Lancashire County Council's Full Council met on 17 July 2025, and among other things, approved the Lancashire Child and Youth Justice Plan 2025-26, and agreed to review its policy on flying flags over council property, prioritising the Union Flag, the Flag of England, the Lancashire Flag, royal flags, and military flags and ensigns. The council also discussed the financial challenges it faces, and heard questions from councillors and members of the public.

Here's a more detailed look at the key discussion points:

• Apprenticeship and Awards

  The council congratulated Fisal Rafiq for winning Advanced Apprentice of the Year at the 2025 Lancashire Apprentice Awards. Councillor Matthew Salter, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, praised Rafiq's commitment to personal and professional development, highlighting his work in digital services and his advocacy for apprenticeships.

  The council was also recognised as a finalist in four categories at the 2025 Local Government Chronicle Awards, and won the Innovation category for its Pause and Reflect Fostering Arrangements. Councillor Simon Evans, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Families, celebrated the innovative service, which provides young people with time and space to regather themselves and ensure longer-term care homes.

  The council also congratulated Julie Bell, recently retired Head of Cultural Services, on being appointed a member of the Order of the British Empire for services to public libraries, and Dr Sakthi Karunanathie, Director of Public Health, for being awarded the Facility of Public Health Service Medal for 2025.

• Public Questions

  A member of the public, William Cartwright, raised concerns about the safety of children crossing Burnley Road in Bacup to get to school. He requested a lollipop person or a zebra crossing. Councillor Wendy Goldsworthy, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, responded that the council would review the possibility of providing a lollipop person after the school holidays.

  Another member of the public, Savannah D'Abel, asked what measures the council was implementing to ensure Jewish residents' safety, given increased hostility since the 7 October attacks. Councillor Joshua Roberts, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, said that the council was very concerned about the issue, and would respond to her.

• SEND Improvement Board

  Councillor Samara Barnes asked for an update on the arrangements for the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Improvement Board. Councillor Matthew Salter acknowledged that provision for children with special needs and disabilities had not been good enough, and that the SEND services had widespread failings. He outlined measures being taken to address the challenges, including the establishment of the SEND Improvement Board, increasing the number of educational psychologists, reviewing the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process, restructuring the SEND service, collaborating with the parent-carer forum, and rolling out a new EHCP portal.

• Biodiversity and Net Zero Targets

  Councillor Mark Clifford asked about the work being done to meet statutory obligations on biodiversity and carbon net zero targets. Councillor Joshua Roberts detailed the Lancashire local nature recovery strategy, conservation management, woodland creation, tree planting projects, and peatland restoration work in the Forest of Bowland. He also outlined measures to reduce energy consumption and promote sustainable transport. However, he raised concerns about the cost of renewable energy subsidies on household energy bills, and the impact of net zero targets on local communities, including the Morecambe and Morgan Cable Corridor. Councillor Clifford asked if Councillor Roberts believed in the science of climate change, to which Councillor Roberts responded that the council did not want to set targets which were unachievable at the cost of the household resident.

• Recruitment and Retention of Staff

  Councillor Matthew Brown asked about steps being taken to recruit and retain staff, and whether the council would continue to be a foundation living wage employer[^1]. Councillor Ged Mirfin, Cabinet Member for Resources, HR and Property, responded that recruitment and retention remained key priorities, and that the council was reviewing its workforce strategy. He said that the Reform Administration had a mandate to root out waste and make efficiencies, and that fair work charters were an additional tax on business.

  [^1]: The Living Wage Foundation defines a real living wage as the only UK wage rate independently calculated to meet the cost of living and is higher than the government minimum wage.

• Lancashire Child and Youth Justice Plan 2025-26

  Councillor Simon Evans moved the report, which was seconded by Councillor Graham Dalton, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care. The Lancashire Child and Youth Justice Plan 2025-26 was then approved.

