Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from County Councillor Azhar Ali OBE.

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 11 – Kirkham Town Centre Projects as his wife is the Leader of Fylde Borough Council.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 December 2021 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).

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

One question was asked by a county councillor at the meeting. The question and the response are attached to the minutes.

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

1. Supply of Water and Wastewater Retail Services;
2. Programme of Insurance Policies for the County Council;
3. Carers Assessment and Support Service;
4. Provision of Extra Care Services at Greenbrook House; and
5. Lancashire Infant Feeding, Breastfeeding Peer Support Service.

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

1. Supply of Water and Wastewater Retail Services;
2. Programme of Insurance Policies for the County Council;
3. Carers Assessment and Support Service;
4. Provision of Extra Care Services at Greenbrook House; and
5. Lancashire Infant Feeding, Breastfeeding Peer Support Service.

Cabinet considered a report proposing to introduce a 'Red Route' Clearway along a section of the A5209 Parbold to Wrightington to combat the steep increase in highway parking that has occurred resulting in serious road safety concerns for both vehicles and their occupants, as well as other road users of this busy section of the A5209.

Resolved: That, the proposals for the Red Route Clearway along the section of the A5209 as set out in this report and the attached appendices, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report proposing to construct a pair of speed cushions on Staining Road and two pairs of speed cushions on Chain Lane, Staining, as part of an evidence-based accident reduction scheme to reduce the speed of traffic through the existing 20mph zone.

It was noted that following the statutory advertisement of the speed cushions, the proposal had received four responses supporting the proposal, one of which requested additional speed cushions to be installed, and two responses from objectors to the proposal. The responses of which are outlined in the report.

Resolved: That, the installation of the speed cushions on Chain Lane and Staining Road, Staining as shown at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report proposing to address safety concerns and implement bus stop improvements on Station Road, Bamber Bridge between Collins Road and Greenwood Road.

Resolved: That, the proposed bus stops clearways and associated bus stop infrastructure as shown at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report seeking authorisation to submit the Schools Block budget pro-forma and requests approval for the Early Years, High Needs and Central Schools Services Block budgets for 2022/23, as required by the Government's school funding Regulations and

Guidance.

In presenting the report, it was noted that Appendix 'B' of the report, which contained the feedback on the proposed budget proposals from the Lancashire Schools Forum following its meeting on 13 January 2022, was circulated to Cabinet following the agenda publication and would be attached to the minutes.

Resolved: That:

1. The report, including the 2022/23 Dedicated Schools Grant allocations, the final budget proposals for each funding block and any comments made by the Lancashire Schools Forum, be noted;
2. The Acting Head of Service – Schools Finance be authorised to submit the final Schools Block budget pro-forma for 2022/23 to the Education and Skills Funding Agency by 21 January 2022, on the basis set out in this report;
3. The 2022/23 budgets for the Early Years, High Needs and Central Schools Services Blocks and local proposals for the High Needs Supplementary Grant allocation for 2022/23, be approved;
4. Agreed that the Dedicated Schools Grant Reserve underwrite the uncertainties around the 2022/23 Schools Budget; and
5. 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 was to ensure that the necessary pro-forma could be submitted to the Education and Skills Funding Agency by the required deadline of 21 January 2022.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to add 10 externally funded projects into the county council's capital programme. These schemes would mainly be funded by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Grant in Aid capital funding programme, with one project being funded by the North West Regional Flood and Coastal Committee's Local Levy. It was also noted that additional funding would be contributed from the county council's existing staff revenue budgets where appropriate.

Resolved: That, the addition of 10 externally funded flood risk management projects identified in the report, and as set out at Appendix 'B' of the report, with a combined value of £1,755,500.00 into the 2022/23 drainage capital programme, subject to final project approvals to be notified by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs early in 2022, be approved.

Please note that Appendix 'A' to this report is in Part II and appears as Item No. 22 on the Agenda.

Cabinet considered a report that provided information on a range of strategic regeneration activities in Kirkham Town Centre and opportunities that the county council has to add value to the proposed investment and provide significant economic benefit alongside importantly assisting the town's post COVID-19 economic recovery.

In presenting the report, it was noted that Appendix 'A' of this report was in Part II and appeared at item number 22 on the agenda.

Resolved: That;

1. The Executive Director of Growth, Environment, Transport and Community Services, Director of Finance and Director of Corporate Services, in consultation with the Leader of the County Council and the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth, be authorised to receive and approve, where appropriate, the funding business case and approve the grant funding agreement;
2. Approval be given in-principle, to investment of up to £3.2m capital to support the Kirkham Future High Streets Fund capital shortfall, subject to receipt of an appropriate funding business case and agreement of Fylde Borough Council to enter into a funding agreement;
3. It be noted that any county council grant funding will be subject to extensive due diligence, and which will be supported by a grant funding agreement prepared by legal, finance and economic development officers; and
4. It be noted that regular updates will be provided as required to the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth.

Cabinet considered a report seeking to advise Cabinet of the statutory responsibilities for Lancashire County Council under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and in particular the requirement to provide safe accommodation support services. It also proposed a wider public health approach to domestic abuse in terms of protection and prevention.

Resolved: That;

1. The statutory responsibilities of Lancashire County Council under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and in particular the requirement to provide safe accommodation support services be noted;
2. The ongoing revenue budget as detailed in the report, so that both the statutory requirements and the wider prevention approach are funded to provide a holistic approach to domestic abuse be agreed; and
3. The general approach to the type of services being commissioned to address domestic abuse and support to victim-survivors, as detailed at Appendix A of the report, be agreed.

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

-  Councillors' ICT Support Provision

-  Contract Variation: Children's Residential Block Contract

-  National Bus Strategy - Enhanced Bus Partnership

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 February 2022 at 2.00pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday 3 February 2022 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 Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The report contains information relating to any individual; information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual; and 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 Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The report contains information relating to any individual; information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual; and 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 requesting a Waiver of Procurement Rules in relation to the Independent Investment Advisor of the Lancashire County Pension Fund.

Resolved: That, the recommendations as set out in the report, be approved.

Exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the local Government Act 1972. This 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 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.

Cabinet considered a report of the procurement activities for adult social care, particularly noting the legal advice set out in the report and the advice of Louise Taylor, Executive Director of Adult Services and Health & Wellbeing, in relation to the context and issues faced.

Resolved: That, the recommendations as set out in the report, be approved.

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 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.

Cabinet considered a report setting out the proposals for capital investment to deliver the property aspects of the Where Our Children Live programme.

Resolved: That, the recommendations as set out in the report, be approved.

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 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.

Cabinet considered a report on the Transforming Cities Fund programme.

Resolved: That, the recommendations as set out in the report, be approved.

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

Resolved: That, Appendix A of Item 11 - Kirkham Town Centre Projects, be noted.