Update from Chief Executive Mark Wynn, 17 September 2026
Hello everyone,
It's hard to believe we're already halfway through September. After the hottest summer on record, we're settling back into more familiar Lancashire weather.
For many of you, the return to the new school term is now well underway, whether you're supporting children or grandchildren as they settle back into their routines, start a new school, or begin a new chapter in their education.
I hope you've had the chance to take a break over the summer, or that you have some time off planned in the weeks ahead. Taking time to recharge is important as we head into what is shaping up to be a busy autumn.
There is plenty happening across the council, including our ongoing preparations for Local Government Reorganisation, which I'll update you on later in this email.
There is plenty happening across the council, including our ongoing preparations for Local Government Reorganisation, which I'll update you on later in this email.
Staff Excellence Awards
Since nominations opened, we've been sharing some of the stories behind last year's Staff Excellence Awards winners and runners up. I had the privilege of judging the awards alongside Councillor Stephen Atkinson and attending the ceremony. I was inspired by the creativity, dedication, leadership and teamwork shown across our organisation.
The nominations showcased the difference our people make every day, often behind the scenes, to support residents, communities and colleagues.
Looking back at some of those stories over the past week, I've been reminded that there are many more colleagues and teams whose efforts deserve recognition. If someone has made a positive difference to you, your team or the people we serve, please take a few minutes to submit a nomination. Taking the time to recognise someone's contribution is a simple but powerful way to say thank you.
Nominations for the Staff Excellence Awards are open until Wednesday 14 October 2026. Visit the Staff Excellence Awards website to submit your nomination.
Ofsted success for Children's Services
I am delighted that Ofsted has recognised our Children's Services with outstanding judgements for Leadership and Care Leavers Services, alongside Good judgements for Children in Care and Help and Protection.
This is a fantastic achievement that reflects the dedication, professionalism and hard work of everyone involved in supporting children, young people and families across Lancashire. My thanks to all those who contributed to the inspection process and continued to provide excellent services throughout.
This outcome reflects the difference you make every day, and it is something we can all be proud of. While we celebrate this success, we remain committed to continuous improvement and to delivering the very best outcomes for children, young people, care leavers and families across Lancashire. Whether you work directly in Children's Services or support those services through a corporate role, this achievement reflects a collective effort across the council..
Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)
You will no doubt have seen the recent and unexpected Government announcement to pause and review Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Lancashire. In my video message below, I talk about what we know so far, what happens next and what this means for Lancashire County Council staff.
The Government has confirmed that it remains committed to local government reorganisation and devolution, and that the review will consider the proposals already submitted, alongside any legal and other considerations.
While I do not yet have a timetable for the review, we have been advised that it will be carried out at pace across all affected areas. Work on the Lancashire LGR Programme will continue in the meantime. Councils across Lancashire remain committed to working
together and will adapt plans as the review progresses, ensuring we are prepared for whatever decision is ultimately made.
The Government has published a series of questions and answers about the review and pause. These have now been added to the staff area of our website and on the intranet, which will continue to be updated as further information becomes available.
I appreciate that this development may create uncertainty and lead to speculation. Please be assured that I will continue to share updates as soon as we receive them and will work closely with government officials to provide as much clarity as possible.
Heritage Open Days return for a third year
This September marks the third year we have taken part in Heritage Open Days, giving people another opportunity to explore some of Lancashire's history and heritage.
On Saturday 19 September, County Hall, Christ Church Chapel and Lancashire Archives will be open to visitors as part of this year's Everyday Histories theme, celebrating the people, places and stories that shape our communities.
The talks and tours were especially popular last year, so I'd encourage anyone interested to book early. There are also opportunities to visit Lancashire Conservation Studios and attend the Ribchester Roman Bathhouse Open Day.
You can find out more and book your place, visit the Heritage Open Days webpages or the events section of our website.
Quarter 1 performance update
At the last Cabinet meeting they reviewed our Quarter 1 Corporate Performance Report, covering April to June 2026. The report shows positive progress across our Council Plan priorities, with most performance measures improving or remaining on track. This means more residents are getting the support and services they need, while we continue to deliver against our ambitions for Lancashire.
There are some particularly encouraging results. More children and young people with Education, Health and Care Plans are being supported in mainstream education, adult safeguarding performance remains strong, waiting times for adult social care assessments have improved, and customer satisfaction with our services continues to exceed target.
We've also seen positive results in areas such as highways maintenance, public health and economic growth activity. These achievements reflect the commitment, professionalism and hard work you bring to your role every day.
We know there are still challenges in some areas, particularly where demand continues to increase, and improvement plans are in place to address them. As we continue delivering services and preparing for local government reorganisation, our focus remains on providing the best possible outcomes for Lancashire residents and handing over the strongest possible services to the future Lancashire authorities. Thank you for everything you do to make that happen. If you'd like to find out more, you can read the full Corporate Performance Report on our website.
Quarter 1 financial update
Cabinet also reviewed our Quarter 1 Financial Monitoring Report, covering April to June 2026. The report highlights the financial pressures we continue to face as a council including a projects revenue overspend of £15.7m at this stage. It also includes some of the work underway to manage these challenges and maintain our focus on delivering services for Lancashire residents. Services across the council are actively pursuing plans to reduce financial pressures and improve the position as the year progresses.
Like many councils across the country, we continue to see increasing demand for services. This is particularly the case in adult social care, children's services and support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). At the same time, we're continuing to invest in Lancashire's future. Our revised capital programme includes additional funding for highways maintenance and investment in schools, transport and economic development projects. It also includes continued support for improvements to council services and infrastructure.
We know there is more work to do to ensure our finances remain sustainable, and this will continue to be a key focus throughout the year. Thank you for the part you play in delivering services efficiently and please continue to find ways to save money and play your part including the staff suggestions. Your efforts help us continue supporting residents while preparing for local government reorganisation and the future of local government in Lancashire. If you'd like to find out more, you can read the full Financial Monitoring Report on our website.
Staff suggestion scheme
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share a savings suggestion. It's been really encouraging to see the range of ideas coming forward and the thought colleagues have put into helping us find new ways to save money, improve services and work more efficiently.
Many of the suggestions offer practical ideas that can make a real difference to how we work and the services we provide. Colleagues have highlighted opportunities to reduce waste, energy use and unnecessary costs, leading to wider reminders about switching off equipment, expanded recycling facilities and practical changes such as the introduction of recyclable paper packaging tape. Staff have also promoted the Love Clean Streets app on work mobiles so highway issues can be reported more quickly and accurately, helping concerns reach the right team sooner and reducing duplication.
Other suggestions are helping us explore new ways to make better use of resources. This includes looking at opportunities to safely reuse community equipment, recover unreturned items and improve support arrangements. This will help to reduce avoidable replacement and procurement costs while maintaining the right support for residents.
Suggestions have also reinforced some of our ongoing improvement work, including expanding council-maintained specialist school places so more children can learn closer to home, and developing a specialist housing strategy to support adults and older people to live independently for longer. While these initiatives are already underway, they are a reminder that improvement is not driven by major initiatives alone. Individual colleagues can make an important contribution by sharing ideas, challenging how things are done and helping to strengthen the changes needed to deliver better outcomes and value for Lancashire residents.
You can read more about the ideas being implemented and explored on the savings suggestions intranet page. If you have an idea that could save money, improve a service or help us work more efficiently, please submit it through the page so we can consider it. Every suggestion is valued, and together they can make a real difference.
Take care,
Mark