The Environment, Economic Growth and Transport Scrutiny Committee discussed the proposed Lancashire Waste Strategy, A Low Waste Lancashire, and local safety schemes. The committee resolved to support the adoption of the waste strategy, subject to further consideration of recommendations regarding commercial waste services and producer responsibility. For local safety schemes, the committee recommended incorporating verified speed data as an additional assessment criterion and exploring an increase in the budget for smaller schemes, with greater councillor involvement.

Lancashire Waste Strategy: A Low Waste Lancashire

The committee reviewed the proposed Lancashire Waste Strategy, A Low Waste Lancashire, which outlines a ten-year plan from 2026 to 2036. The strategy, developed in partnership with 15 local authorities across Lancashire, aims to reduce waste, improve recycling rates, and deliver value for money for residents. Over 4,700 responses were received during the public consultation, with a majority expressing support for the strategy's vision and objectives.

Key priorities within the strategy include:

• Reducing waste and developing a circular economy: This involves recognising waste as a resource, promoting waste prevention, reuse, repair, and engaging with residents, businesses, and manufacturers.
• Delivering high-quality, good value local services: This focuses on providing accessible and efficient services, fostering partnerships, and ensuring value for money.
• Reducing carbon and improving sustainability: This aims to increase recycling rates, reduce the environmental impact of waste management, and minimise waste sent for disposal.

During the discussion, councillors raised concerns about the demographic representation in the consultation, the effectiveness of the strategy in tackling fly-tipping, and the accessibility of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). There was also a significant discussion regarding the responsibilities of producers versus consumers in waste reduction, with a recommendation made to write to Lancashire MPs to advocate for government action on packaging.

Several recommendations were made regarding the strategy's implementation:

• Commercial Waste Services: The committee requested that a separate report be brought back in January 2027, detailing options for handling and managing commercial waste, including potential additional services for small businesses on a charge basis. This report will also consider the feasibility of repurposing existing sites for commercial waste disposal.
• Producer Responsibility: A recommendation was made to write to Lancashire MPs to advocate for government action on packaging waste reduction.
• Waste Strategy Adoption: The committee resolved to support the report as presented, with the caveat that Cabinet members and officers should consider the recommendations made and bring back further information in a subsequent report.

Local Safety Schemes Assessment Process

The committee reviewed the current arrangements for delivering road safety measures in Lancashire, focusing on the assessment process for Local Safety Schemes. The current criteria for prioritising schemes are based on collision data, specifically the number of injury collisions and the percentage of Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) collisions.

Councillors expressed concerns that this data-driven approach is reactive and does not adequately address perceived safety issues where accidents have not yet occurred. A key recommendation put forward was to incorporate verified speed survey data as an additional criterion for assessing and prioritising engineering solutions. This aims to allow for more preventative measures to be considered.

Further discussion highlighted the challenges of limited budgets and the need for a balance between addressing evidenced injury collisions and responding to community concerns about potential hazards. The committee also discussed the sustainability of road safety measures, the effectiveness of interactive signs, and the potential for reintroducing safe routes to school programmes.

Key recommendations and points of discussion included:

• Incorporating Verified Speed Data: The committee recommended that verified speed survey data be used as an additional criterion for assessing local safety schemes, alongside existing collision data.
• Increasing Budget for Smaller Schemes: A proposal was made to consider increasing the modest revenue budget for smaller-scale interventions, such as signage and white-lining, to allow for more councillor-driven directives and address resident concerns more effectively.
• Safe Routes to School Programme: The committee recommended that the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport consider reintroducing a safe routes to school programme, acknowledging the potential life-saving benefits despite budget constraints.
• Sustainability of Schemes: Concerns were raised about the long-term sustainability and maintenance of road safety measures, particularly interactive signs, and the need for a more robust approach to ensure their continued effectiveness.
• Communication with Councillors: The committee highlighted a need for improved communication between highways officers and councillors regarding the progress of local safety schemes to ensure better information flow to residents.

Work Programme 2026/27

The committee reviewed its work programme for the upcoming municipal year. A task and finish group to look at highway maintenance was discussed, with efforts to be made to schedule its first meeting promptly. The committee also agreed to include Resident Parking Schemes and the waste strategy and anaerobic digestive savings topic on its work programme for future review.

The next meeting of the Environment, Economic Growth and Transport Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for Thursday, 17 December 2026.