The Full Council of Lancashire County Council met on Thursday, 26 February 2026, to discuss and approve the council's budget for the upcoming financial years. The meeting also saw the appointment of a new Corporate Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer.

Appointment of Corporate Director of Finance

The council approved the recommendation from the Employment Committee to appoint Gary Fielding as the new Corporate Director of Finance and Section 151 Officer. John Betts was also appointed as the interim Section 151 Officer until Mr. Fielding commences his role. This decision was made following interviews conducted by the Employment Committee on 10 and 16 February 2026. The recruitment process highlighted the competitive market for senior finance roles, necessitating amended terms and a market supplement to attract suitable candidates.

Budget Debate

The majority of the meeting was dedicated to debating and voting on the council's budget. The administration presented its budget, which it described as a statement of intent focused on financial discipline, addressing service pressures, and bringing long-term clarity to financial matters. Several amendments were proposed by opposition groups:

• Progressive Lancashire Group Amendment: This amendment proposed significant investment in care homes and day services, with £4 million allocated for modernisation. It also included proposals for gully clearing, reinstating the young person's transport scheme, and a £1 concessionary discretionary travel fare for disabled pass holders. The amendment was defeated by 47 votes to 18, with 10 abstentions.

• Conservative Group Amendment: This amendment sought to reinstate the Public Rights of Way grant scheme, establish a War Memorial Grant Scheme, expand the roadworks permit inspection team, and increase funding for the Culture and Sport Fund and County Book Fund. It also proposed an additional £5 million for pothole repairs. This amendment was defeated by 50 votes to 18, with 8 abstentions.

• Liberal Democrat Group Amendment: This amendment focused on improving highways and addressing mental health services. It proposed investing more money for targeted road repairs, putting funding back into residential roads, investing in pavements, and increasing enforcement of pavement parking. It also called for the scrapping of bus gates in Preston and proposed funding for mental health community advocates. This amendment was defeated by 49 votes to 17, with 10 abstentions.

• Labour Group Amendment: This amendment presented a vision focused on creating opportunity through investing in education with seed funding for new schools, a trial suspension of bus gate fines in Preston, and a £1.50 daily return fare cap for school buses. It also proposed a Fair Work Charter, a Lancashire ownership hub for democratic businesses, a study into council land assets for social and affordable housing, and a study into insourcing adult social care. This amendment was defeated by 49 votes to 16, with 11 abstentions.

• Our West Lancashire Group Amendment: This amendment focused on increasing resourcing for the county flood risk team by 25% and clearing the backlog of overgrown pavements in rural West Lancashire. This amendment was defeated by 49 votes to 5, with 22 abstentions.

Following the debate on the amendments, the substantive motion for the council's budget was put to a vote. The budget was approved by 55 votes to 10, with 8 abstentions.

During the budget debate, various councillors raised concerns about the state of roads, the impact of bus gates, the future of care homes, and the need for investment in public health and mental health services. The administration defended its budget, highlighting its focus on financial discipline, efficiency savings, and investment in key areas such as Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision. They also pointed to increased bus passenger numbers and satisfaction as evidence of the effectiveness of their transport policies.

The meeting concluded with thanks to the officers and councillors for their participation in what was described as a long but important debate.