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 6 October 2022 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.

There was one question received.

The question and the response are attached to the minutes.

Please note that Appendix 'A1' to this report is in Part II and appears as Item No. 17 on the Agenda.

Cabinet considered a report on the budget and savings proposals for 2023/24. It was noted that the county council had a net budget of £967m and in setting the budget for 2022/23 this included a contribution from reserves of c£19m to support the structural deficit with the budget.

The financial forecast reported to Cabinet in September, identified an estimated financial gap of £87.054m in 2023/24,  rising to £159.678m by 2026/27 which reflected the financial pressures common across local government as a whole. The report highlighted savings proposals for consideration to be included in the overall 2023/24 budget, with more detailed information being provided in Appendix 'A' of the report. The savings were generally focused on areas which would reduce cost or generate additional income without impacting negatively on service quality.

There were also several cross cutting strategic targets that were included that would further support reducing the financial gap and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation.

It was also noted that Appendix 'A1' of the report was in Part II and appeared at Item No. 17 on the agenda.

Resolved: That

1. The budget proposals as set out in Appendix 'A' of the report be approved, and officers be authorised to proceed with their implementation (subject to appropriate consultation where required and approval by Budget Full Council) and that the 2023/24 budget be based on these revenue decisions;
2. The reduced funding gap of £41.428m be noted, should the budget proposals be agreed covering the period 2023/24 to 2026/27 as set out in the revised financial outlook forecast for the council, in addition to a reduced funding gap for 2023/24 of £19.951m;
3. The approach to the strategic targets as set out in Section 3 of the report, be part of the 2023/24 budget and be included in the updated medium term financial strategy position; and
4. The methodology of allocating further savings targets across the county council with further proposals to be presented for approval at a future Cabinet meeting, be noted.

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

1. Provision of Food Distribution Network
2. Network refresh – provision of backbone dark fibre services
3. Lancashire Advocacy Hub and Lancashire Carers Advocacy Service
4. Construction Partnering Framework

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

1. Provision of Food Distribution Network
2. Network refresh – provision of backbone dark fibre services
3. Lancashire Advocacy Hub and Lancashire Carers Advocacy Service
4. Construction Partnering Framework

Cabinet considered a report on the revised County Councillor Use of Resources Protocol. The Use of Resources Protocol provided guidance and support for Councillors in understanding what was and was not acceptable in the use of county council resources. The protocol had been reviewed by the Political Governance Working Group and a revised version was attached at Appendix 'A' of the report.

Resolved: That the Use of Resources Protocol for county councillors, as set out in Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on the revised Tree Risk Management Procedure. It was noted that the current tree risk management procedure only considered trees on or near highways land and therefore did not cover trees on other county council land across the estate. The revised tree risk management procedure attached at Appendix 'A' of the report related to all trees which were on land owned by or vested in the county council. The revised procedure also set out the proposed inspection frequencies for all trees which were determined by risk zone and occupancy factors.

Resolved: That the adoption of the revised Tree Risk Management Procedure as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.   

Cabinet considered a report on a new Economic Strategy for Lancashire County Council for 2023 to 2025.

The strategy followed similar strategies for Education and Health and was intended to be the first of three strategies coming forward to future Cabinet meetings from the Growth, Environment and Transport directorate, the latter two covering Environment and Transport respectively.

The strategy was intended to inform the work and delivery plans of the teams, with progress measured through an extended set of milestones and key performance indicators within departmental and corporate performance dashboards dealing particularly with the county council priority to deliver economic prosperity.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet thanked all the officers who produced the strategy.

Resolved: That the Economic Development Strategy 2023-25 as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on the future of Queen Street Mill Museum and Helmshore Textile Mills Museum. The report set out three options for the future of the museums. These options were to proceed with the National Trust proposal, maintain the status quo or to enhance the in-house offer.

The Cabinet Working Group for Museums had discussed the three options and concluded that, in the current financial climate, option 3, to enhance the in-house offer, presented the greatest flexibility to the county council to manage the development of the museums within a 4-year business plan and a set of Key Performance Indicators.

The Cabinet Working Group for Museums also expressed a desire to maintain good relations with the National Trust for the future of the museums, even without a formal partnership agreement.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet thanked all the officers and members of the Cabinet Working Group for Museums for the work they had done.

Resolved: That

1. Option '3' to enhance the in house offer at Queen Street Mills and Helmshore Textile Mills, as set out in the report, be approved;
2. Officers develop a comprehensive business plan and robust key performance indicators to assess the county council's progress against the plan; and
3. The National Trust be thanked for its support of the museums and that future opportunities to work closely with them on Lancashire's cultural and heritage offer be welcomed.

Cabinet considered a report on establishing additional funds for Community Food Grants. It was noted that Cabinet had previously taken decisions in September and October 2022 to support Lancashire's residents to manage the rising cost of living. It was further noted that the public health team had received numerous applications for the community food grants scheme.

The report set out an approach to manage the demand for additional applications for food related schemes to support residents during the winter months.

Resolved: That

1. An increase in the funding available from Lancashire County Council's 'Community Food Grant Scheme' to £250,000 for the year 2022/23, be approved; and
2. The Director of Public Health be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, to allocate these funds, using the existing application process administered by the community projects team, to respond to the increase in demand for community food projects.

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

It was noted that no urgent decisions had been taken by the Leader of the County Council and the relevant Cabinet Members, 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 1 December 2022 at 2.00pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday, 1 December 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 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 appendix 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, Appendix 'A1' of Item 5 - Budget Report and Savings Proposals for 2023/24, be noted.

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 appendix 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.

Cabinet considered a report on the lease of office accommodation.

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