Agenda and minutes

Cabinet congratulated County Councillors Lorraine Beavers and Lizzi Collinge on their election as Members of Parliament in the recent General Election.

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 June 2024 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 the annual reports of the county council's six Champions. The annual reports outlined the activities each Champion had undertaken between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, in the respective roles they held, from the resources allocated to them.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet thanked all the Council Champions; County Councillors Alf Clempson, Peter Britcliffe, Stuart C Morris, Joan Burrows, Paul Rigby, and Loraine Cox for the work they had undertaken and continued to undertake in the community.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the annual reports of the county council's Champions, the annual reports be noted and that the Champions be thanked for the work they had undertaken during the course of the year.

Cabinet received the annual reports of the Lead Members. It was noted that the role of the Lead Members was to work with and support the Cabinet in the delivery of the Cabinet's vision for the county council and the council's corporate priorities.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet thanked all the Lead Members; County Councillors Ash Sutcliffe, Carole Haythornthwaite, Mike Goulthorp, Sue Whittam, and Scott Smith for all their work and for the support they had provided Cabinet and continue to provide.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the annual reports of the Lead Members, the annual reports be noted and that the Lead Members be thanked for the work they had undertaken during the course of the year.

Cabinet considered a report setting out Lancashire County Council's Productivity Plan 2024. It was noted that alongside the final local government finance settlement for 2024-25, the government announced a requirement for councils in England to produce a Productivity Plan, setting out how they would improve performance and transform service delivery.

Resolved: That Lancashire County Council's Productivity Plan 2024 be approved for submission to government by 19 July 2024 and be published on the county council's website.

Cabinet considered a report that provided an update on the county council's final outturn position across revenue and capital budgets.

It was noted that the 2023/24 outturn position was an overspend of £5.220m, which represented 0.5% of the revenue net budget. This compared to the last report to Cabinet at Quarter 3 which forecasted an overspend of £5.8m. There had been fluctuations to forecasts since Quarter 3, and overall, the position had improved in the final quarter of the financial year. 

It was also noted that the 2023/24 budget contained savings to be delivered totalling c£80m and that the county council had a proven track record of delivering savings, and this financial year had further emphasised this, with 91.5% of savings being delivered.

Resolved: That

1. The council's final revenue and capital outturn position for 2023/24, be noted;
2. The transfer from the transitional reserve for the 2023/24 overspend of £5.220m, be approved;
3. The revised list of savings (incorporating mitigations for those savings delayed) for 2024/25 and beyond, be approved;
4. The schools budget outturn position for 2023/24, be noted; and
5. The overview of the council's Chief Finance Officer as set out in Appendix 'D', be noted.

Please note that Appendix 'B' to this report is in Part II and appears as Item No. 31 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. Highways Asset Management System (HAMS)
2. Legionella Risk Assessment
3. East Lancashire's Levelling Up Fund
4. Rawtenstall Gyratory Project
5. Integrated Sexual Health Services All Age Services

It was noted that Appendix 'B' of the report was in Part II and appeared at Item No. 31 on the agenda.

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

1. Highways Asset Management System (HAMS)
2. Legionella Risk Assessment
3. East Lancashire's Levelling Up Fund
4. Rawtenstall Gyratory Project
5. Integrated Sexual Health Services All Age Services

Please note that Appendix 'A' to this report is in Part II and appears as Item No. 32 on the Agenda.

Cabinet considered a report that set out the proposals for the allocation of approved capital funding to address a phase of high priority building condition repairs and statutory programmes of remedial works to the operational premises portfolio.

It was noted that Appendix 'A' of the report was in Part II and appeared at Item No. 32 on the agenda.

Resolved: That the proposed list of condition and statutory remedial works to the operational premises portfolio, detailed at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

Please note that Appendix 'A' to this report is in Part II and appears as Item No. 33 on the Agenda.

Cabinet considered a report that set out proposals for capital investment to provide match funding in support of a grant application to Arts Council England to fund essential maintenance work to Queen Street Mill Museum, Burnley and to provide a library service in the entrance gallery of the museum.

It was noted that Appendix 'A' of the report was in Part II and appeared at Item No. 33 on the agenda.

