Lancaster City Council met on 24 September 2025, and among the items discussed was a motion expressing community concern over events in Gaza, which was passed after an amendment was voted down. Councillors also reviewed the Treasury Management Outturn for 2024/25, and the Capital Programme Mid Year Review 2025/26, approving adjustments to the capital programme.

Community Concern Over Bombardment of Gaza

Councillors considered a motion expressing community concern regarding the bombardment of Gaza and reaffirming the council's commitment to human rights and international law. The motion acknowledged the ongoing vigils in Lancaster's Market Square and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, highlighting a local campaign to fund a water well project.

The motion included requests that the Council:

• The Leader of the Council writes to the Prime Minister calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank, and the return of all hostages.
• The Cabinet Member for Finance and Property asks the Chief Finance Officer to explore ways to avoid transactions with companies involved in human rights abuses or the production of weapons.
• The Cabinet Member for Procurement reduces the risk of transactions contravening the above principles via the Council's Procurement Strategy.
• The Council leader writes to the Lancashire County Pension Fund to welcome their revised Responsible Investment Policy and seek clarification on its implementation.

Councillor Joanne Ainscough proposed an amendment to the motion, which was seconded by Councillor Jason Wood. The amendment proposed adopting a comprehensive Ethical Procurement and Investment Framework (2025–2029) that replaces the Procurement Strategy (2020–2024) and incorporates the intent of the Gaza motion alongside Fair Tax, Fair Work, and Modern Slavery commitments.

After a lengthy debate, a vote was taken on the amendment, but it failed to pass. Council then voted on the original motion, and it was carried.

Capital Programme Mid Year Review 2025/26

The council reviewed its capital programme for 2025/26, approving adjustments as detailed in Appendix C of the Capital Programme Mid Year Review 2025/26 report. These adjustments include:

• Increasing the 2025/26 vehicle replacement budget by £28,000 to account for the price of a vehicle purchase that was delayed from 2024/25, while also reducing it by £205,000 to adjust the schedule of replacements across different years.
• Updating the vehicle replacement programme from 2026/27 to 2028/29 to reflect changes in the replacement schedule.
• Including £622,000 in 2031/32 and £860,000 in 2032/33 for additional vehicle replacements, including refuse collection vehicles (RCVs).
• Adding a £36,000 budget to account for inflation in the vehicle replacement programme in 2034/35.
• Including new externally funded grant schemes (DEFRA¹) totalling £183,000 in 2025/26 related to National Landscapes².
• Including £856,000 in additional Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding awarded in 2025/26.
• Including £2.331 million in assumed DFG funding in 2033/34 and 2034/35.
• Moving £57,000 from the Lancaster Heritage Action Zone to 1 Lodge Street Urgent Structural Repairs to cover a shortfall in budget for grant awarded.
• Moving £182,000 out of the main capital programme for Coopers Field BLRF back to schemes under development.
• Slipping £550,000 expenditure budget and £200,000 income budget from 2025/26 into 2026/27 for King Street.
• Moving £60,000 from the development pool to the main Capital Programme to cover Lancaster City Council's contribution for a DEFRA funded electric vehicle charging hub scheme.
• Including £12,000 UK Shared Prosperity Fund³ (UKSPF) grant funded Climate and Nature Strategy scheme.
• Including £975,000 in 2027/28 for the Canal Quarter as per decision by Cabinet 31 July 2025.
• Including £850,000 in 2026/27 for car park improvements as detailed in the car parking strategy.
• Reprofiling £1.176 million of Brownfield Land Release Funding from 2025/26 into 2026/27.
• Slipping Parks & Open Spaces (£871,000) and Salt Ayre Asset Management Plan (£1.267 million) schemes under development into 2026/27.

The report also noted that these changes would result in adjustments to the annual Minimum Revenue Provision⁴ (MRP) requirement, with projected impacts expressed as negative for adverse and positive for favourable.

Treasury Management Outturn 2024/25

Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, presented the Treasury Management Outturn Report for 2024/25. The report detailed the performance of treasury operations, including borrowing and investment activities, and compliance with relevant limits and prudential indicators. Council noted the report, which was previously considered by the Cabinet and the Budget & Performance Panel.

Appointments to Outside Bodies

Council considered a report regarding a vacancy on the Local Government Association (LGA) Coastal Issues Special Interest Group (SIG) following the resignation of Councillor Phillip Bradley. The council confirmed that the basis of appointment for the LGA Coastal Issues SIG would remain nomination and voting at full Council. Councillor Gina Dowding nominated Councillor Roger Dennison, seconded by Councillor Hamish Mills, while Councillor Wood nominated Councillor Colin Hartley JP, seconded by Councillor Susan Penney. Councillor Roger Dennison was appointed to the LGA Coastal Issues SIG until the next scheduled elections in May 2027.

Questions from Councillors

Councillor Matthew Black asked Councillor Peter Jackson, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Lancaster Regeneration and Local Economy, about plans for the area reserved for the Gravity attraction at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre. Councillor Peter Jackson responded that plans were progressing on a number of fronts, including the feasibility of a new 3G football pitch or a wind turbine to further reduce power costs. He also mentioned that Salt Ayre Leisure Centre had been identified as a potential site for Padel courts, and discussions were taking place with suppliers to assess the feasibility of delivering these in order to generate additional revenue streams and increase recreational opportunities.

Councillor Matthew Black also asked Councillor Paul Hart, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, about operational issues with the Love Clean Streets app, specifically regarding reports being closed without the work being done. Councillor Paul Hart acknowledged the issue and stated that the specific case referenced had been subject to an internal investigation. He explained that the resolution was delayed due to operational issues related to the fleet and personnel, but the graffiti had since been removed. He also noted that a new category, called 'offensive graffiti' had been added to the app to facilitate identification of urgent requests, and officers were working with the app provider to update the messaging sent to residents when a case is closed.

Other Business

The council also:

• Observed a minute's silence in memory of former Councillor Darren Clifford, who had recently passed away.
• Approved the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 31 July 2025.
• Noted changes to committee membership.