This week in Lancashire:

• The Lancashire Combined County Authority approved transport grants and accepted Rural Prosperity Funding.
• The authority also agreed to join the Lancashire Pension Fund and supported the Business Board's engagement plan.

Lancashire Combined County Authority - Thursday 24 April 2025

The Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) approved the allocation of £86 million in transport grants for 2025-26, accepted £653,065 in Rural Prosperity Funding (RPF), agreed to become an admitted body to the Lancashire Pension Fund, approved arrangements for appointing independent committee chairs, and supported the Business Board's plan to engage with the business community.

Transport Grant Funding

The authority approved the allocation of £86 million in transport grants for 2025-26. Councillor Phil Riley, Leader, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, as chair of the Transport Advisory Board, highlighted the benefits of being a combined authority in securing this funding. The funding includes the Bus Service Improvement Programme (BSIP), Consolidated Active Travel Funding (CATF), Integrated Transport Block, and Local Transport Grant. These grants will be distributed to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackpool Council, and Lancashire County Council, supporting public bus services, active travel initiatives, and future transport projects.

The authority also delegated authority to the Monitoring Officer, Neil Jack, and the Section 73 Officer¹, Mark Wynn, to finalise grant funding agreements and manage additional grants from the Department for Transport during the 2025/26 financial year.

Adult Skills Fund

The authority approved the Lancashire Strategic Skills Plan for the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) and authorised the Head of Paid Service, Denise Park, to submit necessary documents to the Department for Education. Councillor County Alan Vincent, Deputy Leader, Lancashire County Council, as Chair of the Skills Advisory Board, emphasised the importance of devolving the ASF to better align skills provision with local labour market needs.

The plan, developed after consulting with over 30 local stakeholders, includes an indicative figure of £41 million per annum from the Department for Education, with an additional £3 million for future courses for jobs. It focuses on aligning skills provision with the Lancashire Skills and Employment Strategic Framework, the Local Skills Improvement Plan, and the growth plan. The plan also recommends reducing the number of providers and focusing provision within Lancashire, involving the Integrated Care Board (ICB) to link health, employment, and skills agendas, and reducing duplication of schemes for a one Lancashire approach.

Councillor County Vincent highlighted the importance of learning from the multiply scheme², noting its previous success. The authority also discussed the need for an urgency framework to address situations requiring quick decisions with short notice from the government.

UK Rural Prosperity Funding and UK Shared Prosperity Funding

The authority approved the acceptance of £653,065 in Rural Prosperity Funding (RPF) for 2025/26 and its addition to the LCCA capital programme. This funding will be distributed to the district councils based on government allocations. Blackpool Council will handle the reporting and monitoring of the RPF alongside the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF).

Admission to the Lancashire Pension Fund

The authority agreed to become an admitted body to the Lancashire Pension Fund, allowing its staff to become members. The Section 151 Officer explained that this was necessary for recruitment and retention purposes. The Monitoring Officer was authorised to sign and seal the Admission Agreement.

Appointment of Independent Chairs

The authority approved the arrangements for appointing independent chairs for the Scrutiny Committee and the Audit and Governance Committee, with a proposed allowance of £2,000 per year for each role. The timetable includes advertising the roles by 1 May 2025, with interviews planned for the week of 2 June 2025.

Business Board Update

Mo Isap from the Lancashire Business Board provided an update on the growth plan and the board's activities. The board seeks endorsement of the growth plan and aims to identify deliverable projects that can be shaped up for investment. They also plan to engage with the business community and champion business voices.

The authority approved the Business Board's request to reallocate £25,000 from the LEP network membership and contribute an additional £25,000 to support business engagement and strategic communications.

Urgent Business

The authority approved the appointment of KPMG as external auditors for a three-year period, with the money already earmarked within the budget provision.

This week in Lancashire:

• The Development Control Committee refused an anaerobic digester application due to Green Belt concerns, but approved quarry expansions and public realm improvements.

Development Control Committee - Wednesday 16 April 2025

The Lancashire County Council Development Control Committee convened to address various planning and development proposals. Key decisions included the refusal of an anaerobic digester unit in Adlington and the approval of quarry expansions in Carnforth, alongside several public realm improvements across the county.

Anaerobic Digester Unit, Adlington

The committee rejected an application for an anaerobic digester unit near Wigan Lane, Adlington due to its location within the Green Belt and potential landscape impact. The planning officer's recommendation for refusal was supported by concerns raised by residents, Adlington Town Council, and Lindsay Hoyle MP, regarding odours, noise, and increased HGV traffic. Kim Snape, representing residents, highlighted the site's inappropriateness for the Green Belt and the potential impact on the amenity of residents in Lower Adlington. Councillor Kevin O'Donnell of Adlington Town Council echoed these concerns, focusing on potential odours, low-frequency sound, and HGV traffic.

John Donilon, from March's Biogas, argued in favor of the application, emphasizing the site's screening, its role in processing farm animal manure into digestate and biomethane, and its contribution to clean energy production. Despite these arguments, councillors remained unconvinced, with Councillor Steve Clarke expressing distrust of the Environment Agency and Councillor Julia Yates questioning the logistics of transporting manure to the site. The committee ultimately voted to refuse the application, aligning with the planning officer's recommendation.

This decision highlights the ongoing tension between the need for renewable energy infrastructure and the protection of Green Belt land, a recurring theme in local planning decisions.

Bat Lane Quarry and Leapers Wood Quarry, Carnforth

The committee approved applications for amendments to existing planning permissions at Bat Lane Quarry and Leapers Wood Quarry, both in Nether Kellett, Carnforth. These amendments allow for a deeper extension of the quarries, continued working until 2077 and 2064 respectively, and consequent amendments to working and restoration proposals. Councillor Clarke praised the companies for the site visit and the well-run nature of the operations. Councillor Cullens raised concerns about potential changes in operating procedures with a change of operator, but the planning officer clarified that the permission runs with the land and the section 106 agreement is legally enforceable.

