The Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 8th December 2025 to discuss progress on the LCCA's work programmes, with a particular focus on the transition of local transport authority functions and the development of the Local Transport Plan. Key decisions included the noting of the Chief Operating Officer's update and the approval of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's work programme for 2025-26.

Chief Operating Officer Update

Matthew Sidgreaves, Chief Operating Officer of the Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA), provided an update on the authority's progress, highlighting key activities across the strategic priorities of economy, transport, and skills. He detailed the ongoing work programmes for the current and next financial years, including the development of a dashboard for monitoring the Growth Plan, the procurement of providers for the £40 million Adult Skills Fund, and the transition of the Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub into the CCA. Mr. Sidgreaves also discussed the review of governance models, which concluded that a mayoral-led model would offer more devolved powers and funding. The CCA has written to the minister seeking further clarity on this, and a response has been received confirming potential access to a full suite of devolution powers and funding. The committee also received an update on the progress of corporate services and the ongoing work to set the budget for 2026-27 and 2027-28.

Local Transport Plan Progress

Matt Townsend, the LCCA Lead for Transport, presented an update on the transition of local transport authority functions to the LCCA. He outlined the ambition for transport to be an enabler of economic growth and detailed the powers and functions that will transfer to the LCCA under the Transport Act 1985 and the Transport Act 2000. These include responsibility for bus services, investment decisions in infrastructure, civil enforcement of traffic contraventions, and the potential for workplace parking levies. Mr. Townsend explained that the LCCA will adopt a commissioning and assurance model, where the LCCA takes strategic decisions and constituent councils handle day-to-day delivery. The committee discussed the integration of transport systems, the inclusion of Blackpool's voice within the CCA, and the development of strategies for rail and other transport infrastructure. Concerns were raised about the timeline for developing policies such as late rental schemes and the potential impact of future local government reorganisation. The committee also discussed the data sources used for decision-making and the importance of ensuring a smooth transition to avoid any negative impact on residents.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025-26

The committee considered and approved the draft work programme for 2025-26. The programme will focus on the key priority areas of the LCCA, with skills identified as the focus for the next meeting. Councillor Aidy Riggott suggested that for future rounds, relevant members from the combined authority should attend to answer member questions, ensuring a better balance of discussion. This was met with a degree of consensus.

The meeting also included the confirmation of the minutes from the previous meeting held on 10th October 2025.