Resolved: That the following be approved:

i.  The submission of a funding application to Arts Council England to fund urgent and essential maintenance work to Queen Street Mill Museum;

ii.  The acceptance of grant funding from Arts Council England, should the application be successful;

iii.  Match funding in support of the application as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, the cost of which was to be met by new capital borrowing; and

iv.  Capital funding to provide a library service in the museum as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report.

Cabinet considered a report that proposed to relocate the existing southbound bus stop on Brindle Road, Bamber Bridge outside the Hospital Inn, to a location away from the blind corner at the junction of Bank Head Land and Brindle Road. It was also proposed to maintain and improve the existing northbound bus stop on Brindle Road with clearway markings and bus shelter replacement.

It was noted that as part of the works, the bus stops would be upgraded to be Equality Act compliant with the installation of raised kerbs, boarding points, bus shelter and bus stop clearway markings.

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

Cabinet considered a report that outlined proposals to abandon a proposed permanent Traffic Regulation Order that was previously approved by Cabinet for the Prohibition of Driving except Cycles 10am-midnight and midnight-6am on Friargate, Preston and several side roads that was originally advertised as part of the Transforming Friargate North and Ring Way project. It was also proposed the making of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order in its place with timings from 11am-midnight and midnight-6am, which would be monitored thereafter.

Resolved: That the Traffic Regulation Order for the Prohibition of Driving except Cycles 10am-midnight and midnight-6am on Friargate North, Preston and side roads be abandoned, and the making of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order in its place, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on the provision of bus stop clearways on Liverpool Road, Penwortham. It was noted that following requests received from local bus users, a bus operator and a divisional county councillor, the Public Transport team had identified a need to install bus stop clearway markings at both bus stops located on Liverpool Road, opposite and adjacent to Crookings Lane, Penwortham.

Resolved: That the installation of both bus stop clearways located on Liverpool Road, opposite and adjacent to Crookings Lane, Penwortham as set out in the report and at Appendices 'A' - 'C' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report that set out a Best Practice Guidance document for assessment and deployment of temporary road safety signs. It was noted that to support the county council's road safety responsibilities a Best Practice Guidance document had been developed which highlighted the temporary road safety signs available to educate drivers to the dangers of speeding, and other dangers, and sets out how these signs were deployed on the highway network via an assessed criterion.

Resolved: That

1. The adoption of the best practice guidance, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, for the provision and deployment of temporary road safety signs, be approved; and
2. The Director of Highways and Transport be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to keep the best practice guidance under review and to make any minor amendments as appropriate.

Cabinet considered the Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2023/24, which provided a summary of the work undertaken by the Safeguarding Adults Board in Lancashire over the last year.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet thanked the Independent Chair of the Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board, Stephen Chapman, for the work he had done in progressing the work of the Board following his appointment as Chair.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the report, Cabinet supported the publication of the Lancashire Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report for 2023/24.

Cabinet considered a report that included the results of a formal consultation to create additional special school places at Bleasdale School, Silverdale through an increase in provision on the main school site, and to redesignate Bleasdale School as a school which met the needs of children and young people with generic learning difficulties.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the results of the formal consultation, the following be approved:

1. To increase the number of special school places at Bleasdale School, Silverdale by 14 places from 40 to 54, which would be created through increasing the number of places available on the main school site throughout different year groups; and
2. The change in designation of Bleasdale School from one for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties, to one for pupils with generic learning difficulties.

Please note that Appendix 'B' to this report is in Part II and appears as Item No. 34 on the Agenda.

Cabinet considered a report on the future of maintained nursery provision at Whittlefield Community Primary School, Burnley. It was noted that the Head teacher and governors at Whittlefield Community Primary School had approached the local authority in relation to the future of the nursery provision at the school. 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 2 to Year 6) to 4–11-year-olds (Reception to Year 6), with effect from 31 December 2024.

It was noted that Appendix 'B' of the report was in Part II and appeared at Item No. 34 on the agenda.

Resolved: That the publication of a Statutory Notice, to begin the consultation period on the future of the maintained nursery provision currently delivered by Whittlefield Community Primary School, Burnley, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report that provided a programme update on the Lancashire Economic Recovery and Growth Fund and Lancashire Levelling Up Investment Fund and to request approval for the consolidation of unallocated resources into a single funding pot and programme extension.

