Agenda and minutes

County Councillor Aidy Riggott replaced County Councillor Phillippa Williamson from Lancashire County Council, Councillor Ivan Taylor replaced Councillor Lynn Williams from Blackpool Council, and Councillor Alyson Barnes, replaced Councillor Alistair Bradley a District Leaders Representative, for the meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council, and seconded by Councillor Ivan Taylor, Blackpool Council, that County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, Lancashire County Council, be elected as Chair of the Lancashire Combined County Authority.

There being no other nominations, it was:

Resolved: That County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, Lancashire County Council, be elected as Chair of the Lancashire Combined County Authority for the remainder of the 2024/25 municipal year.

It was moved by County Councillor Alan Vincent, Lancashire County Council, and seconded by County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Lancashire County Council, that Councillor Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council, be elected as Vice Chair of the Lancashire Combined County Authority.

There being no other nominations, it was:

Resolved: That Councillor Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council, be elected as Vice Chair of the Lancashire Combined County Authority for the remainder of the 2024/25 municipal year.

Apologies were received from Constituent Members County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, Lancashire County Council, and Councillor Lynn Williams, Blackpool Council. Apologies were also received from Non-Constituent Member, Councillor Alistair Bradley, District Leaders Representative, and from the invited observer, Clive Grunshaw, Police and Crime Commissioner.

In the absence of the Chair, County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, the Vice Chair, Councillor Phil Riley, chaired the meeting.

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.

The Lancashire Combined County Authority considered a report that proposed the Constitution of the Lancashire Combined County Authority.

Resolved: That the Lancashire Combined County Authority Constitution as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

The Lancashire Combined County Authority considered a report on the Assurance Framework for the Lancashire Combined County Authority. It was noted that it was a requirement of the agreement reached with government that a satisfactory Assurance Framework be agreed before capacity funding can be released.

Resolved: That the Assurance Framework, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report be approved, be published and submitted to the government.

The Lancashire Combined County Authority considered a report that set out the Lancashire Combined County Authority’s proposed Pay Policy Statement as required by the Localism Act 2011, sought approval for the appointment of the three Statutory Officers (Chief Officers) from the three Constituent Authorities and sought approval for the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer on a 12-month fixed term contract.

It was noted that the three statutory officers would spend up to 20% of their time working for the Lancashire Combined County Authority and salaries would continue to be paid by their host employer.

Resolved: That, the following be approved:

1. The proposed Pay Policy Statement, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, and the publication on the Combined County Authority’s website;
2. The appointment of the three Statutory Officers (Head of Paid Service, Monitoring Officer, and Section 73 Officer) as set out in the Pay Policy statement;
3. The recruitment of a Chief Operating Officer on a 12-month fixed term contract, with the salary subjected to job evaluation;
4. The Chief Operating Officer role be advertised as a secondment across all the three Constituent Authorities, on existing terms and conditions, and externally, an advert would run concurrently; and
5. The appointment of the Chief Operating Officer be delegated to the Head of Paid Service.

The Lancashire Combined County Authority considered a report on the proposed budget of the Lancashire Combined County Authority for the 2025/26 municipal year, including the associated policies contained in Appendices 'A' (and Annexes 'A'-'G') and 'B' of the report.

Resolved: That

1. A balanced budget for 2025/26 with £800,549 being transferred to reserves in year (Appendix 'A' of the report), be approved;
2. The assumptions made in preparing the budget (Appendix 'A' - Annex 'A' of the report), be noted;
3. The advice of the Chief Finance Officer regarding the robustness of estimates and the use of reserves (Appendix 'A' - Annex 'B' of the report), be noted;
4. The Capital Strategy (Appendix 'A' - Annex 'C' of the report), be approved;
5. The Treasury Management Strategy (Appendix 'A' - Annex 'D' of the report), be approved;
6. The Investment Strategy (Appendix 'A' - Annex 'E' of the report), be approved;
7. The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy (Appendix 'A' - Annex 'F' of the report), be approved;
8. The expense policy (Appendix 'A' - Annex 'G' of the report), be approved;
9. An indicative Capital Programme of £ 3,301,751 for 2025/26 (Appendix 'B' of the report), be approved.

The Lancashire Combined County Authority considered a report that sought approval for the Lancashire Combined County Authority to become an ‘opted-in’ Authority for the purposes of using Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) to appoint an External Auditor.

