Key messages – 26 October 2026

2027/28 Budget consultation

Our 2027/28 budget consultation is now open, giving staff, residents, businesses and community groups the opportunity to help shape the council’s budget.
Services are working to reduce forecast overspends, identify savings and make the best use of council resources. Finding more efficient ways of working will help us protect important services and deliver the best possible value for Lancashire taxpayers.
The consultation is open until Wednesday 2 December. Please encourage colleagues, friends and family to have their say.
Staff also have an important role to play. You know your services and ways of working best. If you can see a better, simpler or more cost-effective way of doing something, please share your idea through the Staff Suggestion Scheme.
Ideas can help save money, avoid future costs, improve services and make better use of council resources.

Lancashire Child and Youth Justice Service (CYJS) has been rated Good overall by HM Inspectorate of Probation, with Outstanding ratings for Staffing and Planning, recognising the strength of the service and its workforce.  
Inspectors praised the dedication and professionalism of staff, highlighting strong leadership, effective partnership working and high-quality support for children, young people, victims and communities.  
The report recognised the service's child-centred approach, noting that staff build positive relationships with children and families, helping them make lasting changes and reducing the risk of reoffending.  
While the inspection identified some areas for further improvement, the findings provide a strong foundation for the future, and the service remains committed to building on its strengths and delivering the best possible outcomes for children, victims and communities. 
The report will be published on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) completed its focused assessment of adult social care in Lancashire on Wednesday 21 October.
Thank you to everyone who took part in an interview, prepared information, supported colleagues or continued to provide excellent services across Lancashire.
While we await the CQC’s formal findings, inspectors recognised the commitment and professionalism of our staff and partners.
Their feedback reflects the dedication that colleagues across adult social care show every day.
We know there is more to do. Lancashire remains rated ‘Requires Improvement’, and we are not yet providing the consistently good experience we want for everyone.
However, the foundations for improvement are in place. The assessment was an important opportunity to show our progress.
We expect to receive the findings within the next few weeks.

We are pleased to announce that Will Ivatt has been permanently appointed as our Director of Strategy, Transformation and Efficiency.
Will is well known to many of you, having held the role on an interim basis for three months.
In recent years, he has also held transformation and improvement roles in Resources and Adults, Health and Wellbeing.
Please join us in welcoming Will to his new role. We look forward to working with him on key projects that will help move the council forward.

If you have an Occupational Health appointment booked, please make sure you attend.
Cancelled and missed Occupational Health appointments have cost the county council more than £30,000 this financial year.
If you cannot attend an appointment, cancel it as early as possible so the appointment can be offered to someone else.
Managers should make sure staff can attend, check that the referral is still needed before booking an appointment and ensure the employee has given consent and is fully aware of the referral.
For more information, visit our Occupational Health intranet page.