Resolved: That

1. The combining of any unallocated Lancashire Economic Recovery and Growth Fund, and its related additional funding, and the Lancashire Levelling Up Investment Fund into a single economic growth funding programme, be approved;
2. The Executive Director of Growth, Environment, Transport and Health be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth, Director of Law and Governance and Director of Finance and Commerce, to award funding to projects and agree and enter into appropriate contractual arrangements; and 
3. A programme funding extension for the spending of related project activity with a target review date of June 2026, be agreed.

Cabinet considered a report that set out the revised Cultural Services Strategy for 2024-2028.

Resolved: That the Cultural Services Strategy 2024-2028, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on the refreshed Equality Objectives and Strategy 2024/28. It was noted that as one of the specific duties of the Equality Act 2010's Public Sector Equality Duty, the county council was required to publish Equality Objectives at least every four years.

Resolved: That the Equality Strategy and associated Equality Objectives as attached at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on the recommendations of the Edward Stocks Massey Bequest Fund Joint Advisory Committee, including a revised version of the committee's Terms of Reference.

Resolved: That the following be approved:

1. The allocation of funds as recommended by the Joint Advisory Committee at its meeting on 14 June 2024 as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report;
2. In respect of the Higher Education Student Scholarship Awards, that the interview panel of the Joint Advisory Committee be authorised to award the scholarships at its meeting on 30 August 2024; and

  iii.  The Edward Stocks Massey Bequest Fund Joint Advisory Committee's revised Terms of Reference as set out at Appendix 'B' of the report.

Cabinet considered a report on the Lancashire Place Plan. It was noted that the Lancashire Place Plan had been drawn up in collaboration with colleagues from Lancashire County Council, Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, the Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board and wider partners, to act as a service plan with associated targets for delivery. Data from the district level Health and Wellbeing Partnerships had also been used to help frame and direct the priority areas of work and Delivery Boards and associated working groups established where necessary to ensure work on the priority areas is advanced.

Cabinet was assured that the partners within the Integrated Care System, including the county council and the NHS, fully recognised the wide range of differing natural boundaries and communities within the Lancashire Place and that cut across Place boundaries, and that the need for service delivery to reflect these natural boundaries was always fully taken into account in working with those communities and in delivering services. All county councillors would be provided with a briefing note setting out further information and examples of working on different footprints.

Resolved: That

1. The implementation and delivery of the Lancashire Place Plan, be agreed; and
2. The governance established to oversee and drive delivery of that plan, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on the national Smokefree Lancashire Grant 2024/25. It was noted that Lancashire had received an additional £1,673,989 from the Department of Health and Social Care for 2024/25. The allocated monies were based on population and smoking prevalence and were ringfenced to increase the number of referrals into the service and smoking 'quitters' by enhancing the Smokefree Lancashire Service offer.

Resolved: That

1. The allocation of the Local Stop Smoking Service and Support Grant in Lancashire as outlined in the report, be approved; and
2. The Director of Public Health, Wellbeing and Communities be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, to determine the areas of actual spend.

Cabinet considered a report on the Public Health Strategy for 2024 to 2030. It was noted that the public health strategy set out the actions being taken by the county council and signalled a clear direction of travel for joint work with public, private, and third-sector leaders to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet thanked Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director of Public Health, Wellbeing and Communities, the Public Health team as well as other officers, and County Councillor Sue Whittam, Lead Member for Health, for the work they had done in producing the strategy.

Resolved: That the public health strategy as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

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

-  Request for Waiver of Procurement Rules - Installation of a Sheet Piled Wall Reinforcement on Church Brow, Walton-le-dale

Resolved: That the urgent decision taken by the Leader of the County Council, and the relevant Cabinet Member, 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 5 September 2024 at 2.00pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday, 5 September 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 items listed on the agenda related to appendices for reports already discussed in Part I on the agenda. There being no questions to be raised on the appendices listed, 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.

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. 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. 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.

County Councillor Rupert Swarbrick, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, on behalf of Cabinet, congratulated and thanked Phil Durnell, Director of Highways and Transport, who will be retiring from the county council tomorrow, 12 July 2024 after working for the county council since 1988. Cabinet wished him all the best for the future.