Resolved: That

1. Approval be given for the Lancashire Combined County Authority to become an ‘opted-in’ authority for the purposes of using PSAA to procure an External Auditor on its behalf; and
2. The Chief Finance Officer (s73 Officer) be authorised to sign the ‘Opt-In’ Notice. 

The Lancashire Combined County Authority considered a report on the governance arrangements of the Lancashire Combined County Authority. The report proposed a number of decisions that had to be taken, following approval of the Constitution at Agenda Item 4 on the agenda, in particular in relation to the appointments to the Advisory Boards, the Independent Renumeration Panel, the Independent Person in relation to code of conduct matters, and the Transport for the North and its committees.

In presenting the report, it was proposed that:

• Miranda Carruthers-Watt and Irene Divine be appointed the Independent Persons in relation to Code of Conduct matters;
• Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council, be appointed as the LCCA representative on the Transport for the North Board, and that the appointment of the substitute member be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Constituent members;
• The appointment of the LCCA representative on the Transport for the North - Scrutiny Committee, and that the appointment of the substitute member be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Constituent members; and
• The appointment of the LCCA representative on the Transport for the North - Rail North Committee, and that the appointment of the substitute member be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Constituent members.

Resolved: That, the following be approved:

1. The appointment of the following as Chairs of the Advisory Boards:

2. The confirmation of other appointments to the Advisory Boards, and any further in-year changes, be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the relevant Advisory Board Chair.
3. The appointment of Miranda Carruthers-Watt, Jude England and Helen Hockenhull to the Independent Remuneration Panel;
4. The Chair of the Panel be elected by the Panel itself;
5. That Miranda Carruthers-Watt and Irene Divine be appointed the Independent Persons in relation to Code of Conduct matters;
6. That Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council, be appointed as the LCCA representative on the Transport for the North Board, and that the appointment of the substitute member be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Constituent members;
7. That the appointment of the LCCA representative on the Transport for the North - Scrutiny Committee, and that the appointment of the substitute member be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Constituent members; and
8. That the appointment of the LCCA representative on the Transport for the North - Rail North Committee, and that the appointment of the substitute member be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Constituent members.

The Lancashire Combined County Authority considered a report that provided an update on the Governance Review for the Lancashire Combined County Authority as agreed with the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution in September 2024.

Resolved: That the update be noted and that the review be progressed, in line with the timetable agreed with the Minister.

The Lancashire Combined County Authority considered a report on the draft Communications Strategy for the Lancashire Combined County Authority.

Resolved: That the Communications Strategy, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

Mo Isap, Chair of the Lancashire Business Board, and Martin Kelly, Blackburn with Darwen Council, gave a verbal update on recent activities and work of the Lancashire Business Board and Growth Plan.

It was noted that the Business Board had already met a number of times and had established a clear work plan for the remainder of the year. The Board would also start to travel around the county to engage with various business groups, ensuring a unified voice and ambition for Lancashire.

Efforts were also underway to attract foreign investment to Lancashire and connect with potential investors to showcase the available investment opportunities within Lancashire, and the Board was focusing on developing a long-term investment strategy.

It was noted that the draft Growth Plan had been unveiled at the Convention of the North and was open for public consultation until 11 April 2025. After the consultation period ends, the responses would be reviewed, and the Growth Plan would be presented to a future meeting of the Authority for consideration.

Resolved: That the update on the work of the Business Board and the development of the Growth Plan, be noted.

The Lancashire Combined County Authority considered a report that set out the proposed Work Plan for the Lancashire Combined County Authority for the period April 2025 to March 2026 and provided the link to the Forward Plan of Key Decisions as published on its website. 

Resolved: That the proposed Work Plan as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report be approved, and that it be presented to all future meetings of the Authority.

The Lancashire Combined County Authority considered a report that set out the proposed calendar of meetings for the Authority, its committees and Advisory Boards.

Resolved: That the calendar of meetings, as set out at Appendix 'A' of the report, be approved.

There were no items of Urgent Business.

Subject to approval of the Calendar of Meetings, the next meeting of the Lancashire Combined County Authority will be held on Tuesday 15 April 2025 at 2.00pm at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Lancashire Combined County Authority would be held on Tuesday 15 April 2025 at 2.00pm at County Hall, Preston.