Decisions

(1)  That delegated authority be granted to the Executive Member for Finance and Governance to agree and submit a response to the Government’s consultation on Local Authority Funding Reform.

(2)  That the outcome of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26, as set out in the report, be noted.

(3)  That the response to the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26 as set out at Appendix A attached to the report, be noted.

(4)  That it be noted further work was required to determine the estimate of Business Rates Retained for 2025/26 which would reflect the Council’s local knowledge/circumstances and that this work had begun following the release of guidance from Government on this matter.

(5)  That it be acknowledged that the estimates of Council Tax income presented in the report were subject to decision by Finance Council on 24^th February 2025 and were, therefore, indicative at this stage.

(6)  That the updated Medium Term Financial Plan 2025/28 be noted and this would be further updated once decisions on the Council’s budget were taken at Finance Council on 24^th February 2025.

(1)  That the Adult Social Care Commissioning Strategy 2025/26 to 2026/27 be endorsed.

(2)  That it be agreed an annual update on the delivery of the Strategy be presented to the Executive Board for consideration.

(1)  That the evaluation and overview of the first year of the new fostering recruitment programme, with the Council as the lead authority be noted.

(2)  That the proposed budget for 2025/26 be agreed and it be noted how this would be funded, as set out in the report and at Appendix 1.

(3)  That a further report be submitted to the Executive Board no later than December 2025 setting out how the Fostering Recruitment Hub would be funded in a sustainable way from 2026/27 onwards.

(1)  That the list of projects, as detailed in Appendix 2 attached to the report, be approved for inclusion in the 2024/25 Schools and Education Capital Programme funded from the School Condition Allocation and Devolved Formula Capital.

(2)  That the variations to the 2023/24 Capital Programme for schemes at the following sites be approved:

·       Newfield School - £650,000

·       Shadsworth Junior School - £1,700

·       St. Michael with St. John Primary School - £70,000

(3)  That delegated authority be granted to the Strategic Director of Children’s and Education in consultation with the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education to undertake the procurement for the works in accordance with the Contracts and Procurement Procedure Rules in the Council’s Constitution.

(4)  That subject to (5) below, the expenditure to be incurred on individual projects be approved in line with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

(5)  That it be agreed that projects proposed to be funded from S106 Agreements would not commence until funding under those agreements had been received in full by the Council.

(6)  That it be noted reports would be provided for the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education detailing any variations/amendments to programmes of work and seeking necessary approvals where these were required to ensure compliance with financial instructions and the Constitution.

(1)  That the proposed changes to the community equipment service and contracting model, including the introduction of simple aids to the catalogue be approved.

(2)  That it be noted that Lancashire County Council were leading this procurement on behalf of partners with an option for the Council to join the framework, subject to Executive Board approval in Spring 2025.

(3)  That the proposal to align funding of equipment for people in receipt of Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding with Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council’s approach be approved.

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 12^th December 2024 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

(1)  That the award of £20m Government funding to support the delivery of the Blackburn Growth Axis Transport Package (South East) and the funding for the following two projects be noted:

·       Project 1 – South East Blackburn Active Travel (Walking and Cycling) Network (report submitted to the Executive Board in December 2024).

·       Project 2 – M65 Junction 5 Improvement Scheme

(2)  That the progress made agreeing the acquisition terms for two parcels of third-party land required to deliver the M65 Junction 5 Improvement Scheme be noted.

(3)  That the placing of orders with statutory utility providers to commence service diversions and instructing Balfour Beatty to commence mobilisation activities and enabling works for the M65 Junction 5 Improvement Scheme be approved.