Here is a summary of the upcoming Wyre Borough Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting. Councillors will be considering the council plan, the annual review letter from the Local Government Ombudsman, and the committee's work programme. The meeting will include updates on the council's key projects and measures.

Council Plan Refresh 2026-28

Councillor Michael Vincent, Leader of the Council, and Sandy Lee, Policy, Data Intelligence and Change Manager (Transformation and Change), are scheduled to present a report on the proposed refresh to the Council Plan 2026-2028. The report states that the council's priorities have evolved to meet local and national developments, and several existing projects have either concluded or transitioned into standard operations.

The report pack includes the Updated Council Plan Refresh 2026-28 document, which outlines the council's vision, priorities, and commitments for the coming years. The vision remains:

Wyre is a place where everyone can prosper. We want everyone in Wyre to have access to jobs and share the benefits of economic growth; living in thriving, safe and more environmentally sustainable and welcoming communities; and be happier and independent for longer.

The four priorities are also unchanged: People and Communities, Growth and Prosperity, Place and Climate, and Innovative and Customer Focused.

However, some commitments within these priorities have been altered. For example, under People and Communities, a commitment has been updated to Improve the quality of life for individuals by tackling loneliness and social isolation . Under Place and Climate, a commitment has been added to Work with partners and stakeholders to mitigate the impact of environmental issues in the borough . A further commitment has been added under Innovative and Customer-focused to Represent the best interests of our residents and businesses in local government reorganisation in Lancashire . This refers to the government's invitation to replace all two-tier local authority areas with unitary authorities¹.

Several projects will be completed by the end of 2025/26 or will have progressed sufficiently to be continued outside of the Council Plan. New projects include:

• A programme of initiatives and interventions that support older people in Garstang, Cleveleys and Fleetwood.
• Improved leisure opportunities in collaboration with the new leisure provider.
• Responding to the opportunities relating to neighbourhood governance arrangements in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.
• Driving Marine Hall towards 100 years.
• A programme of business support and grants.
• Exploring options for Great Eccleston's Local Centre and employment land development
• Delivering the Coastal and Flood Resilience Strategy with partners.
• Developing and delivering the Jubilee Gardens Masterplan.
• Improving recycling across the borough.
• Planning for a smooth transition for residents, businesses and colleagues throughout the phases of Local Government Reorganisation.
• Developing and implementing the approach to Community Asset Transfers.

The report also indicates that the council is monitoring 28 measures that align with the council's priorities and commitments.

Council Plan Monitoring Quarter 1 2025/26

Sandy Lee, Policy, Data Intelligence and Change Manager (Transformation and Change), and Andrew Jardine, Policy Officer (Transformation), are scheduled to present a report on the Council Plan 2025/26 Quarterly Performance Statement for Quarter 1 (April/June). The report provides an overview of quarterly performance against the council's key projects and measures.

The report states that overall performance of the Council Plan projects is strong with 16 (84%) projects on track. Only three projects (16%) are currently experiencing some issues in delivery. Performance of the Council Plan indicators is good at the end of quarter one for 2025/26.

The report includes dashboards for each project and performance measure, providing a visual representation of their status. Projects are colour-coded as green (on-track), amber (having issues but still on-track), red (not on-track), blue (not started yet), or purple (completed). Measures are colour-coded as green (performance is meeting or exceeding target), amber (performance has not met target but is within a 10% threshold), red (performance has not met target and is outside of the 10% threshold), or blue (annual measure or no target set).

The report highlights some key issues and proposals for each of the council's priorities. For example, under People and Communities, the report notes that three indicators are not meeting their target: reducing violence against the person offences, increasing the number of people visiting leisure centres, and increasing the number of people engaged with health programmes. Under Growth and Prosperity, the report notes that town centre vacancy rates are above the UK average, and the number of potential entrepreneurs and businesses supported by the economic development service is below target. Under Place and Climate, resident satisfaction with parks and open spaces is below target. Under Innovative and Customer Focused, resident satisfaction that the council provides value for money services is below target, as is the percentage of council tax and business rates collected, and the number of residents signed up for council tax e-billing.

Local Government Ombudsman Annual Review Letter 2024/25

Joanne Billington, Assistant Director of Governance and Legal (Monitoring Officer), has submitted a report on the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) Annual Review Letter covering the 2024/25 municipal year. Jack Tickle, Democratic Services Officer, will introduce the report.

The Local Government Ombudsman Annual Review Letter 2024/25 provides a summary of complaint statistics, offering insights into the council's approach to complaints. The statistics detail the number of complaints and enquiries received, the number investigated, the decisions made, and any recommendations issued.

During the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, the LGO received and assessed nine complaints and enquires, a decrease from the 16 complaints received during 2023/24. Of the nine complaints received and assessed, five related to complaints referred to the LGO before the council was given chance to consider it, or the complainant reported their complaint to the wrong Ombudsman, therefore they were not assessed. Two complaints were assessed and then closed. Two complaints were fully investigated.

Of those:

• One complaint was not upheld. Ms X complained that the council failed to take enforcement action about a nearby farm's campsite which does not have planning permission.
• One complaint was upheld. Mrs X complained about how the council dealt with the disabled facilities grants works at her property, and the council initially refused and then delayed providing her family with temporary accommodation. The LGO recommended the council apologise, review its internal policies/procedures and train staff, and review the naming of the council's housing assessment form(s).

Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2025/26

Clare James, Director of Finance and Governance (Section 151 Officer), has submitted a report updating the committee about the delivery of the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2025/26. Jack Tickle, Democratic Services Officer, will introduce the report.

The Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme 2025/26 - update includes updates on previous meeting queries and upcoming training for members.

Following a query on whether Wyre Council was attending the Violence against Women subgroup of the Community Safety Partnership consistently, it has been confirmed that members of the Community Safety Team are members of and actively contribute to plans and actions.

Councillors are being provided with training from the Local Government Association (LGA) on local government finance, and code of conduct refresher training. The second session of Treasury management training from MUFG is being held on 13 November 2025.

Following the approval of the Section 106 Funding: Implementation Task group, eight members have signed up. The first meeting of this task group will be arranged with members and officers in due course.