Update from Chief Executive Mark Wynn, 30 January 2026
I'm sharing this update a little earlier than usual, as February will be a particularly busy month and there are some important things you need to be aware of in advance.
I’ve shared my ambition for us to become the most improved council within the next two years. To get there, we need consistency, collaboration and a commitment to getting the fundamentals right. That means taking the time to do the small things well, whether it’s using the correct templates, following our agreed processes or checking things carefully before we send them on.
These everyday actions make a real difference, and they help us build stronger foundations for the bigger improvements we all want to see.
Local Government Reorganisation update
I know that we have many uncertainties in the future especially around Local Government Reorganisation. However, until government tell us what form new councils will take, and indeed up until any changes happen, we must all continue to provide the best possible services to the people of Lancashire.
Part of moving forward with Local Government Reorganisation means that we will have even closer relationships with district council colleagues and colleagues in Blackpool Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council. We will look at what information needs to be shared and form project groups with staff from across our organisations.
We know that government will consult on the options for Lancashire in early February
You can see an updated timeline below:
- Early February – Government will consult on options for Lancashire: this will run for around seven weeks. During this time staff, residents, businesses and partner organisations will be invited to respond.
- Summer 2026 – Government announces its preferred option for Lancashire.
- May 2027 – Elections for new shadow councils to prepare for the transition.
- April 2028 – Vesting day: new councils take over, and existing councils close.
I will share further updates as soon as more information becomes available. If you manage people, please ensure you pass this update on to your teams, so everyone stays informed.
You can also find out more or ask questions via the Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation intranet site or the staff area of the county council website.
Local Government Reorganisation question and answer sessions – book now
In the next few weeks, we will be running a series of staff question and answer sessions focused on Local Government Reorganisation.
They are a good opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have, even if we don’t have all the answers yet. Hearing what people are thinking helps us plan how we share information in the future. You can book a space using the links below.
- Wednesday 11 February 2026 – 10am to 12pm, Council Chamber, County Hall, Preston. Book your space.
- Wednesday 11 February 2026 – 1:30pm to 3pm, The Exchange, Barden Lane, Burnley. Book your space.
- Thursday 12 February 2026 – 10am to 12pm, White Cross Neighbourhood Centre, Lancaster. Book your space.
Questions can be shared in advance, and you can submit these to internal.communications@lancashire.gov.uk. The team can ask these on your behalf if you wish to remain anonymous. Where possible, we will also record the sessions and share these afterwards.
Manager resources
Some of you may not be able to attend a session. Managers play a vital role in making sure key messages are shared quickly, clearly and consistently across the organisation. To support this, we will also share a series of short video messages that you can use to help cascade the information to your teams. If you’re a people manager, share these updates and videos as soon as you receive them, so everyone has the same information.
We are also looking at other ways to share updates so that no one misses out. If you have any ideas how we can do this, please email internal.communications@lancashire.gov.uk.
Employee Conference
You have the chance to catch up again in March when we have our next Employee Conference, which will be Wednesday 4 March at 2pm until 4.30pm. These are an opportunity for everyone to hear about current issues in the council from our Leadership Team.
This will again be a hybrid meeting meaning you can choose to join online or in person.
Following the last conference, we shared an evaluation form and have listened to what you said. Here are some of the things we will be doing:
- Adding a stage so that people in the room can see the presenters better.
- All panel members at the front of the room rather than in the audience.
- Know who panel members are in advance and topics that will be discussed - we will include this when advertising conferences later this month.
- Longer time for question-and-answer session.
I hope many of you can join us in The Exchange in person, as it's always nice to see who we are speaking to.
Budget
As I said in my last email, our draft budget papers have now been published as part of the agenda for the Budget and Finance Scrutiny Committee. They set out the financial challenges we face over the next few years, the decisions required, and the steps we will need to take to manage ongoing pressures.
As part of the draft proposals, the focus is on efficiency savings that reduce the impact on residents, services and staff. These proposals will follow our usual approval process:
- 5 February – Cabinet
- 26 February – Full Council Budget
To make sure we stay on track, we will continue to present quarterly monitoring reports to Cabinet. These will give a clear picture of our progress and any actions we need to take.
It remains important that we continue to look closely at every item of spend and consider whether it is genuinely necessary. Just because funding exists in a budget does not mean it must be used. We are funded by public money, so we must make sure every purchase is essential and offers clear value.
Alongside this financial work, we are also reviewing how we operate to identify where we can be more efficient. This includes looking at our processes and systems and exploring whether new technology can help us work better. Please continue to share your ideas through the staff suggestions scheme or with your manager.
Take care
Mark