St. Michael's on Wyre Pumping Station

The committee approved an application for the erection of a pressure relief column, control kiosk, raised access platform, and formation of temporary and permanent site access in association with the installation of a detention tank at land adjacent to St Michael's on Wyre Pumping Station, junction of Garstang Road and Rawcliffe Road, St Michael's on Wyre. The application was brought before the committee due to an objection from Upper Rawcliffe and Tarnacre Parish Council.

Nuttall Street Civic Space, Accrington

The committee approved an application for public realm improvements at Nuttall Street Civic Space, land at the junction of Nuttall Street and Royds Street, Accrington. The improvements include soft landscaping, resurfacing, street furniture and cycle stands, wayfinding signage, lighting, drainage swale and public artwork.

Land between Fallbarn Crescent and Hardman Avenue, Rawtenstall

The committee approved an application for the formation of green space on land between Fallbarn Crescent and Hardman Avenue, Rawtenstall. The green space will include landscaping, a footpath, play equipment, street furniture and lighting.

Maybury Avenue, Burnley

The committee approved an application for a change of use from Class C3A (dwelling house) to Class C2 (residential institutions) at Maybury, Maybury Avenue, Burnley. This change will enable the property to be used as a home for up to two young persons between the ages of 11 and 17 years, with no more than two carers staying in the property overnight. Despite 14 letters of objection from local residents, the committee supported the application, emphasizing the council's statutory responsibilities to provide homes for children in its care. Helen Ashworth, a future presenter, noted that the application was submitted by Lancashire County Council to ensure sufficient availability of homes for children and young people in its care. Councillor Clarke, declared an interest as Chairman of the Corporate Parenting Board. Councillor Steve Holgate criticized the ignorance behind assumptions that looked after children would cause disruption.

Report on Appeal Decision - Ream Hills Farm, Weeton with Preese

The committee received a report on an appeal decision regarding the refusal to grant planning permission to raise levels of field at Ream Hills Farm, Mythop Road, Weeton with Preese. The Planning Inspectorate allowed the appeal and granted planning permission.

Planning Decisions Taken by the Director of Environment and Planning

The committee noted the decisions taken on development control matters by the Director of Environment and Planning in accordance with the County Council’s Scheme of Delegation. Councillor Pope suggested that the committee should review the appeal decisions for informational purposes.

Lancashire County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board met on Monday 15 July 2024. The Board is a statutory board that has responsibility for improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Lancashire. The Board is made up of elected councillors and representatives from health and social care organisations. No decisions were made at the meeting and no votes were held. The meeting consisted of a presentation about the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board's strategy.

The Development Control Committee met on Wednesday 17 July 2024 to consider a range of planning applications. The committee considered 6 applications, including an application for the development of 150 new homes in Garstang, an application to convert a former pub in Lancaster into a restaurant, and an application for the erection of a new industrial unit in Morecambe. The committee approved all 6 applications.

The Employment Committee met on Thursday 18 July 2024 to discuss a range of issues relating to the council's workforce, including an update on the council's progress in recruiting and retaining staff, a report on the council's sickness absence rates, and a discussion of the council's policy on trade union recognition.

The meeting of the Full Council was scheduled for Monday 15 July 2024 but was cancelled.

This was the first meeting of the Employment Committee since Thursday 27 June 2024, when they discussed the Local Government Pension Scheme. You may remember from my previous email that this is the national pension scheme for local government workers, which is administered locally by Lancashire County Council. The Employment Committee received an update on the performance of the fund and the council's investments. The committee voted to note the report.

Lancashire County Council’s Regulatory Committee met on Wednesday 26 June 2024 to discuss a range of issues relating to public rights of way in Lancashire. The committee considered 8 applications for changes to public rights of way, as well as reviewing guidance provided to Councillors on how to make decisions about them.

The next meeting of the Full Council was scheduled for Thursday 27 June 2024, but was cancelled.

Changes to Public Rights of Way

The committee considered 8 applications for changes to public rights of way, including applications to divert, extinguish and create new public rights of way. The committee approved all of the applications, subject to there being no objections during the consultation period.

Ellel Quarry

One of the applications considered by the committee was for the diversion of two public footpaths at Ellel Quarry. The application was made because the current route of the footpaths is considered to be unsafe, as it runs along the only access road to the quarry, and through the middle of the working quarry.

Currently the public footpath runs on the only access road to the quarry, then along the perimeter of the quarried site (now being infilled), through woods and then across part of the quarried site, before going through the grounds of Ellel Crag.

The proposed diversion would create a new route for the footpaths that would run through woodland away from the quarry operations. The proposed route would:

start at the same point but enter woods adjacent to the access track, then would divert onto an existing track away from the perimeter edge of the quarried site, before returning to the existing route, to then divert across pasture, removing it from the vicinity of the quarried site and property.

The Chair of the committee expressed the view that the proposed route was not optimal, but his proposed amendment to reject the application on these grounds was defeated. The committee voted to approve the diversion, subject to there being no objections received during the consultation period.

Guidance for Councillors

The committee also reviewed guidance provided to Councillors on how to apply the law relating to public rights of way, and voted to approve a change to the guidance to take into account changes to the law made in 2017.

The guidance in question is provided to Councillors to help them to apply the law relating to public rights of way. In particular, the guidance on how to take biodiversity into account when making decisions about public rights of way was out of date. This section of the guidance had not been updated to reflect changes made by an amendment to the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. The committee voted to amend Annex B of the guidance to reflect these changes in law.

This email has been prepared by The Open Council Network Agent to help residents understand what their council has been doing in the last week.