The Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Monday 28 July 2025 to establish its constitution, membership, and terms of reference, and to define its approach to scrutinising the authority's decisions. Key decisions made included approving a £500,000 threshold for defining key decisions and initiating the development of a work programme for the municipal year, focusing on economic growth, skills, and transport.

Constitution, Membership and Terms of Reference

The committee formally noted its constitution, membership, and terms of reference for the 2025-26 municipal year. These terms of reference outline the committee's powers and responsibilities, including the ability to review LCCA decisions, make recommendations, and require LCCA members and officers to attend meetings to answer questions. The committee's role is to scrutinise decisions and actions taken in connection with the LCCA's functions, and to report and make recommendations to the LCCA.

Key Decision Definition and Threshold

A significant decision was made to define what constitutes a key decision for the LCCA. The committee approved a definition that mirrors that used by local authorities, focusing on decisions likely to result in significant expenditure or savings, or those with a significant impact on areas comprising two or more electoral divisions. Crucially, a financial threshold of £500,000 was set, meaning decisions of this value or greater will be classified as key decisions. This classification triggers a requirement for the LCCA to publish notification of forthcoming decisions 28 days in advance and makes them subject to potential call in by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. While the threshold was agreed to ensure the LCCA could function, members expressed a desire to review this figure at a future meeting.

Role of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Work Programme Development

The committee engaged in a comprehensive discussion about its role and how it would develop its work programme for the municipal year. Presentations provided background on the LCCA's structure, priorities, and upcoming work plan, which includes key areas such as economic growth, transport, and skills. Members discussed the mechanisms for receiving information from the LCCA, the importance of proactive engagement, and the need to focus on big ticket items rather than minutiae.

Several key areas were identified as potential priorities for scrutiny, including the Lancashire Growth Plan, the skills agenda, and transport initiatives. There was a consensus that the committee should align its work with the LCCA's strategic priorities. The timing of the review of the Lancashire Growth Plan was noted as challenging, with the plan due for approval by the LCCA shortly after the committee's next meeting. However, members agreed that the committee could still add value by scrutinising the implementation of the plan and related strategies.

Discussions also touched upon the process for calling in decisions, with concerns raised about the three-day turnaround time, and the procedures for reporting and publishing the committee's findings. The committee agreed to develop a draft work programme for the next meeting, with a commitment to ensuring members receive papers proactively.

The committee also discussed the importance of economic growth as the primary reason for the LCCA's existence, with sustainable transport and a skilled workforce identified as vital enablers of this growth. The potential to leverage expertise from universities and other organisations was also highlighted as a way to enhance the committee's work.

The meeting concluded with the chair emphasizing the committee's role in adding value to the combined authority and driving economic growth. The next meeting was scheduled for Monday, 8 September 2025.