The Full Council of Lancashire County Council met on Friday, 23 February 2024, to approve the budget for the 2024/25 financial year. The council agreed to a 4.99% increase in council tax, which includes a 2.99% general increase and a 2% increase specifically for adult social care. Several amendments proposed by the Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green groups were debated and ultimately defeated before the main budget proposal was approved.

2024/25 Budget Report

The primary focus of the meeting was the approval of the 2024/25 budget. This involved setting the council tax requirement, approving policy savings, agreeing to the capital programme and capital strategy, and confirming exceptions to the agreed uplift policy for fees and charges. The council also approved recommendations from the Audit, Risk and Governance Committee regarding the Treasury Management Strategy, Investment Strategy, and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2024/25. Additionally, the Employment Committee's recommendations for the Pay Policy Statement 2024/25 were adopted.

The approved budget includes a revenue net budget requirement of £1,112.610 million. To balance the budget, a contribution of £0.856 million from the transitional reserve will be used. The council tax requirement for 2024/25 is set at £642.208 million, equating to a Band D Council Tax of £1,653.29. This reflects a 2.99% core increase and an additional 2% for adult social care. Policy savings totalling approximately £14 million were approved, with £3.655 million to be delivered in the 2024/25 budget. The indicative capital programme for 2024/25 is £198.524 million.

Several amendments were proposed to the budget. The Labour Group's amendment sought to remove savings related to pay and display parking income, young persons' travel, and discretionary concessionary travel, while increasing savings from facilities management. They also proposed additions to the capital programme for the care of looked-after children, assisted housing for older people, and highway repairs, all to be funded from the transitional reserve. This amendment was lost.

The Liberal Democrat Group proposed amendments to increase the revenue budget for youth worker provision, parking enforcement, and tree planting, and to reduce the intervention level for pothole repairs in the capital programme. These were also funded from the transitional reserve but were defeated.

The Green Group proposed a small increase to the revenue budget for on-site feasibility studies for renewable energy projects on council land, also to be funded from the transitional reserve. This amendment was also lost.

Following the defeat of all amendments, the main budget proposal, as recommended by the Cabinet, Audit, Risk and Governance Committee, and Employment Committee, was put to a vote and carried.

Disclosure of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests

County Councillor Lian Pate declared a non-pecuniary interest in the 2024/25 Budget Report as her partner is an employee of the county council.

Apologies and Announcements

Apologies for absence were received from County Councillors Frank De Molfetta, Mike Goulthorp, Andrea Kay, Jayne Rear, and Alan Whittaker. County Councillors Sobia Malik and Yousuf Motala joined the meeting virtually. The Chairman reported the deaths of former County Councillors John Cavanagh, Nikki Penney, and Harry Caunce, and the Council observed a moment of silence.