The Cabinet of Lancashire County Council met on Thursday, 22 January 2026, to discuss a range of important issues, including the expansion of school places in Preston, revisions to the highway safety inspection policy, and the proposed budget for schools in 2026/27. Key decisions were made regarding the repurposing of a working group to focus on culture, the adoption of a new fairness, equality, and inclusion workforce framework, and updates to traffic regulations in Clitheroe.

Cabinet Working Group for Culture

The Cabinet agreed to repurpose the existing Cabinet Working Group for Museums to become the Cabinet Working Group for Culture. This expanded remit will allow the group to advise and support Cabinet on all aspects of the council's cultural services, including libraries, museums, archives, and heritage. The group will champion strategic visions for cultural initiatives, advocate for the sector, and support the development of future strategies for cultural services. Councillor Matthew Salter, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, highlighted the importance of member involvement in this work, aiming to ensure that cultural offerings deliver on civic pride and benefit the residents of Lancashire. Councillor Gina Dowding raised a point about including cultural offerings run by district councils within the group's scope, particularly in light of upcoming Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Fairness, Equality and Inclusion Workforce Framework

A new Fairness, Equality and Inclusion Workforce Framework and its associated delivery plan were approved. This framework, developed in response to a Notice of Motion agreed at Full Council on 16 October 2025, aims to embed fairness, equality of opportunity, and inclusion across the council's workforce. Councillor Ged Mirfin, Cabinet Member for Resources, HR and Property, noted that this initiative seeks to move beyond symbolic gestures towards structural reforms, including equitable pay, transparent access to progression, and the removal of barriers in policies and processes. The framework sets out six key objectives: Structural Fairness, Fair Recruitment, Amplified Staff Voice, Leadership Accountability, Measurable Goals, and a Practical Toolkit. The Director of People will be authorised to monitor the delivery plan's progress and report to the Executive Leadership Team and Cabinet Member for Resources, HR and Property. Councillor Azhar Ali OBE welcomed the framework, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that appointments are made on merit and that policies are fair and unbiased.

Preston School Places Update

The Cabinet approved several recommendations to address the projected shortfalls in primary and secondary school places in Preston. For primary provision, the council will utilise existing surplus places in alternative planning areas to mitigate an interim shortfall for September 2026, prior to the delivery of a new school at Whittingham. This new school is proposed for phased opening from September 2027, pending planning approval. Additionally, permanent expansions were approved for Ashton Community Science College and Moor Park High School, with further expansion considered for Fulwood Academy as demand arises. Councillor Matthew Salter, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, presented the update, highlighting the council's statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places. The report noted that despite creating 595 additional primary places since 2020, shortfalls are still forecast in specific areas.

Schools Budget 2026/27

The Cabinet reviewed and approved the draft budget allocations for the Schools, Early Years, High Needs, and Central Schools Services Blocks for 2026/27. This budget will be submitted to the Department for Education (DfE) by the statutory deadline of 22 January 2026. A key concern raised was the frozen allocation for the High Needs Block, with no inflationary uplift, which is contributing to a significant deficit in the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). Councillor Azhar Ali OBE expressed concern over the lack of inflationary uplift for the high-needs block, describing the situation as unsustainable and urging clarity from the government on their plans. The report detailed a forecast DSG shortfall of £75.90 million in 2026/27. The Lancashire Schools Forum has recommended a 0.50% transfer from the schools block to the high needs block to support invest to save initiatives.

Revisions to Highway Safety Inspection Policy

The Cabinet approved revisions to the Highway Safety Inspection Policy, following a review prompted by concerns raised by the Coroner after a tragic cyclist fatality on Island Lane in 2023. Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, explained that the updated policy incorporates recommendations from an independent peer review, including clearer terminology for all road users, a new defect category for carriageway cracking, and updated risk matrices and response times. A significant change is the removal of the 10-day repair category, as it is not commonly used by other authorities, moving towards a more risk-based approach with a focus on dynamic risk assessments by inspectors. The policy also introduces AI inspection technology to enhance efficiency and safety. Councillor Gina Dowding questioned the impact of moving pothole repairs from a 10-day to a 20-day response time, given additional government funding for potholes. Councillor Goldsworthy clarified that while some repairs might move to a 20-day category, others would move to a 5-day category, and the new system allows for a more nuanced, risk-based approach.

Revocation of Lancashire Enhanced Partnership

The Cabinet approved the process for revoking the Lancashire Enhanced Partnership, which is a legal agreement between Lancashire County Council and local bus operators. This revocation is necessary due to the transition of Local Transport Authority powers and functions to the Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) from 1 April 2026. The LCCA is establishing its own Enhanced Partnership, which will supersede the current agreement. Councillor David Dwyer, Cabinet Member for Data, Technology, Customer and Efficiency, stated that the revocation process will follow Department for Transport guidance and involve consultation with bus operators and other stakeholders.

Traffic Regulation Order for Clitheroe

The Cabinet approved the making of a Traffic Regulation Order to implement No Waiting at Any Time and No Loading/Unloading at Any Time restrictions in several roads within Clitheroe. This includes a revised proposal for Railway View Avenue, which was previously deferred. Councillor Mr Warren Goldsworthy, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, explained that these restrictions are necessary to address ongoing concerns related to visibility, access, and the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians, particularly in areas with persistent obstructive parking. While an objection to the Railway View Avenue proposal remains unresolved, the revised, reduced extent of the restriction is considered not to warrant a public inquiry. The measures aim to improve road safety and ensure unobstructed access.

Supplementary Procurement Report

The Cabinet approved the commencement of several procurement exercises detailed in a supplementary report. These include:

• Professional Services for a Condition Led Programme.
• Construction of the Salmesbury Enterprise Zone Innovation Hub.
• Supply of LED Road Lighting Lanterns.
• Supply of Legionella Services.
• Manned Guarding, Front of House & Security Concierge Services.
• Supply of Vehicle Parts.

Councillor David Dwyer, Cabinet Member for Data, Technology, Customer and Efficiency, highlighted that these procurements are necessary to meet operational needs and are being conducted in compliance with the Procurement Act 2023. The report detailed the procurement options, estimated values, funding arrangements, and evaluation criteria for each exercise. For vehicle parts, a move to a single supplier managed service under the NEPO framework was recommended to improve efficiency and cost control. For manned guarding services, a consolidation of existing contracts into a single supplier framework was proposed to achieve operational alignment and management consistency. A dynamic market approach was selected for Legionella Services to ensure ongoing competition and flexibility.