Purpose

This report seeks approval for
Lancashire County Council to assume those tasks and financial
responsibilities detailed in the Department for Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities' guidance on Local Enterprise Partnership
integration into local democratic institutions. This is an interim
solution, to be reviewed once the planned Combined County Authority
is established.
 
In its guidance, the government
suggests that where no combined authority is yet in place, that
upper tier authorities determine where on-going responsibilities,
programmes and assets of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership will
be absorbed.  Given Lancashire's
progress towards establishing a Combined County Authority, this
would be the obvious ultimate destination for most of these assets
and functions, but until it is formed, an interim solution is
needed.  This report outlines those
activities where there remain continued responsibilities beyond the
Lancashire Enterprise Partnership's closure, which formally ceased
on 31 March 2024, and proposes that Lancashire County Council (the
partnership's accountable body and Section 151 link) takes steps to
provide that interim hosting in consultation with the other two
Upper Tier Local Authorities that were Lancashire Enterprise
Partnership company members, i.e. Blackburn with Darwen Borough
Council and Blackpool Council.

Content

The Cabinet approved the recommendation(s) as
set out in the report.