Agenda and minutes

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 11 July 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, the Leader of the County Council, on behalf of Cabinet, congratulated and thanked Angie Ridgwell, Chief Executive, who will be leaving the county council on 27 September 2024 to take up the position of Chief Executive of Hertfordshire County Council, for her service to the county council and Lancashire over the past 6 and a half years. The comments were echoed by County Councillor Matthew Tomlinson, Leader of the Opposition on the council. Cabinet wished her all the best for the future in her new role.

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 providing the first overview of corporate performance for 2024/25. There were 42 key performance indicators established which would be monitored over the course of the year, with an additional key performance indicator on the proportion of key performance indicators on track to be delivered.

This report was set out to provide an overview of corporate performance to monitor the delivery of the four priorities of the corporate strategy:

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

The report also had an additional section on corporate health.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the report and the additional information set out in Appendices 'A' to 'D', the key performance indicators proposed for 2024/25 and the actions set out in Appendix 'C', be approved.

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 June 2024. The Quarter 1 monitoring position contained assumptions relating to demand levels and savings delivery across a number of services, most particularly social care, which at this stage in the financial year were based on a number of assumptions based on costs, income to date and service knowledge.

It was noted that there were spending challenges across all council services as was common with many councils across the country. Whilst Lancashire remained in a relatively strong financial position, this was within a sector with declining financial sustainability that needed to be addressed at a national level. Some of the financial challenges the council currently faced were set out in the report, as well as some of the achievements and progress that had been made this year to date.

The forecast outturn position was £7.590m after implementing £20.76m of remedial actions and use of one-off funding. Directorates had been asked to complete further remedial action plans to look to produce a balanced budget by the end of the financial year.

The capital delivery programme for 2024/25 was £187.095m following confirmation of slippage from 2023/24 in the outturn report to Cabinet in July 2024. The forecast expenditure was £186.322m giving an underspend of £0.773m (0.41%).

Resolved: That the current forecast overspend of £7.590m on the revenue budget in 2024/25, the next steps proposed for a balanced budget by year end, and the current forecast of capital expenditure £186.322m for 2024/25, be noted.

Please note that Appendix 'B' to this report is in Part II and appears as Item No. 19 on the Agenda.

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

1. Renewal of ServiceNow Licenses;
2. Acceptance and Disposal of Waste Upholstered Domestic Seating containing Persistent Organic Pollutants services;
3. Agency Staff Neutral Vendor Managed Service and Workforce Solutions;
4. Responsive Minor Adaptations; and
5. Traditional Road Surfacing and Associated Services.

It was noted that Appendix 'B' of the report contained financial details concerning fees for the Agency Staff Neutral Vendor Managed Service and was therefore in Part II and appeared at Item No. 19 on the agenda.

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

1. Renewal of ServiceNow Licenses;
2. Acceptance and Disposal of Waste Upholstered Domestic Seating containing Persistent Organic Pollutants services;
3. Agency Staff Neutral Vendor Managed Service and Workforce Solutions;
4. Responsive Minor Adaptations; and
5. Traditional Road Surfacing and Associated Services.

Cabinet considered a report on the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System Dementia Strategy 2024-29. It was noted that a new Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System Dementia Strategy 2024-29 had been developed, following extensive engagement with partners in health and social care, hospices, the voluntary sector, and with those with lived experience and their carers in Lancashire and South Cumbria. The Dementia Strategy identified five key priorities for the Integrated Care System to focus on over the next five years, to be delivered through five sub-groups which ensure broad and inclusive representation.

Resolved: That the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System Dementia Strategy 2024-29, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on the Lancashire Child and Youth Justice Plan for 2024-25.

Resolved: That Full Council be asked to approve the Lancashire Child and Youth Justice Plan 2024-25, as set out at Appendix 'B' of the report, in accordance with the county council's constitution. 

Cabinet considered a report on the Lancashire Children and Young People's Plan for 2024-2028. The Lancashire Children and Young People's Plan 2024-2028 sets out the county council's vision and priorities to ensure that children and young people were safe, healthy, happy, develop skills for life and were active citizens who felt that they had a voice and influence.

Resolved: That Full Council be asked to approve the Lancashire Children and Young People's Plan 2024-2028, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, in accordance with the county council's constitution.

Cabinet considered a report that proposed to expand Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School. It was noted that current pupil projections indicated there would be a shortfall of primary school places in the Goosnargh and Grimsargh planning area in Preston, and the adjoining planning area of Longridge in Ribble Valley from 2025/26.

To address the increased demand in those two areas, the report sought approval to commence a public consultation in relation to a proposal to expand Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School, increasing the school's published admission number from 30 to 60, which would gradually increase the capacity of the school from 210 to 420 places.

Resolved: That a public consultation be undertaken on the proposal to permanently expand Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School, to increase the Published Admission Number from 30 to 60 from September 2026 with an initial temporary expansion proposed from September 2025.

Cabinet considered a report which detailed the results of the formal consultations to create Special Educational Needs Units at Carnforth Community Primary School, North Road, Carnforth; Clayton Brook Primary School, Great Greens Lane, Clayton Brook, Bamber Bridge, Preston; and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School, Cedar Road, Chorley.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the results of the formal consultations following the publication of the statutory proposal, the following be approved:

1. The creation of Special Educational Needs Units within Carnforth Community Primary School, Clayton Brook Primary School and St Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School; and
2. The funding for building alterations/adaptations and/or acquisition of resources or necessary expenditure.

The following urgent decisions have been taken by the Leader of the County Council and the relevant Cabinet Members in accordance with Standing Order C15(1) since the last meeting of Cabinet, and can be viewed by clicking on the relevant links:

-  Proposed Zebra Crossing on Manchester Road, Preston

-  Request for Waiver of Procurement Rules for Specialist Surface Works at Sunderland Point

-  Request for Waiver of Procurement Rules – Purchase of Two Double Classrooms (Modular) for Brunshaw Primary School, Burnley

Resolved: That the three urgent decisions taken by the Leader of the County Council, and the relevant Cabinet Members, 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 3 October 2024 at 2.00pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday, 3 October 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.

It was noted that the Part II item listed on the agenda related to an appendix for a report already discussed in Part I on the agenda. There being no questions to be raised on the appendix, it was agreed that the meeting remain in Part I.

Resolved: That the meeting remain in Part I, open to press and public.

Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. Appendix 'B' 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.