Agenda and minutes

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, the Leader of the County Council, informed Cabinet of the historic moment that had been reached on the formation of the new Lancashire Combined County Authority. On 5 February 2025, the legislation had passed the final stage of the parliamentary process, with the Deputy Prime Minister announcing the formation of Lancashire Combined County Authority. The new body would receive powers from central government and would address key priorities such as improving public transport, boosting economic prosperity, and enhancing employment and skills. It would also tackle historically low investment in the area and support the constituent councils' ambitions for accelerated growth, as well as enhancing local accountability and decision making.

It was noted that the inaugural meeting of the new authority would be held at County Hall on Tuesday, 11 March 2025, which members of the public would be able to attend to observe or watch online.

On behalf of the Cabinet, the Leader thanked all the officers and county councillors, including those officers and councillors from Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council, for their efforts in establishing the combined county authority.

There were no apologies.

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 16 January 2025 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 C34(7).

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

There was one question for Cabinet.

A copy of the question and the response is attached to the minutes.

Cabinet considered a report that provided an overview of performance for the key performance indicators established to monitor the delivery of the council's priorities as laid out in the corporate strategy. It was noted that the report covered quarter 3 of 2024/25.

Resolved: That the proposals, as set out in Appendix 'C' of the report, be approved, to ensure continual service improvement against the key performance indicators.

Cabinet considered a report that provided an update on the county council's 2024/25 revenue and capital financial position, as at the end of Quarter 3.

It was noted that the forecast outturn position was an overspend of £12.737m which was a reduction of £4.338m from the position predicted at Quarter 2 following further mitigating actions. Actions were continuing throughout Quarter 4 to try to further improve the position. Additionally, the forecast outturn for the capital delivery programme for 2024/25 was £200.697m which was an underspend of £2.542m (1.25%) on the planned programme.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the current forecast overspend of £12.737m on the revenue budget in 2024/25 and the forecast revenue expenditure of £1,124.490m, the current forecast of capital expenditure of £200.697m for 2024/25 and the changes described in Appendix 'B' of the report, be approved. 

Cabinet considered a report that set out the proposed budget for the county council for 2025/26 and the medium-term financial position for the following year.

In presenting the report, it was noted that the most up-to-date information that was available at the time of writing the report had been incorporated into the final report. However, the council had now received the final local government settlement and the final information from district councils in relation to council tax and business rates. A copy of the final settlement and a proposed amendment to the budget recommendation to Full Council was tabled at the meeting, a copy of which is attached to the minutes.

The Cabinet thanked all officers and councillors who contributed to the preparation of the report and acknowledged their previous efforts. Special thanks were given to Mark Wynn, Interim Chief Executive, and Noel O'Neil, Interim Director of Finance and Commerce, for all the work they had done.

It was also noted that an email had been circulated to the Cabinet prior to the meeting in relation to a correction to Table 13 on page 120 of the agenda. The correction being that the Supported Living Waking Hour fee rate should be £22.69 instead of £21.64. However, the correction had no impact to the cost of the uplift as the budget cost had already been calculated against actual spend at 5.54%.

Resolved: That

1. Having regard to the advice of the Section 151 Officer in relation to the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of reserves (Annex 'D' of the report), the advice be noted;
2. Following receipt of further information relating to the tax base, collection fund and the final settlement the Budget Report to Full Council be updated accordingly; and
3. Full Council be asked to approve the following:
   1. A net revenue budget requirement of £1,244.217m for 2025/26, including a council tax requirement of £682.344m (equating to Band D Council Tax of £1,735.79) for 2025/26 reflecting a 2.99% increase in general council tax and a further 2% to be used for adult social care (Appendix 'A' of the report);
   2. A contribution from the transitional reserve of £9.228m to provide a balanced budget position in 2025/26;
   3. A savings delivery programme of £60m to be delivered in 2025/26 as detailed in Annex 'C' of Appendix 'A' of the report;
   4. The reserves position, transfers and commitments as detailed in Appendix 'A', Section 10 of the report;
   5. The indicative capital programme for 2025/26 of £299.635m (Appendix 'A' and Annex 'E' of the report);
   6. The capital strategy (Annex 'F' of the report); and
   7. The uplift to Adult Social Care Provider Fees and Children's Services Fostering Fees and other allowances as outlined in Appendix 'A', Section 11 of the report.

