The Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee is scheduled to meet on 15 December 2025 to discuss the Yarborough Hill Bank Slip Project, review highways and transport performance, and consider its work programme for the coming year. The committee will hear reports on highways performance, education transport, and Transport Connect Limited (TCL).

Yarborough Hill Bank Slip Project

The committee will be asked to consider a report on the Lincoln, Yarborough Hill Bank Slip Project. The Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport and the Executive Councillor for Resources are expected to consider this project between 10 and 24 December 2025, and the committee's views will be reported to them.

The report pack includes a report to Councillor T Catton, Executive Councillor for Resources and Councillor M Cheyne, Executive Councillor for Highways and Transport, which seeks approval for the project and to award a contract for the works.

A section of Yarborough Road is experiencing ongoing ground movement, which has resulted in damage to highway structures. The report considers several options to remedy this, including:

• Do minimum
• Replace retaining walls with a reinforced earthwork solution
• Additional reinforced wall behind existing retaining walls
• Installation of ground anchors
• Remove and rebuild new retaining walls

The report recommends Option 2 – Replace retaining walls with a reinforced earthwork solution . This option involves demolishing the existing retaining walls and replacing them with a newly constructed earthwork retaining structure. The concrete layby will be removed, and the footway will be realigned adjacent to the carriageway. Groundwater will be intercepted near the top of the retaining walls and conveyed through them to a filter drain at the bottom of the embankment. The estimated cost range for this option is £1.2M – £2.3M.

The report states that Whitton's Park, which is maintained by the City of Lincoln Council, has been a key consideration in the planning of construction activities. The project team will coordinate improvements to the surface of Public Footpath No.6, which runs adjacent to Whitton's Park.

The report notes that the project will be fully funded from the Integrated Transport Block, which is an annual grant from the Department for Transport.

Highways Performance

The committee will receive a report setting out the performance of the highways service for Year 6, Quarter 2 (1 July to 30 September 2025). The report includes the Lincolnshire Highways Performance Report and the Highways Complaints Report.

The Lincolnshire Highways Performance Report includes performance scores for the following:

• Alliance (LCC/Balfour Beatty/Colas/WSP)
• Client (LCC)
• Highways Works Term Contract (Balfour Beatty)
• Professional Services Contract (WSP)
• Traffic Signals Term Contract (Colas)

The report notes that the Highways Works contract with Balfour Beatty has been extended by a further six years, until 31 March 2032. The Professional Services Contract with WSP has been extended by a further two years, until 31 March 2028. The Traffic Signals Provider contract with Colas has not been extended, and a new contract has been awarded to Swarco, which is due to go live from 1 April 2026.

The report also notes that the combined capital and reactive budget for the Highway Maintenance service for 2025/26 is approximately £110 million. It is forecast that the Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Strategy objectives to hold key assets in a steady state whilst implementing an accelerated improvement of the unclassified roads will continue to be achieved.

The Highways Complaints Report states that the Highways Service received a total of 8,657 Fix My Street enquiries and 10,135 calls and emails to the Customer Service Centre during Quarter 2. The Customer Relations Team received a total of 86 contacts, which equates to 0.45% of all contacts received. The report notes that scheduled maintenance and potholes accounted for the highest numbers of complaints raised during Quarter 2, accounting for 16 each.

Education Transport

The committee will receive a report on the Education Transport Service Level Performance against the Performance Framework 2025-26 as at Quarter 2.

The report includes the following performance indicators:

• PI 198 Education Transport applications approved
• PI 199 Time taken for Education Transport eligibility decisions
• PI 200 Education Transport Single Occupancy Travel

The report notes that the Education Transport team ensures that over 19,000 pupils are transported to and from school daily. Pupil numbers receiving Education Transport continue to grow and are 3.8% higher in September 2025 than they were in September 2024, and have increased by 8.5% since 2021.

Transport Connect Limited (TCL)

The committee will receive an annual update on Transport Connect Limited (TCL), the council's wholly owned company. The report provides a summary of the strategic direction of the company, an update of how TCL provides a further option to the County Council to deliver its obligations for educational travel and public transport, and assurance that the company complies with the requirements of a private limited company.

TCL was formally established in 2016 to moderate the market for passenger transport services. It operates the following contracts:

• Callconnect contracts
• Special Education Needs (SEN) Travel contracts
• Adult Social Care Contracts
• Maintenance provision of highway vehicles, primarily the gritters and specialist vehicles used by the Lincolnshire Laboratory service.

The report notes that TCL currently employs 89 staff, has 68 vehicles and six depots.

The report also notes that the County Council has entered into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Rutland County Council to deliver its demand responsive transport. TCL is operating the three Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services in that County since April 2025.

The final Financial Statements for 2024/25 show a net loss of £14,668, compared to a profit of £75,282 in 2023/24. The report states that TCL continues to face operating cost pressures with further increase in employees' costs in 2025/26.

Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee will be asked to review and comment on its work programme for the coming year. The report includes a forward plan of decisions relating to the Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee.