Moving the dial on our priorities 2026/27: Building a better Lancashire
Our document called Moving the dial on our priorities 2026/27 sets out the county council’s priorities and areas of focus for the year ahead, building on the 2025–2030 Council Plan and last year’s Improvement Plan.
It explains the current operating context including rising demand, financial pressures and local government reorganisation.
It also identifies six "Move the Dial" improvement priorities, where concentrated effort will have the greatest impact.
- Moving the dial on our priorities (PDF 3.3MB)
The Moving the Dial document, agreed by Cabinet on Tuesday 19 May 2026, builds on last year’s Areas of Focus and Improvement Plan, which were designed to deliver the ambitions in the 2025–2030 Council Plan.
"It is vital that we now build on our firm foundations and move to the next level, ensuring we are in the best possible shape for the future. This document sets out our priorities for 2026/27, combining our wider areas of focus with six improvement priorities where we must collectively 'move the dial'.
"By concentrating our efforts where they matter most, we can deliver visible, sustainable improvements that residents can see and feel, as we work together to build a better Lancashire for everyone."
County Councillor Stephen Atkinson
Leader of the county council
Driving delivery and improvement in 2026/27
Six specific items have been selected as those that will 'move the dial':
- Improvement in services for Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
- Adult Health and Wellbeing: Living Better Lives in Lancashire
- Transforming the highways for a modern Lancashire
- Civic pride in the communities of Lancashire
- Financial sustainability and service transformation
- Local Government Reorganisation
These six areas represent where focused corporate effort will have the greatest and most immediate impact on residents, finances and future readiness.
We'll use clear evidence from performance data, financial pressures, peer feedback and frontline insight to shows where improvement is both most needed and most achievable.
By concentrating on these six areas, we can accelerate progress, address our biggest challenges, and build the stability and capacity required to deliver the wider ambitions of our Council Plan.
By delivering the priorities in this document, we will achieve:
- Improved outcomes for children, young people, families and adults
- Stronger, safer and more connected communities
- A more modern, resilient and responsive highways network
- More co-ordinated, preventative and place-based public services
- A financially balanced and sustainable council
- A stable transition to new local government arrangements
- Visible improvements in services that build trust and civic pride
- A council that is more modern, efficient and confident in its future
Overseeing progress
Progress on the areas of focus in this document will be considered through the council’s governance processes including through Cabinet and Scrutiny Committees.
Key performance indicators, financial reporting and milestone tracking will be considered by Cabinet on a quarterly basis, to understand the impact of these programmes and the performance of council services.
Dedicated programme governance and programme management will also ensure organisation-wide delivery.
Accessible versions
Accessible versions of this document, including translations, Braille versions, and other formats, are available upon request.
Email policy@lancashire.gov.uk with your request.