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

  i.  Provision of Apprenticeship Levy Training and Assessment Providers; and

  ii.  IT Reseller Agreement for IT Software, Support and Associated Services.

It was noted that at the conclusion of the procurement processes, any award of contracts would be made under Section 9.52 (36) of the county council's Scheme of Delegation to Officers.

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

  i.  Provision of Apprenticeship Levy Training and Assessment Providers; and

  ii.  IT Reseller Agreement for IT Software, Support and Associated Services.

Cabinet considered a report that set out the consultation results for both the Young Person's Travel Scheme and the Discretionary pre-09.30am £1 Concessionary Travel Fare for Disabled Pass Holders, and proposed recommendations on the next steps in terms of both schemes.

Resolved: That

1. The outcome of both consultations, together with the Equality Analyses, set out at Appendices 'A' - 'D' of the report, be noted;
2. The Young Person's Transport and Discretionary Concessionary Schemes be withdrawn at the end of this current academic year, effective from 31 July 2025, using a phased withdrawal approach allowing current travel pass recipients and requested renewals to be honoured but no new applicants accepted; and
3. The Discretionary £1 pre-09.30am fare be withdrawn at the end of this current financial year with effect from 1 April 2025.

Cabinet received a brief update on the Preston Secondary Schools Development proposals, and it was noted that a full report would be brought to the next meeting on 6 March 2025.

Cabinet then considered a report setting out the admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled primary and secondary schools and sixth form schools for the school year 2026/2027. It was noted that in order to comply with the Department for Education School Admissions Code, the Local Authority must determine the schools' admission arrangements before 28 February 2025.

Resolved: That

1. The admission numbers and admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled primary schools, secondary schools and sixth forms for 2026/2027 as listed at Appendices 'A', 'B', 'D' and 'E' of the report, be approved;
2. The recommendations set out in response to the issues raised by Community and Voluntary Controlled Governing Bodies, the community and parents, as set out at Appendix 'C' of the report, be approved; and
3. The admission numbers and criteria for admission, set out at Appendices 'A', 'B', 'D' and 'E' of the report, to constitute the Authority's admission arrangements for 2026/2027, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on the determination of the statutory scheme and the mandatory timetable for co-ordinating admissions for Lancashire's primary and secondary schools and academies for 2026/2027.

Resolved: That

1. The scheme listed at Appendix 'A' of the report, and its accompanying timetable at Appendix 'B' of the report, be adopted as the qualifying scheme for admissions to Lancashire primary and secondary schools and academies for 2026/2027; and
2. The Executive Director of Education and Children's Services be authorised to secure the adoption of the scheme by the governing body of each Lancashire voluntary aided and foundation school and academy, in order to inform the Secretary of State for Education by 28 February 2025 that a scheme has been introduced in Lancashire.

Cabinet considered a report on the statutory Home to School Transport Policy for Lancashire families for the academic year 2026/2027.

It was noted that the county council reviewed its Home to School Transport Policy on an annual basis and the policy was compliant with the most recent guidance issued by the Department for Education in January 2024.

Resolved: That the Home to School Transport Policy for the academic year 2026/2027 as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on the future of the maintained nursery provision at Clayton Brook Primary School. It was noted that the headteacher and governors at Clayton Brook Primary School had approached the local authority in relation to the future of the nursery provision at the school and the school had asked the local authority to start the formal statutory process, to consult on the proposal to cease the maintained nursery provision by permanently reducing the age range from 3–11-year-olds (Nursery to Year 6) to 4–11 year olds (Reception to Year 6), with effect from 1 August 2025.

Resolved: That the Statutory Notice be published, to begin the consultation period on the future of the maintained nursery provision currently delivered at Clayton Brook Primary School.

