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 Jayne Rear declared a Non-Pecuniary Interest in relation to agenda item 7 - Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Sufficiency Strategy Implementation - Establishment of Special Educational Needs Unit at St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Leyland, and Expansion of Applebee Wood Community Specialist School, Lostock Hall, as St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Leyland was one of the schools in her electoral division.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2023 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 were no questions received.

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

1. Supply of food and drink products to the county council; and
2. Provision of Apprenticeship Levy Training for Social Worker Level 6.

In considering the report, it was noted that due to a critical workforce need for Social Workers, and the increase in the cost of the training, there was now an opportunity to receive some extra funding to train the additional social workers for the next 2 years. The availability of this extra funding had only recently been notified and therefore, Cabinet's attention was drawn to an amendment to page 6 of the report (page 18 in the agenda) in the Estimated Contract Value and Funding Arrangements section. This section currently stated, "Approximately £2.8 million over the four year contract period.", whereas it should now say "Approximately £3.8 million over the four year contract period." It was also noted that the additional £1m would be provided from the Government.

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

1. Supply of food and drink products to the county council; and
2. Provision of Apprenticeship Levy Training for Social Worker Level 6.

Cabinet considered a report that recommended approval of the addition of the Department for Transport's indicative 2023/24 grant funding allocation for Highway Maintenance of £28.811 million 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 approval of detailed programmes of work relating to the funding as set out at Appendices 'C' to 'H' of the report, the approval of a programme of work with value of £1.865 million that was externally funded via the redevelopment of the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone, as set out at Appendix 'I' of the report, and the approval to add £1 million, approved by Full Council on 9 February 2023, to the Highways Block of the Capital Programme to fix multiple defects on roads which would otherwise have to wait for repair.

Resolved: That

  i.  The Department for Transport 2023/24 Highway Maintenance funding grant, once confirmed, be added to the Highway Block of the Capital Programme;

  ii.  The proposed apportionment of the assumed 2023/24 Department for Transport Highway Maintenance funding of £28.811 million as detailed in the report and at Appendices 'A' and 'B', be approved;

  iii.  The proposed 2023/24 New Starts Highway Maintenance programmes set out as projects at Appendices 'C' to 'H' of the report be approved;

  iv.  The £1.865 million of external funding related to the redevelopment of the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone be added to the Capital Programme, be approved;

  v.  The externally funded programme of work detailed at Appendix 'I' of the report be approved;

  vi.  Any changes required to the proposed 2023/24 New Starts Highway maintenance programmes in the event of the confirmed grant funding award being less than the assumed allocation be reported to Cabinet at a future meeting;

  vii.  The Carbon Statement detailed at Appendix 'J' of the report, be noted; and

 viii.  The £1 million, approved by Full Council on 9 February 2023, be added to the Highways Block of the Capital Programme to fix multiple structural defects on roads which would otherwise have to wait for repair.

Cabinet considered a report that outlined proposals to increase the availability of special needs provision as follows:

1. The establishment of a Special Educational Needs unit attached to St Anne's Catholic Primary School, Leyland; and
2. The further expansion of Applebee Wood Community Specialist School, Lostock Hall. 

Resolved: That

1. The initiation of a feasibility study and the informal consultation process to establish a Special Educational Needs unit at St Anne's Catholic Primary School, a mainstream primary school in Leyland, be approved;
2. The Executive Director of Education and Children's Services be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to review the outcome of the informal consultation and to decide whether to proceed with the formal consultation;
3. The initiation of the informal consultation process to increase the number of special school places at Applebee Wood Community Specialist School, Lostock Hall from 147 to 167, be approved;
4. The Executive Director of Education and Children's Services be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to review the outcome of the informal consultation and to decide whether to proceed with the formal consultation.

Cabinet considered a report proposing a contribution of £10,000 towards a grant fund to be managed through a 'Participatory Budgeting' process, acting as a pilot project to tackle social isolation and loneliness in the Northern Parishes of West Lancashire. It was noted that this would be in partnership with West Lancashire Borough Council and the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, with the Integrated Care Board contributing a further £7,766 to the fund and West Lancashire Borough Council contributing by providing staff resources and time.

Resolved: That

1. The creation of a grant fund for a pilot participatory budgeting process in the Northern Parishes of West Lancashire, aimed at tackling social isolation and loneliness be approved;
2. A contribution of £10,000 from the Community Project Team budget to the grant fund, be approved;
3. Approval be given for Lancashire County Council to act as the responsible authority for the grant funding, which would be a one off funding to the total of £17,776.
4. The Head of Health Equity, Welfare and Partnerships be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community and Cultural Services, to approve the allocation of funds.

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

There were 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.

It was noted that there was one item of Urgent Business in relation to the extension to contracts for the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement which appeared in the Part II section of the agenda at agenda item 14a.

The next meeting of Cabinet will be held on Thursday 6 April 2023 at 2.00 pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday, 6 April 2023 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.

It was noted that there was one item of Urgent Business in relation to the extension to contracts for the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement.

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 extension to contracts in relation to the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement.

It was noted that the reason for urgency was set out in the report.

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