Agenda and minutes

As this was the final meeting of Cabinet prior to the departure of Elaina Quesada, Deputy Executive Director of Adult Services, from the county council, County Councillor Phillippa Williamson thanked Elaina for her work and contribution to the county council and wished her well for the future and in her new role.

Apologies were received from County Councillor Graham Gooch.

County Councillor Sue Whittam replaced County Councillor Graham Gooch for this meeting in accordance with the provision of Standing Order C13 - Attendance at Meetings.

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 14 November 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 received.

A copy of the question and the response is attached to the minutes.

Cabinet considered a report that provided an overview of performance for quarter 2 2024/25, which was the period covering 1 July 2024 to 30 September 2024. It was noted that there were 42 key performance indicators which were being 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.

The report set out 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 included an additional section on corporate health.

Resolved: That, following consideration of the report and the additional information set out in Appendices 'A' to 'C', the proposals to ensure continual service improvement against the key performance indicators, as set out at Appendix 'C' of the report, be approved.

Cabinet considered a report on the Lancashire County Council Plan 2025-2030: Building a better Lancashire. It was noted that the Plan set out the Council's vision, ambitions, and priorities for the next five years and would guide future decision making and form the basis of specific service delivery plans and a new performance management framework. The Plan had been shaped by engagement with a range of stakeholders and would align with wider strategies.

Resolved: That

i.  Full Council be asked to consider and approve the Lancashire County Council Plan 2025-30: Building a Better Lancashire at its meeting on 12 December 2024;

ii.  Full Council be asked to authorise the Director of Strategy and Innovation, in consultation with the Leader of the County Council, to make any necessary minor amendments to the Plan during its lifetime; and

iii.  Subject to Full Council approval, Cabinet would continue to support successful delivery of the new vision and ambitions, ensuring that future decisions, policies, plans and performance management arrangements were aligned to the Council Plan.

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 September 2024. It was noted that the Quarter 2 monitoring position contained assumptions relating to demand levels and savings delivery across a number of services.

It was also noted that the forecast outturn position was an overspend of £17.079m (1.54%) after implementing £4.518m of remedial actions, and that directorates had been asked to continue to review expenditure to reduce the predicted overspend. The capital delivery programme for 2024/25 was also £192.365m, with a forecast expenditure level of £188.566m giving an underspend of £3.799m (1.97%).

Resolved: That

i.  The current forecast overspend of £17.079m (1.54%) on the revenue budget in 2024/25, be noted; and

ii.  The current forecast of capital expenditure of £188.566m for 2024/25 be noted and approval be given for the virement of the predicted underspends to increase the highways and drainage capital budget. 

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

  i.  Road Surface Solutions

  ii.  Highway Repair and Maintenance Dayworks

  iii.  Mechanical and Electrical Works Partnering

  iv.  Skills Bootcamp Programme (Wave 6)

  v.  Mobile Phones Voice and Data Services 

  vi.  Community Equipment Services

It was noted that at the conclusion of the procurement processes, any award of contracts would be made under Section 9.52 (36) of the county council's Scheme of Delegation to Officers.

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

  i.  Road Surface Solutions

  ii.  Highway Repair and Maintenance Dayworks

  iii.  Mechanical and Electrical Works Partnering

  iv.  Skills Bootcamp Programme (Wave 6)

  v.  Mobile Phones Voice and Data Services 

  vi.  Community Equipment Services

Cabinet considered a report that sought approval for Lancashire County Council to seek "Fostering Friendly" employer accreditation, subject to the satisfactory resolution of any necessary discussions around terms and conditions.

It was noted that Fostering Friendly was an accredited scheme hosted by the Fostering Network that encouraged organisations and employers to sign up to a commitment to support employees who Foster. It was one of several initiatives planned to fulfil the authority's objectives to increase recruitment and retention of In-House Foster Carers, which in turn would mean that the county council could expand its matching potential, as well as securing Lasting Homes and positive outcomes for our children.

Resolved: That

  i. Approval be given in principle for Lancashire County Council to seek accreditation as a Fostering Friendly employer, subject to satisfactory completion of the necessary discussions relating to terms and conditions; and

  ii.  The Executive Director of Education and Children's Services be authorised, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance, Director of People and the Cabinet Member for Children and Families, to submit the application for accreditation as a Fostering Friendly employer. 

Please note that Appendix 'A' to this report is in Part II and appears as Item No. 18 on the Agenda.

Cabinet considered a report that provided an update on the outcome of the public consultation for the expansion of Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School.

It was noted that 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 these two planning areas, in September 2024, Cabinet approved the commencement of a public consultation in relation to the proposed expansion of Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School, increasing the school's published admission number from 30 to 60 gradually increasing the capacity of the school from 210 to 420 places. The report summarised the findings of the public consultation.

It was noted that Appendix 'A' of the report was in Part II and appeared at Item 18 on the agenda. Additionally, it was noted that Appendix 'B', which provided a summary of an extended consultation, had been circulated to Cabinet following the Open Evening meetings held on 20 and 27 November 2024, i.e. after the publication of the agenda. A copy of Appendix 'B' is attached to the minutes.

Resolved: That, following consideration on the outcomes of the consultations:

i.  The proposal to permanently expand Goosnargh Oliverson's Church of England Primary School by one form of entry, by increasing the published admission number from 30 to 60 with effect from 2026/27, gradually increasing the school's capacity from 210 to 420, be approved; and

ii.  The Director of Finance and Commerce be authorised, in consultation with the Executive Director of Education and Children's Services and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, to consider and agree what mitigations (if any) may be necessary as a result of the consultations and to take these forward as appropriate.

Cabinet considered a report on the future of maintained nursery provision at Whittlefield Primary School, Burnley. It was noted that Cabinet, at its meeting on 11 July 2024, agreed to a statutory notice being published to begin a representation period on the future of the local authority-maintained nursery provision currently delivered by Whittlefield Primary School, Burnley.

Resolved: That

  i.  The proposal as detailed in the statutory notice to discontinue the local authority maintained nursery provision at Whittlefield Primary School, Burnley, by permanently raising its age range from 3-11 years to 4-11 years, with effect from 31 December 2024, be approved; and

  ii.  An appropriate statutory decision letter be sent out, as specified under legal requirements, to give the reasons for the decision to the parties that had been consulted.

Cabinet considered a report on the Self-harm and Suicide Prevention Strategy 2024-29. It was noted that the Lancashire Self-harm and Suicide Prevention Strategy 2024-29 had been produced with partners from a range of organisations and outlined data and intelligence on suicide and self-harm in Lancashire and set out an all-age partnership action plan to deliver the ambition to reduce suicides and self-harm.

Resolved: That

  i.  The Lancashire Self-harm and Suicide Prevention Strategy 2024-29, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, and the Action Plan 2024/25, as set out at Appendix 'B' of the report, be approved; and

  ii.  The Director of Public Health, Wellbeing and Communities be authorised to update the Action Plan annually in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.

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

There had been 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.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

The next meeting of Cabinet will be held on Thursday 16 January 2025 at 2.00pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of Cabinet would be held at 2pm on Thursday, 16 January 2025 at County Hall, Preston.

No representations have been received.

Click here to see the published Notice of Intention to Conduct Business in Private.

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.

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.

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.