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.

Decision

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