The Cabinet of Lancashire County Council met on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. Key discussions included the Southport Inquiry, the Best Start Family Hubs Programme, the Capital Strategy for Schools, and an appointment to the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership. A decision regarding traffic order changes in Nelson was deferred.

Southport Inquiry

The meeting included a statement regarding the publication of the Phase 1 report of the Southport Inquiry. The council acknowledged the report's findings and expressed its sorrow for the identified failures and shortcomings. The council committed to implementing recommendations directed to them and to cooperating with the inquiry's next phase. A further paper will be presented to the next Cabinet meeting to discuss the inquiry's recommendations in more detail.

Best Start Family Hubs Programme

Lancashire County Council received confirmation of ring-fenced funding totalling £347,048 for development grants and £7.1 million for delivery grants for the Best Start Family Hubs programme, aimed at providing early years support for children aged 0-5. The programme will establish 12 integrated Best Start Family Hubs within the existing network of 34 family hubs countywide. This initiative builds on lessons learned from the previous Sure Start programme and aims to enhance early identification of children with additional needs, including Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The intended benefits include improved early childhood development, school readiness, integrated family support, and strengthened prevention services. Councillor Azhar Ali OBE welcomed the funding and suggested exploring how the Crisis Resilience Fund could benefit the family hubs and ensuring support for migrant communities with English as a second language. The Cabinet noted the recommendations and approved the programme implementation plans and the use of the associated ring-fenced funding.

Capital Strategy for Schools – Condition Led Investment Programme 2026/27

Cabinet was asked to approve the proposed list of capital projects for Lancashire schools, totalling just under £14 million, for high-priority building condition repairs. This funding is part of the Department for Education's grant for the Condition Led Investment Programme for 2026-27. The programme focuses on addressing urgent works that pose immediate risks to health and safety or compliance with legislation. The Director of Growth and Property, in consultation with the Executive Director for Education and Children's Services and the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, was authorised to make any necessary adjustments to the programme once the final funding settlement is confirmed. The Cabinet approved the proposed list of school capital projects and the authorisation for necessary adjustments.

Appointment to Outside Body – Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership CIC

The Cabinet was asked to approve the addition of the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership CIC to the county council's list of outside bodies and to approve the appointment of County Councillor Martyn Sutton as the county council's representative to the partnership until the next county elections. The Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership CIC is dedicated to the Towpath Trail initiative. The Cabinet approved the addition of the partnership and the appointment of County Councillor Martyn Sutton.

Accessible Nelson - Forest Street and North Street Moving Orders

This item was deferred by a vote. County Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, requested the deferral of the decision on proposed changes to the one-way traffic restrictions on Forest Street and North Street in Nelson. He stated that further justification for the expense and advantages of the proposed changes was required. The proposal to defer the item was put to a vote and carried.

Date of Next Meeting

The date of the next meeting was noted as Tuesday, 19 May 2026, at 2pm.