The Economic Development, Transport and Climate Emergency Scrutiny Commission met to discuss local transport funding, the Bus Service Improvement Plan, and the approach to informal sessions on the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. The commission was also scheduled to receive an overview of economic development, transport, and the climate emergency in Leicester. Additionally, the meeting included a review of the commission's work programme and responses to questions raised by members of the public.

Local Transport Funding

The City Transport Director was scheduled to submit a report to the commission providing details of government grants made available for transport improvements in the 2025/26 financial year. The report, titled Local Transport Funding Report EDTCE Final June 25, outlined the projects and programmes these grants would support.

The report stated that the council had received £21.9 million in additional funding through various grants:

• Active Travel Fund 5 (ATF5): £655,995
• Local Transport Grant (LTG): £9,520,000
• Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP): £9,353,305
• Consolidated Active Travel Fund (CATF): £2,002,773
• Local Transport Resource Grant (LTRG): £360,000
• Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG): £100,287

The report detailed the specific terms and intentions of each grant. For example, the Local Transport Grant, issued solely to authorities in the North and Midlands, may be spent on a variety of transport projects, but cannot be spent on heavy rail or projects affecting the Strategic Road Network¹.

The report also outlined proposed projects and schemes for each grant, including:

• Replacing temporary features around Knighton Drive and Newstead Road with permanent measures.
• Delivering a rolling pedestrian crossing programme, including schemes in Avebury Avenue, St Barnabus Road, and Ethel Road.
• Establishing a neighbourhood improvement fund for local public realm improvements.
• Delivering the Orwell Drive cycle link, near Beaumont Leys shopping centre.
• Undertaking design work on future strategic cycle links.

Bus Service Improvement Plan Grant

The City Transport Director was scheduled to submit a report providing details of the Department for Transport's 2025/26 Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) to members of the commission. The report, titled BSIP Report Final EDTCE June 2025, outlined the intended approach for the deployment of funds related to BSIP and BSOG.

Leicester's Bus Service Improvement Plan 2024-2036 serves as the strategic framework for the investment and expansion of passenger transport across the city and underpins the work of the Leicester Buses Partnership.

For 2025/26, Leicester City Council was awarded £9.453m from the Department for Transport's Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) grant, comprised of £5.166m capital and £4.092m revenue. Further funding is available under the Bus Service Operators Grant (£100,287) and BSIP Capability (£94,000) for the 2025/26 financial year.

The report outlined a proposed programme that prioritises:

• Areas where there is the opportunity to secure private sector investment.
• Deliverability against the March 2026 spend deadline.
• Opportunities to deploy capital investment to lasting benefit.
• Areas likely to improve integration measures within the BSIP.
• Improving the ability for users to access the network.

The proposed programme includes:

• Operating a local grant scheme for the purchase of up to 48 electric buses.
• Continuing support for services such as the Orbital, Hop!, and Park and Ride.
• Maintaining the current Real Time Information Estate.
• Providing targeted support to increase frequency on key Mainline and Greenline routes.
• Undertaking additional branding, marketing, and promotional work across the Leicester flexi area.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan

The City Transport Director was scheduled to discuss with the commission how they wished to approach informal scrutiny sessions on the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan. The commission was scheduled to be provided with details on the proposed plan and to be made aware of the forthcoming consultation.

Questions, Representations and Statements of Case

The commission was scheduled to consider questions raised by Dr Patel and Dr Spowage.

Dr Patel asked about new parking signs around the city that do not include 'Monday-Sat' or 'Monday -Fri', and whether this means that street parking fees now apply 7 days a week. Dr Patel asked why this change was not clearly stated in the relevant Executive Decision report, whether parking charges still apply on bank holidays, and whether the signs could be changed back so there are no parking charges on Sunday.

Dr Spowage asked why there are no automatic bollards on the Granby Street Pedestrian and Cycle Zone between Northampton Street and St Georges Way. Dr Spowage stated that the bollards were on the plans presented to the committee on 13 October 2021, and that the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership delivery plan for 2022/2023 noted that the Granby Street scheme is now complete. Dr Spowage also stated that the Pedestrian and Cycle Zone is used as a cruising strip by motorists, with up to seventeen vehicles at a time illegally parked and illegally driving along this section of Granby Street.

Other Business

The commission was scheduled to review its work programme and consider suggestions for additional items. The EDTCE Draft Work Programme 2025 to 2026 included items such as a marketplace update, an update on the Leicester and Leicestershire Business Skills Partnership, and a discussion of Get Britain Working².