202*, as his wife was a member of Fylde Borough Council.

County Councillor Michael Green also noted for the record, in relation to Item 11 – A582 South Ribble Western Distributor Submission to the Major Road Network Funding Programme, as the scheme ran partly within his electoral division, and he was a member of South Ribble Borough Council.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2024 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 for Cabinet.

Cabinet considered a report providing an overview of the performance of forty three Key Performance Indicators as well as corporate risks and opportunities to enable monitoring against the four priorities of the corporate strategy:

• Delivering better services
• Protecting our environment
• Supporting economic growth
• Caring for the vulnerable

Resolved: That, following consideration of the report and the additional information set out in Appendices 'A' to 'C', the report be noted.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to commence the following procurement exercises in accordance with the county council's procurement rules:

1. Dynamic Purchasing System for the supply of asphalt, aggregates and concrete;
2. Spray injection patching;
3. IT Reseller Agreement; and
4. Collection and delivery of letters and parcels

Resolved: That the commencement of procurement exercises for the following be approved:

1. Dynamic Purchasing System for the supply of asphalt, aggregates and concrete;
2. Spray injection patching;
3. IT Reseller Agreement; and
4. Collection and delivery of letters and parcels

Cabinet considered a report that proposed to withdraw the proposal to introduce a Prohibition of Waiting on Lytham Road, following consideration of the objections from the residents and local councillors.

Resolved: That the withdrawal of the proposal to introduce a Prohibition of Waiting on Lytham Road, Freckleton, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report that proposed to make a Traffic Regulation Order to introduce a Restriction of Motor Caravan Parking from 6pm to 8am. The report further proposed to make amendments to the current time limit parking along the promenade and introduced a dedicated Bus drop off/pick up Bay to accommodate visiting coach parking along with No Waiting and No Loading restrictions to address potential road safety issues.

Resolved: That the proposals for new and existing restrictions on the various lengths of road as detailed within the report and as set out in the Draft Order at Appendix 'C' of the report, for the reasons outlined in the Statement of Reasons at Appendix 'G' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report that recommended approval of the addition of the Department for Transport's 2024/25 grant funding allocation for Highway Maintenance, which was £28.811million, and the further additional funding of £3.661million to the highway block of the capital programme once confirmed. The report also recommended the proposed apportionment of the assumed level of funding as set out at Appendices 'A' and 'B' of the report.

The report further requested approval of detailed programmes of work relating to the funding as set out at Appendices 'C' to 'H' of the report.

Resolved: That

1. Approval be given for the Department for Transport 2024/25 Highway Maintenance funding grant, once confirmed, to be added to the Highway Block of the Capital Programme;
2. Approval be given for the Department for Transport Network North additional funding for 2024/25 to be added to the Highway Block of the Capital Programme;
3. Approval be given for the proposed apportionment of the 2024/25 Department for Transport Highway Maintenance funding of £28.811million, and the additional £3.661million, as detailed in the report and at Appendices 'A' and 'B' of the report;
4. Approval be given for the proposed 2024/25 New Starts Highway Maintenance programmes as set out as projects at Appendices 'C' to 'H' of the report; and
5. The Director of Strategy & Performance be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to approve the Localised Deterioration Fund schemes for 2024/25.

Cabinet considered a report that proposed the increase of Foster Care Allowance rates for 2024/25, in line with National Minimum Standards.

Resolved: That the increase in the current scale of Foster Care Allowances as set out at Appendix ‘A' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report that set out the latest updates on the A582 South Ribble Western Distributor scheme and sought approval for the submission of an outline business case to the Department for Transport for a focussed scheme and associated funding arrangements.

Resolved: That

1. The submission of an outline business case for funding to the Department for Transport for a 'focused scheme' of improvements to the A582 South Ribble Western Distributor be approved, and the Executive Director of Growth, Environment, Transport and Health be authorised, in consultation with the Director of Finance and the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth, to approve the final content of the submission; and
2. Approval be given to incur expenditure up to £19 million towards development of highway infrastructure on this network as a commitment to fund the local contribution towards these improvements along with any subsequent cost increase above the level of grant agreed by the Department for Transport, this being subject to the Council's decision to proceed to full business case and its approval by the Department for Transport to release the requisite government funding.

Cabinet considered a report that set out the annual report of the Director of Public Health. The report identified that the key health indicators showed that outcomes had slowed down across Lancashire since the pandemic. It identified poor health as a key factor affecting economic progress in Lancashire, and vice-versa. The report also highlighted that the ongoing problems relating to health and wealth were distributed unequally across Lancashire communities and was happening in the context of a demographic shift towards an increasing proportion of unhealthy ageing population in our communities that required more joined up work across the sectors.

The report also highlighted the devolution proposal, and the evolution of Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System, which were key strategic opportunities in Lancashire to adopt a systematic and joined up approach to address inequalities to create a more favourable future for our residents, communities, and businesses.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the report, the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health for 2023/24, be noted.

The following urgent decision has 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:

-  The Future of Pinfold Primary School, Scarisbrick

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 under Part I on the agenda.

The next meeting of Cabinet will be held on Thursday 11 April 2024 at 2.00pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday, 11 April 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.

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 two items of Urgent Business to be discussed in relation to the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone.

Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The report contains 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 report contained 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.

Cabinet considered a report on the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone.

It was noted that the reason for urgency was due to ongoing discussions with the Government in relation to the scheme and to be able to meet the Government timescales.

Resolved: That

  i.  The recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved; and

  ii.  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 was due to ongoing discussions with the Government in relation to the scheme and to be able to meet the Government timescales.

Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The report contains 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 report contained 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.

Cabinet considered a report on the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone.

It was noted that the reason for urgency was due to ongoing discussions with the Government in relation to the scheme and to be able to meet the Government timescales.

Resolved: That

i.  The recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved; and

ii.  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 was due to ongoing discussions with the Government in relation to the scheme and to be able to meet the Government timescales.</AI20>