The Cabinet of Lancashire County Council met on Thursday 4 June 2026, discussing significant changes to local government structures, adjustments to highway maintenance agreements, and parking restrictions. Key decisions included approving a joint response to the government regarding local government reorganisation, extending public realm agreements with district councils, and introducing new parking regulations in Halton and West Lancashire. The meeting also addressed the SEND reform plan, with principles approved for submission to the Department for Education.

Local Government Reorganisation Response

The most significant discussion revolved around the response to the government's proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Lancashire. Councillors expressed concerns about the speed of the process and its potential impact on vulnerable residents, particularly regarding the capacity of services and the challenges of data migration between different authorities. County Councillor Tom Pickup highlighted worries about the impact on vulnerable residents due to the current timetable, while County Councillor David Dwyer echoed these concerns, emphasizing the complexity of data migration in previous LGRs. County Councillor Azhar Ali OBE acknowledged the achievement of reaching an agreement between districts and the county but reiterated concerns about the ambitious timetable. County Councillor Gina Dowding noted the lack of a public mandate for the reorganisation and the public's preference for local government to remain accessible. County Councillor Simon Evans drew parallels to the Southport Inquiry, warning of the risk of data loss during system changes. The Cabinet ultimately approved a joint response to the government on the Structural Change Order, with the decision to defer one parking order to a future date.

Public Realm Agreements

County Councillor Mr Warren Goldsworthy, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, presented a report on the Public Realm Agreements with the 12 district councils. These agreements allow for local delivery of highway maintenance functions. The Cabinet approved the extension of these existing arrangements until 31 March 2027, with provisions for further annual extensions. This decision aims to ensure service continuity during the wider local government reorganisation and avoid the costs of bringing services back in-house. A commitment was also made to conduct a full review of the effectiveness and value for money of these agreements.

Parking Restrictions

Several parking-related items were discussed. The Cabinet approved the introduction of a limited waiting parking place on High Road, Halton, in Lancaster City. This restriction allows for 20 minutes of waiting, with no return within two hours, from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm. The measure is intended to support the new nursery by providing short-stay parking and loading opportunities without impacting overnight resident parking. Objections were received regarding parking availability and the location of the nursery, but officers argued the restrictions were necessary for safety and to support the nursery's operations.

Additionally, the Cabinet considered proposals for various parking restrictions in West Lancashire Borough. This included revoking, amending, and introducing new parking restrictions in areas such as Elm Place, Brook Lane, Altys Lane, and Ravenscroft Avenue in Ormskirk. The primary driver for these changes was to address obstructive parking that impedes refuse collection vehicles and general traffic flow. While objections were raised by residents concerned about the impact on parking availability for vulnerable individuals and businesses, officers maintained that the restrictions were necessary for road safety and efficient service delivery. The Cabinet approved the making of the Traffic Regulation Order for these restrictions. However, a separate order concerning various locations in West Lancashire Borough was deferred to a future date due to its complexity and ongoing discussions with West Lancashire Borough Council.

SEND Reform Plan

An urgent item concerning the SEND reform plan was presented by County Councillor Matthew Salter, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills. The plan has been developed to comply with the Department for Education's timeline for submission by 19 June. The principles of the plan were approved, authorising the Chief Executive, in consultation with Councillor Salter and the Executive Director for Education and Children's Services, to finalise and submit the plan. The reform aims to drive mainstream inclusion and improve SEND provision across the board, working with schools and partners. Councillor Azhar Ali OBE thanked Councillor Salter and the officers for their work on the plan.