• Political Governance Working Group

  Councillor Ged Mirfin moved the report, which was seconded by Councillor Potter. The report recommended disestablishing the Scrutiny Management Board and establishing a new Budget and Finance Scrutiny Committee. It also recommended amending sections of the Constitution. Councillor Potter welcomed the report as a step forward, but noted that there were still gaps that needed to be fixed. Councillor Stephen Atkinson said that the previous Conservative administration had done some of these things to stop scrutiny becoming overtly political. Councillor Andrew Riggott confirmed that he believed in the science of climate change, and asked whether the Leader intended to reconvene the Political Governance Working Group urgently to address the lack of response from officers or the administration on proposals regarding opposition representation at Cabinet. Councillor Peter Buckley sought clarification on the wording of standing order 37.3 regarding notices of motion. Councillor Alan Owens said that he found the working group very positive, and that he hoped that the way that their group approaches opposition would be constructive and engender trust to allow some loosening of the procedures around attendance of cabinet. Councillor Ged Murfin said that the Reform group had a very different mindset to the previous Labour and Conservative administrations, and that they were open to democratic participation. The report was then approved.

• Annual Governance Statement 2024/25 and Code of Corporate Governance 2025/26

  Councillor Hannah Whalley moved the report, which was seconded by Councillor Stubbins. Councillor Mark Jewell asked what lessons the administration took from upheld complaints, and what measures were being implemented to reduce the risk of similar complaints in the future. Councillor Stubbins asked what steps were being taken to resolve the issue of non-payments from the NHS integrated care board, and what the confidence was in those steps being completed successfully. Councillor Potter asked how many of the companies that the county council owns had replaced members with council officers, how good governance and oversight of these officers was being ensured, and how that was being fed back to the members in the chamber. Councillor Whalley responded that she would take the questions back to the officers and get a full response. The report was then approved.

• Members' Allowance Scheme

  Councillor Ged Mirfin moved the report, which was seconded by the Leader. The report set out proposed changes to the Dependents' Carers' Allowance element of the Members' Allowance Scheme. The report was then approved.

• Council's Financial Position and Efficiency Review

  Councillor Stephen Atkinson spoke about the council's financial position and the efficiency review of the council's financial management. He said that the council had inherited a number of financial challenges, including SEND, home to school transport, adult social care demand, and a £100 million savings programme. He also said that the council had purchased government and corporate bonds, some that did not expire for up to 96 years, to a value of £436 million, and that the latest market valuation was that they would now be worth £156 million. He said that £120 million of these bonds had been lent to a foreign company. Councillor David Whipp asked why the council would sell the bonds at such a loss, and what savings had been made as a consequence of the review. Councillor Andrew Riggott said that he was surprised to discover this, and that he had emailed the Chief Executive with a number of questions.

• Notices of Motion

  The council considered four notices of motion.

  • Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

    Councillor Samara Barnes moved a motion to commit to working with the Police and Crime Commissioner and the Government in tackling Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), to continue to fund specialist services, and to ask the Leader to appoint a Lead Member or Member Champion for VAWG. Councillor Maria Jones proposed an amendment to add that the role should also be about coercive control, psychological, mental, emotional, financial, physical, sexual, cultural and post separation abuse, and that the role should be undertaken by someone who has either lived experience or work experience of this area of work. Councillor Barnes accepted the amendment. Councillor Peter Buckley asked if the champion could also be mindful that there were parts of society where abuse occurs where it's not just violence against women and girls. Councillor Ged Mirfin said that Councillor Jones could be no better champion, and that he would support the proposal. Councillor Azhar Ali paid tribute to Councillor Barnes, and said that he was delighted that Councillor Jones would champion the cause. Councillor Gina Dowding said that they could now move to the vote. Councillor Joshua Roberts said that Dr Sakthi Karunanathie was leading a work group against violence against women and girls. The motion was then carried.

