Reform UK councillor's legal threats 'concerning' and 'threaten public accountability'

Cllr Graham Dalton, through County Hall, had threatened legal action against an opposition councillor

Hello and welcome to The Lancashire Lead.

We were pleased to see The Guardian following up our reporting into the adult social care review at County Hall this week. When the nationals pick up a story outside of the big cities, it’s fair to guess they read about it first in proper local publications.

As long as the homes of those residents are under threat, it feels like it is a story that is not going to go away quickly.

These issues can only be brought to light through proper scrutiny - and through reporters willing to wade through 100+ page documents and watch five-hour council meetings before the sun rises. With coffee.

Today we continue our reporting on this issue but I do want to direct you to our reporting from Wednesday too. The failures in the SEND system locally are far from the fault of the current elected administration, but the impact it has on lives is significant.

Their stories: Parents give left behind and forgotten SEND kids a voice at County Hall demonstration

The Lancashire Lead can only keep doing all of this with more paid subscribers. Our role is to hold politicians to account locally in a way that would not happen without us. In November, you can take a paid subscription and get 30% off - so there’s never been a better time to back us.

Lancashire briefing

✉️ Lancashire could finally be on the path to getting an elected mayor – if the government can persuade the county’s leaders that the role would bring with it “clear and substantial benefits“. The Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) – the body established earlier this year to oversee the area’s first devolution deal – has written to ministers to clarify exactly what extra funding and powers would be on offer if a mayor-led organisation replaced it. One of the signatories of the letter, Lancashire County Council’s Reform UK leader Stephen Atkinson – who has historically been opposed to a mayor – said it was important to be certain of the situation, rather than just “assume”.

🗑️ Ribble Valley councillors have blasted the ‘scourge’ of fly-tipping, as they debated the best ways to tackle offenders through fines or court action. ‘Toxic’ and dangerous materials, such as chemicals and asbestos, are being illegally dumped, along with household clearance items in skips, councillors have said. Councils, private land-owners and farmers are all bearing the clean-up costs, which are often higher than fines imposed on offenders, councillors said. The maximum proposed fine for fly-tipping will remain at £1,000 and a minimum of £750. For littering, the maximum fine will stay at £150 or £113 for early payment. Different fines cover incidents including abandoned cars or household, industrial or commercial premises waste problems.

👋🏻 A call for special events in Morecambe to celebrate the 100th anniversary of comedian Eric Morecambe’s birth has been supported by Lancaster city councillors. And the plans could, in addition, help a future Town of Culture bid to the government. Councillors have backed a motion calling on Lancaster City Council to do as much as possible to support preparation and events next year to mark the 100th anniversary of the funnyman’s birth in May, 2026.

Reform UK councillor’s legal threats ‘concerning’ and ‘threaten public accountability’

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage visits County Hall in Lancashire

By Luke Beardsworth

The actions of Lancashire County Council and Reform UK in threatening legal action against an opposition councillor raising concerns are ‘concerning’ and threaten public accountability.

That is the view of Index on Censorship, a leading UK charity and magazine that advocates for freedom of expression worldwide.

Cllr Graham Dalton, through Lancashire County Council’s democratic services, had threatened legal action against Labour’s opposition councillor Kim Snape after she raised the potential of Dalton profiting through plans he is leading on which could see 10 care facilities in Lancashire close.

That possibility was raised due to Cllr Dalton’s role as co-owner and director of private care provider First for Care GB Limited. Cllr Dalton denies any intention to profit from the plans and said his business provides services that County Hall cannot - despite the company’s website offering ‘simple care’ as well as caring for those with more complex needs.

Nik Williams, of Index on Censorship, told The Lancashire Lead that the threat of legal action from Cllr Dalton was alarming.

He said: “It is concerning to see vital points of public interest such as the provision of adult social care to be the subject of a potential legal threat.

“Elected officials must be free to ask questions and highlight concerns, especially those raised by their constituents, in an open and transparent manner.

“The threat of legal action could severely hinder discussion and public accountability, while also sending a message to others to avoid the topic altogether.”

Lancashire County Council said they do not believe there is a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest to declare in Dalton’s role at First for Care GB Limited but they advised him to make it known at the start of meetings – which he did for the first time at the Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee on 5 November.

But now Cat Smith, Labour’s MP for Lancaster and Wyre – a constituency home to one of the under-threat sites – has said that the council’s rules may need reform if that is the case.

She told The Lancashire Lead: “It seems to me that if a councillor who is a director of a social care company is not required to declare an interest when consulting on the closure of adult day care centres – an issue in which they could potentially benefit – then the council’s rules need reform.