The meeting considered an update report on the Corporate Plan 2023/2027 for Blackburn with Darwen Council. The meeting also agreed the draft Year Planner 2025/26 for the council. An amended Motion on an arms ban on Israel was carried, but a Motion on Council Tax was lost.

The Israel-Palestine Conflict

Councillor Salim Sidat moved a motion that called on the government to take a number of actions in relation to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

For nearly a year, Blackburn with Darwen residents have gathered in solidarity, protesting the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Many have expressed deep concerns to their local representatives, urging action to stop arms sales to Israel and calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Councillor Sidat's Motion was amended by Councillor Quesir Mahmood. Councillor Mahmood's successful amendment sought to make explicit the requirement for the release of hostages.

Advocate for an unconditional ceasefire and prioritise the protection of civilians, with release of all hostages and prisoners on both sides, whilst working towards lasting peace and a two-state solution as agreed per UN resolution.

The amended Motion, which called for the UK government to revoke arms export licenses to Israel, advocate for an unconditional ceasefire, increase diplomatic pressure to halt illegal settlements, support international investigations into human rights violations, and facilitate peace talks, was passed.

Council Tax

A motion proposed by Councillor Kevin Connor about Council Tax was debated and lost. Councillor Connor argued that, given the Conservative government's recent history of making changes to taxes, and given the success of the council's recent growth programme, Blackburn with Darwen should take its own action to help residents.

In order to remove doubt about future Government policy changes to Council Tax and to protect our residents from further financial hardship, we request that the Executive member for Finance and Governance present to the Finance Council a budget that will include a recommendation to cap Council Tax at the rate of inflation or 5% whichever is the lower until 2026.

Councillor Connor cited the Executive Board meeting of 13th June 2024 as evidence of the council's ability to raise income from sources other than Council Tax.

National Policy Reflections, Delivering the Corporate Plan and Achieving Borough Wide Outcomes

The meeting received a report that updated the council on the performance of the Corporate Plan 2023/2027, and asked the meeting to reaffirm the plan's core missions.

The meeting was told about the progress being made on several of the council's major schemes and policies. The report highlighted the following activities:

• The recent launch of the council's Pension Credit campaign, which is intended to help older people in Blackburn with Darwen claim Pension Credit so that they are still eligible for the Winter Fuel allowance.
• The ongoing work on Digital Inclusion, which is intended to help residents in Blackburn with Darwen to get online.
• The proposed Skills and Cyber Campus, which is part of the council's £250m Blackburn Town Centre Masterplan, and for which the new Labour government has re-confirmed £20m of national funding.
• The decision, made at the Full Council meeting at the end of July, to consider care experience as a new protected characteristic. This means that future policy and decision making at the council must take into account care experienced young people.
• The progress being made on the King William Street High Street Accelerator. This is a scheme which will see £237,000 of government funding being used to test ways of revitalising King William Street in Blackburn. A further £500,000 will be used to fund environmental improvements in the area.
• The work being done by the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System to support the development of a community offer in the Ash Grove area of Darwen.
• The work being done to deliver the council's Climate Emergency Action Plan. This includes the work of the Blackburn with Darwen Climate Community, which was established in February 2024 to provide a forum for people and organisations in Blackburn with Darwen to collaborate on climate action.
• The successful transfer of the Blackburn with Darwen and East Lancashire Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to the Lancashire and South Cumbria Foundation Trust (LSCFT), and the Blackburn with Darwen adult community services from the LSCFT to East Lancashire Hospitals Trust (ELHT).

The report went on to describe how the council's corporate plan missions relate to the Labour government's national policy priorities, including devolution, planning, and race equality. The report noted that the recently agreed Level 2 devolution deal will see the creation of a Combined County Authority for Lancashire. This new authority will include Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and Lancashire County Councils. The report noted that the devolution deal has already unlocked £20m capital funding contribution from the government, which includes £6m of new investment for Blackburn’s Tech Innovation Quarter.

The report summarised the council's performance against the corporate plan's core missions, highlighting one area that was rated as 'red', meaning that performance in this area was not currently on target. The report said that this area related to KPI 27: Number of families who are open to Early Help who have achieved Significant and Sustained outcomes (Supporting Families). The report said that

The Supporting Families programme provides grant funding to the Council to support the work being undertaken to help families with complex challenges. If the Council is unable to undertake or evidence this work, there is a risk of the grant funding being withheld and ultimately withdrawn.

The report noted that the target set by the Supporting Families National Team for 2024/25, which was to assist 624 families, was considered to be unrealistic by the council. The report described the difficulties the council was experiencing meeting the demands of the Supporting Families programme, including the requirement for all school age children in the family to have 90% or above school attendance for the two most recent school terms.

The report finished by describing the tentative plans for the next Partnership Conference, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 2 April 2025 at Ewood Park. The report suggested that the conference could focus on the following themes:

• Social Value Charter
• Agreement of Borough-wide outcomes
• Corporate / Place narrative / Residents’ Survey 2025
• Key business updates: Lancashire Business Board/Hive/Cyber work

The report noted that the 2025 Partnership Conference will be a timely opportunity to formalise long-term plans around the purpose of the Conference, what can realistically be delivered as a partnership and the outcomes that are being aimed for.