  • Flying Flags

    Councillor Joshua Roberts moved a motion that the council should be proud to fly the flags of the nation and of Lancashire, and that individual political causes should not take precedence over shared identity. He proposed that Cabinet review the council's policy to ensure that only the Union Flag, the Flag of England, the Lancashire Flag, royal flags, and military flags and ensigns were prioritised. Councillor Azhar Ali proposed an amendment that the Community, Cultural, and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee review the council's policy and make recommendations to Cabinet. Councillor Roberts did not accept the amendment. Councillor Potter said that this was about removing certain flags, most notably the pride flag. Councillor Stephen Atkinson said that the country was more fragmented than ever, and that this was giving the opportunity to come together under the nation state. Councillor David Howarth said that he had only ever had one letter from a resident about flying a flag, and that it was from someone who didn't think that South Ribble should fly a rainbow flag. Councillor Matthew Salter said that the key to this issue was that everyone could come together to celebrate Lancashire and the flags of the nation. Councillor Mike Lavalette said that Councillor Roberts was getting his flags in a twist for six days of the year. Councillor Andrew Riggott said that he was surprised to discover this, and that he had emailed the Chief Executive with a number of questions. Councillor Clifford said that the 17th of May must be an awful day for Reform, because that's the international day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. Councillor Snow asked what would happen if Donald Trump decided to pay a surprise visit to County Hall, and whether they would fly the flag of the United States. Councillor Roberts said that inclusivity isn't measured by the number of flags flown, and that the flag policy was about civic neutrality and unity, not exclusion. The amendment was then lost, and the original motion was carried.

  • First Past the Post Voting System

    Councillor Gina Dowding moved a motion to replace the first past the post voting system currently used for local and general elections. Councillor Almas Razakazi seconded the motion. Councillor David Whipp proposed an amendment to add Including Alternative Voting in Mayoral elections and Single Transferable Voting in multi-member wards for new unitary authorities. Councillor Dowding did not accept the amendment. Councillor Andrew Riggott said that he believed in first past the post still being the best system, even when you lose. Councillor Stephen Atkinson said that because Reform had benefited from the system, everybody else wanted to change the system. Councillor Alan Owens said that he had always been a firm supporter of first past the post, but that the situation had changed. Councillor Parker said that the calls for proportional voting were because of the amount and percentage that Reform UK took at the local elections, and that this wasn't about fairness, it's about frustration from people who lost. Councillor Snow said that he didn't like the prescription of the alternative voting system for the mayoral elections, but in particular, single transferable voting in the multi-member wards for the new unitary authorities. Councillor Ged Mirfin said that electoral systems serve two purposes, and that they are descriptive of an existing reality. Councillor Potter said that the honest truth is that political rhetoric during your election campaign doesn't match the reality of running a council. Councillor Balchin said that he joined the council to improve the lives of people in Lancashire, not sit there and listen to a load of tea-time politics by a load of wannabe MPs. The amendment was then lost, and the original motion was lost.

  • Free Speech

    Councillor Simon Evans moved a motion to note the vital importance of free speech in a free, open and democratic society, and to resolve to foster a culture of freedom of speech in the County of Lancashire generally, and within Lancashire County Council in particular. Councillor Daniel Matchett seconded the motion. Councillor Azhar Ali proposed an amendment to continue the culture of freedom of speech within Lancashire without inciting hatred and division, and to ask the Chief Executive to ensure continued compliance with all policy reviews to enable free speech in line with UK law and the Nolan Principles. Councillor Evans accepted the amendment. Councillor Lavalette said that she wanted to raise a concern that the motions are brought forward when they're brought forward by cabinet members. Councillor Cameron asked how the motion would ensure that those legal limits would be upheld in practice, and how it would prevent free speech from being misused to silence minority communities. Councillor Aris said that free speech is a fundamental right to our democracy, but that it must be exercised with responsibility, with regard to the rights of others and the need to prevent harm. Councillor Riggott said that he hoped the administration here don't fall into the same pattern that the Labour government did nationally, where they walk in a building and assume just because a different political party ran it before, everything needs throwing out and needs starting again. Councillor Jewell said that she supported the motion because freedom of speech reflects the values of our democracy. Councillor Potter said that what you don't have is if you say something stupid, you do not have the right to not be upset when someone thinks and takes umbrage at it. Councillor Brown said that he was pleased that all this chamber is accepting this, and that he was confused why they've got to link that with issues around certain groups in our society. The motion was then carried.

• Other Matters

  The Full Council also noted reports from the Urgency Committee, the Employment Committee, the Pension Fund Committee, and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority.