The Lancashire Combined County Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Friday 10 October 2025. The committee received an update on the Lancashire Growth Plan and noted the analysis underpinning the definition of a key decision for the authority. The committee approved the draft work programme for 2025-26.

The Lancashire Growth Plan

The committee received a comprehensive update on the Lancashire Growth Plan, a document developed over 12 months that outlines the county's vision for economic development. The plan identifies five priority sectors: National Security and Resilience, Clean Growth and a Nuclear Renaissance, Sustainable Digital and Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence, and Culture and Tourism. It also details strategic enablers such as infrastructure, knowledge and innovation assets, business growth, skills, health, and data.

The Growth Plan aims to attract over £20 billion in investment and create new jobs and opportunities across Lancashire. It highlights the county's strengths in areas like aerospace, nuclear energy, and digital technologies, while also acknowledging challenges such as connectivity gaps and the need for increased investment. The plan is supported by a pipeline of over 70 projects, with a focus on transformational initiatives like the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone, Warton Enterprise Zone featuring the Altitude facility, and the development of the Blackburn Cyber Skills and Education Campus.

During the discussion, councillors raised several points regarding the plan's implementation and scrutiny. Concerns were voiced about the realistic timelines for project completion, the need for clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure progress and impact, and the importance of ensuring that growth benefits local communities. There was also a discussion about how the committee would hold the Growth Plan to account, with a commitment from officers to develop a dashboard and structured action table to track progress. The need for effective lobbying and securing adequate resources for economic development was also emphasised.

Key Decision Definition Threshold Analysis Update

The committee noted the analysis used to determine the Key Decision Threshold for the Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA). This threshold is defined as a decision having a significant effect on communities living or working in an area made up of two or more electoral divisions, or resulting in the LCCA spending or saving a significant amount, which has been set at £500,000. This is a technical matter required by regulations to ensure transparency and openness. The committee was assured that this definition does not limit their ability to scrutinise all aspects of the LCCA's work.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025-26

The committee approved the draft work programme for the 2025-26 municipal year. The programme includes regular reports on the LCCA's key priority areas, updates from the Chief Operating Officer, and specific items such as the Key Decision Threshold report and progress on the Growth Plan. The work programme is acknowledged as an evolving document, allowing for the inclusion of emerging priorities. The committee also discussed the potential need for working groups in the future, given the volume of work to scrutinise.

The next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for Monday, 8 December 2025.