Cabinet considered a report on the future of the maintained nursery provision at Rosewood Primary School, Burnley. It was noted that the headteacher and governors at Burnley Rosewood Primary School had approached the local authority in relation to the future of the nursery provision at the school and had asked the local authority to start the formal statutory process to consult on the proposal to cease the maintained nursery provision by permanently reducing the age range from 3–11 year olds (Nursery 2 to Year 6) to 4–11 year olds (Reception to Year 6), with effect from 1 August 2025.

Resolved: That the Statutory Notice be published, to begin the consultation period on the future of the maintained nursery provision currently delivered by Burnley Rosewood Primary School.

Cabinet considered a report that included proposals to increase special educational places in special schools and the provision of Special Educational Needs Units in mainstream schools.

It was noted that the report also included the results of the formal consultations to increase the number of special educational places in Lancashire by expanding the following special schools:

·  Acorns Primary School, Preston

·  Bleasdale School, Carnforth

·  Brookfield School, Poulton-le-Fylde

·  Hope High School, Skelmersdale

·  Moorbrook School, Preston

·  The Loyne Specialist School, Lancaster

And also proposed the development or expansion of Special Educational Needs Units and Special Educational Resource Provision at the following mainstream schools:

·  Chaucer Community Primary School, Fleetwood

·  Delph Side Community Primary School, Skelmersdale

·  Grosvenor Park Primary School, Morecambe

·  Morecambe Bay Community Primary School, Morecambe

·  Northbrook Primary Academy, Leyland

·  Thornton Primary School, Thornton-Cleveleys

·  Wellfield Academy, Leyland

·  Brockholes Wood Primary, Preston

·  Carnforth Primary

·  Brunshaw Primary, Burnley

In presenting the report it was noted that on page 360 of the agenda, paragraph 74 stated that there would be 277 places created by the plan. However, the final number should have been 265. It was noted that Northbrook Primary School was for 16 places and not 20, and Grosvenor Park was for 8 places and not 16. The consultations that were available to the public were accurate.

Resolved: That

1. Following consideration of the results of the formal consultations, following the publication of the statutory proposals, the following be approved:

2. The second phases of Carnforth Primary and Brunshaw Primary Schools Special Educational Needs Units, be approved;
3. The building alterations/adaptations and/or acquisition of resources or necessary expenditure, be approved;
4. Following consideration of the results of the informal consultation for Brockholes Wood Primary School, the commencement of a formal consultation be approved; and
5. The Executive Director for Education and Children's Services be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to approve the creation of the Special Educational Needs Unit at Brockholes Wood Primary School subject to there being no substantive objections raised to the proposal during the formal consultation.

Cabinet considered a report on the Lancashire Local Nature Recovery Strategy Consultation Draft document. It was noted that the Local Nature Recovery Strategies were introduced in the Environment Act 2021 to drive nature's recovery and provide wider environmental improvements. Lancashire County Council had been appointed by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as the responsible authority for the preparation of the Lancashire Local Nature Recovery Strategy and the report presented the Lancashire Local Nature Recovery Strategy consultation draft for approval, prior to sending the consultation draft to Supporting Authorities in order for them to follow their own governance arrangements for agreement to the strategy proceeding to public consultation.

Resolved: That

1. The Lancashire Local Nature Recovery Strategy Consultation Draft herein after referred to as the "Consultation Draft" as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved;
2. The Consultation Draft be sent to Supporting Authorities for their comments and agreement in line with the procedure set out in The Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023;
3. The Director of Environment and Planning be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, to consider and seek to address any concerns or comments from Supporting Authorities and if there were no objections, to agree the final draft Local Nature Recovery Strategy and proceed to public consultation, and then to bring a further report back to Cabinet to approve the final Strategy;
4. If there were any objections from Supporting Authorities, the Director of Environment and Planning be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, to submit the Consultation Draft to the Secretary of State under The Environment (Local Nature Recovery Strategies) (Procedure) Regulations 2023.

There have been no urgent decisions taken since the last meeting of Cabinet.

There had been no urgent decisions taken since the last meeting of Cabinet.

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 6 March 2025 at 2.00pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday, 6 March 2025 at County Hall, Preston.