The Community, Cultural and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee of Lancashire County Council met on Thursday, 30 April 2026. The meeting focused on the council's approach to domestic abuse, the performance and growth potential of its schools catering service, and reviewed the committee's work programme.

Domestic Abuse: A Public Health Approach

The committee received an update on Lancashire County Council's public health-led approach to tackling domestic abuse. It was highlighted that domestic abuse accounts for 20% of all recorded crime in Lancashire, with nearly 18,000 offences reported in the last 12 months. The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 places statutory duties on the council to provide support within safe accommodation and to publish and deliver a local strategy. The public health approach emphasises prevention, early intervention, and accessible community-based support, aiming to reduce the cycle of abuse across generations.

Key commissioned services include:

• Domestic Abuse Support Services Lancashire (DASSL) Safe Accommodation: Providing 190 units of safe accommodation across the county, including specialist provision for complex needs and for victims with protected characteristics.
• DASSL Community Outreach: Offering specialist support in the community for victims who do not access refuge accommodation.
• Preventing Abuse Behaviour Change Programme: A 10-week, one-to-one programme for 11-19 year olds displaying abusive behaviours in their relationships.
• Connect & Respect Healthy Relationships Programme: A school-based programme for secondary schools, covering topics such as domestic abuse, consent, and digital abuse.

The committee discussed the scale of the issue, with data indicating that only 28% of domestic abuse is reported to the police. The economic and social cost of domestic abuse in Lancashire was estimated to be nearly £847 million in 2025, with the true cost likely higher due to under-reporting. Safeguarding concerns related to domestic abuse are a core focus, with 1,639 safeguarding concerns closed in the year ending 31 March 2026 where domestic abuse was recorded as an abuse type.

Councillors raised questions about referral pathways for the behaviour change programmes, the impact of economic abuse on victims, and the challenges faced by the third sector in delivering services. The committee also discussed the need for increased awareness and training for councillors on identifying signs of domestic abuse and knowing how to respond. Recommendations were made to write to the Cabinet Member for Public Health regarding potential funding increases for these services and to ensure the Violence Against Women and Girls Champion is involved in future discussions.

Traded Services – Schools Catering Service

The committee received an overview of Lancashire County Council's Schools Catering Service, a large-scale, traded commercial service. The service operates a hybrid public-sector commercial model, serving approximately 68,000 meals daily across over 500 schools. The service has a strong retention rate due to its quality, resilience, and value for money, despite competition from private providers.

Key aspects of the service include:

• Sustainable Procurement: 55% of ingredients are sourced from within Lancashire, with the remainder from suppliers within a 35-mile radius of Preston, aiming to drive economic benefit to the local economy.
• Quality Standards: The service adheres to Government School Food Standards and voluntarily meets additional standards such as Soil Association Food for Life (Bronze level) and Sugarwise (Gold level).
• Workforce: Employs over 1,500 frontline catering staff, with a focus on internal development and progression.
• Growth Opportunities: The expansion of Free School Meal eligibility from September 2026 is expected to significantly increase demand, and a growth strategy aims to achieve 10-15% market growth across the North West.

Discussions covered the percentage of food sourced locally, with explanations provided regarding the limitations of the UK growing season and the need to import certain products. The committee also discussed the realistic achievable percentage of Lancashire-sourced ingredients and the potential for increasing this. The service's commitment to quality, nutritional standards, and its proactive approach to menu development, which is ahead of national trends, was highlighted. The committee was informed about the financial structure, including the £42.8 million revenue budget for 2026/27, and the strategies in place to manage costs and ensure value for money.

Community, Cultural and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025/26

The committee reviewed its work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. The programme outlines planned activities and topics for scrutiny, aligned with the committee's responsibilities for community safety, cultural services, and corporate services. Members were invited to comment on the planned items and consider any key lines of inquiry for future meetings.

The next meeting of the committee was scheduled for Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 10 am.