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Update from Chief Executive Mark Wynn, 11 August 2026

Hello,

It’s been another busy few weeks as we continue to deliver important services, support our communities and help shape the future of local government in Lancashire.

I've appreciated meeting so many of you at events and briefings across the county. It's been great to hear your questions, ideas and experiences first hand. I’m always struck by the commitment, professionalism and care you show every day in serving our residents.

farington cricket first ticketed match.jpg

The photo above was taken at the first ticketed match at the AO Farington Cricket Ground in July, which was one of the highlights of the summer so far. This project has been years in the making, and it was great to see the ground open and being enjoyed by the local community. It was a proud moment for everyone involved in bringing it to life.

Civic Pride and summer activities

As many of you take a well-earned break over the summer and perhaps enjoy a game of cricket, I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy some of the activities and events taking place across Lancashire. The #OurLancashire campaign celebrates what makes the county a great place to live, work and visit, while highlighting the people, places and communities that make Lancashire special.

Through our social media channels, you can find events and activities taking place across the county, along with opportunities to get active, volunteer, explore Lancashire and connect with local communities.

Next week, we are excited to welcome the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women to Lancashire on 20 August, with the route running from Clitheroe to Blackpool. It is another great opportunity to showcase the county and an important milestone as we continue preparations to host a stage of the Tour de France next year.

As part of our civic pride campaign, we are also recognising the work that helps keep Lancashire clean, safe and welcoming. Thank you to our highways teams and all colleagues who work outdoors, particularly during the warmer weather. Whether maintaining roads, signs, drainage systems or community spaces, your work makes a real difference and is greatly appreciated.

We have also launched the Pride in Lancashire Awards, which celebrate the people who make a positive difference in their communities. Unlike our Staff Excellence Awards, these awards are open to public nominations. If you know someone who volunteers their time, supports local people or helps improve their community, please consider nominating them through the Pride in Lancashire Awards website.

Local Government Reorganisation

I was pleased that so many of you were able to attend our LGR briefing sessions. More than 200 colleagues attended in person and a record 1,900 joined online.

Thank you to everyone who shared feedback following the sessions. Many of you said you valued the chance to hear directly from senior leaders and found the sessions open and informative. You also told us that the hybrid format worked well and that you would like more information about how LGR will affect individual roles, teams and services as plans develop. We will use your feedback to help us shape future sessions.

If you were unable to attend, you can watch the recordings online. We have also updated the questions and answers section. See the LGR section of the staff website for the latest information.

Programme delivery

I recently took on the role of Senior Responsible Officer for the LGR Programme. This means I am responsible for the overall leadership, governance and oversight of the programme. I will continue in my role as Chief Executive, giving us continuity and clear leadership.

We are continuing to work closely with all Lancashire councils to make sure services for residents continue without disruption. A significant amount of work is taking place to plan how finance, workforce, IT, assets and key services will come together. This is vital to support a smooth transition while maintaining day-to-day services.

As LGR Programme Director, Peter Lloyd is leading the day-to-day programme. He is supported by the LGR Programme Delivery Office, which coordinates activity across Lancashire, brings together expertise from all councils, helps manage risks, supports decisions and keeps people updated.

Looking ahead, council leaders will meet tomorrow (12 August) to agree the final content for the Structural Changes Order (SCO). The SCO is the legal order that will formally establish the new councils and set out key details of how LGR will be implemented. This includes agreeing the preferred names for the new councils, which must be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by 17 August. We will share an update as soon as more information is available.

Child and Youth Justice Service inspection

Lancashire’s Child and Youth Justice Service recently completed a two-week inspection, with initial feedback highlighting many strengths. Inspectors praised the positive culture across the service, the dedication and expertise of staff, strong leadership, and the child- first, trauma-informed approach that underpins work with children, families and victims, while maintaining a clear focus on managing risk and ensuring effective public protection.

Thank you to everyone who contributed, whether you were directly involved in the inspection or supported services behind the scenes. The team should be proud of how they showcased their work and represented Lancashire. We will take forward any recommendations once the final report is received in October and keep you updated.

Disability Workers Forum meeting

I recently attended a Disability Workers Forum meeting to hear directly from members about the issues that matter most to disabled employees.

With around 120 members, the forum provides a safe and supportive space for colleagues with disabilities, long-term health conditions or neurodivergent conditions, as well as those who support others.

The discussion gave me valuable insight into colleagues’ experiences, concerns and priorities, particularly around Local Government Reorganisation, reasonable adjustments, accessibility and workplace support. I was grateful for the openness and honesty of everyone who took part. Their feedback will help shape future conversations as our LGR plans develop.

Awards

I am delighted to share that a number of our services have been shortlisted for prestigious awards, recognising the excellent work taking place across the county council.

At the 2026 APSE Service Awards, we are finalists in five categories:

  • Digital Services, Adults, Health and Wellbeing, and Children's Services Partnership - Best Innovation

  • Schools and residential catering within Facilities Management - Best Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship Initiative

  • Schools and residential catering within Facilities Management - Best Service Team of the Year: Soft Facilities Management

  • The Promoting Health in Lancashire (PHIL) Outreach Model - Best Community and Neighbourhood Initiative

  • The Reuse Hub Team - Best Team of the Year: Recycling, Waste and Circular Economy

We have also been shortlisted in four categories at the 2026 Children & Young People Now Awards. The Early Years Quality Improvement Team is a finalist for both the Learning Award and the Public Sector Children’s Team Award. The Lundy Model project volunteers, working with partners across Lancashire, have been shortlisted for the Children’s Achievement Award, while the Leaving Care Service is a finalist for the Leaving Care Award.

In addition, Democratic Services has been shortlisted for the Association of Democratic Services Officers (ADSO) Project of the Year Award for The Great Lancashire Debate.

Congratulations to everyone involved. Being shortlisted is a fantastic achievement and reflects the positive difference you make to the lives of Lancashire residents every day. Good luck to all our finalists.

If you are taking time off over the summer, enjoy your break.

Mark