Purpose

A Lane Rental Scheme (LRS) is a regulatory
framework that allows highway authorities to charge utility
companies and contractors a daily fee for occupying the most
traffic-sensitive roads at the busiest times. The aim is to
incentivise faster, more efficient roadworks and minimise
disruption to road users.
 
Kirklees Council has developed a LRS and would
like to apply to the Secretary of State (SoS) for Transport for
powers to operate its scheme before the application deadline of 1
October 2025.
 
Cabinet (9 September 2025) delegated to
Executive Director Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder
Highways and Waste, the decision:
 
1.    to
consider feedback from the statutory consultation, and to amend the
Scheme if necessary following conclusion of statutory
consultation.
2.   
determine whether to make an application to Secretary of State to
operate a Lane Rental Scheme.
3.   
Take all required steps to implement the approved Scheme.
 
Whilst there is a duty for Highway Authorities
to manage and coordinate works and activities on the highway, there
is no duty for Kirklees Council to operate a Lane Rental
Scheme.
 
The Lane Rental Scheme was considered by
Cabinet on 9 September 2025; no declarations of interest were
registered.
 
The Lane Rental Scheme was also considered by
Environment and Climate Change Scrutiny on 20 November 2024.
 
Extensive engagement and consultation were
undertaken with statutory undertakers, other asset owners, and
relevant organisations to help formulate the Lane Rental Scheme.
Amendments to the Scheme were made following the conclusion of the
8-week statutory consultation period as a direct result of comments
made through that process.
 
 

Content

The Executive Director Place in conjunction
with the Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste, determined that
the Kirklees Lane Rental Scheme as amended following the statutory
consultation, should be submitted before 1 October 2025. Should the
Lane Rental Scheme be subsequently approved by the Department for
Transport, that the Lane Rental Scheme should be implemented.