The Community, Cultural, and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee of Lancashire County Council is scheduled to consider a range of important topics at its meeting on Thursday, 30 April 2026. The agenda includes a detailed look at the council's approach to domestic abuse, an overview of the Traded Services Schools Catering Service, and a review of the committee's work programme.

Domestic Abuse: A Public Health Approach

A significant portion of the meeting is expected to be dedicated to discussing domestic abuse within Lancashire. The report outlines the council's public-health-led strategy to address this issue, which is identified as a key priority in the Lancashire Community Safety Agreement 2025–2028. The report highlights that domestic abuse accounts for 20% of all recorded crime in Lancashire, with nearly 18,000 offences reported in the last 12 months. The committee will be asked to consider the scale of the problem, the statutory responsibilities under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and the partnership arrangements in place. The report also details the significant economic and social costs of domestic abuse, with an estimated cost of recorded crimes in Lancashire in 2025 being just under £847m . The public health approach aims to focus on prevention, early intervention, and accessible community-based support, with the report noting that statutory agency involvement can often trigger increased levels of violence. The committee will be asked to provide feedback and challenge on service provision and to support the council's ongoing work in this area.

Traded Services – Schools Catering Service

The committee is also scheduled to review Lancashire County Council's Schools Catering Service, which operates as a large-scale, traded commercial service. The report details the service's operating model, quality standards, workforce, and financial structure, with an aim to invite scrutiny members to comment on future growth and income potential. The service is described as the Largest maintained local authority school catering service in England, serving approximately 68,000 meals daily and generating a revenue budget of circa £42.8m annually. The report highlights the service's strong retention rates despite competition, attributed to its quality, resilience, and value for money. A key area for discussion is the anticipated expansion of Free School Meal (FSM) eligibility from September 2026, which is expected to more than double FSM eligibility, increasing uptake and productivity. The council's approved growth strategy also targets 10–15% market growth across the North West. The committee will be asked to consider the strength and sustainability of the traded service model, its readiness for FSM expansion and regional growth, and the balance between commercial growth, service quality, social value, and public accountability.

Community, Cultural and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025/26

The committee will review its work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. This report provides members with the planned activity for the year, focusing on areas such as Cultural Services, Community Services, Crime and Disorder, and Corporate Services. The work programme is determined following a planning session at the start of the municipal year and includes provision for county councillors to request any matter be considered by the committee. The report details the Cabinet Members whose portfolios align with the committee's responsibilities, including County Councillor David Dwyer, Cabinet Member for Data, Technology, Customer and Efficiency, and County Councillor Joshua Roberts, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Environment, and Communities. The committee will be asked to review the work programme and any associated recommendation responses.