Like all local councils, LCC are facing significant financial challenges. In their words "We are committed to providing the best services we can to the people of Lancashire, particularly to the most vulnerable in our communities. However the council's financial position remains extremely challenging, with a forecasted funding gap of £144m in 2021/22. Because of this, we still need to make some difficult decisions in order to make further savings."
As part of proposals to achieve these savings they are seeking the views of the public in two particular areas:
Community Transport
Community transport in Lancashire is provided for eligible people who are not able to use mainstream public transport. Community transport includes Dial-a-Ride, group transport, community car schemes, day trips and volunteering opportunities.
On 18 January 2018 the county council's Cabinet agreed to consult on proposals to reduce funding by a third for community transport in Lancashire. This may mean loss, reduction and/or changes to these services including fare increases.
LCC are very keen to hear your views and you can do this by completing the online questionnaire at www.lancashire.gov.uk/haveyoursay.
Streetlight Maintenance
LCC are also asking for your views on some proposed changes to the services they provide around street lighting. They have been replacing our street lights with LED lights that are expected to work more reliably for around twenty years. They will last much longer than the traditional lamps previously installed across Lancashire. With these new LEDs being used across the county, it is anticipated they will not need to be checked and fixed as often.
Currently they endeavour to carry out routine inspections every fortnight between October and March and then every month for the rest of the year. They also receive information from members of the public who notify them through their Customer Access Service, their online 'Report It' tool and other sources.
They are proposing to stop carrying out the night-time inspections. They are also proposing to start carrying out testing of street lights and illuminated signs on a 10-year cycle rather than every five years.
As well as the routine testing, they would still be carrying out maintenance, as and when faults are reported and would continue to aim to respond to initial reports of faults within five days as presently.
You can give LCC your views be completing the online questionnaire at www.lancashire.gov.uk/haveyoursay