The Environment, Economic Growth and Transport Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the Transport Asset Management Plan (TAMP), and to consider the committee's work programme for 2025-26. The committee agreed to investigate options for developer contributions to highways improvements, and decided to defer decisions on several in-year requests for the work programme, pending further information.

Transport Asset Management Plan (TAMP) Refresh

The committee reviewed proposals for Phase 3 of the TAMP, which are due to be considered by the cabinet member for highways and transport on 27 November 2025. Once approved, the highway maintenance strategy within the TAMP will inform the capital programme for 2026/27, to be considered by full council in February 2026.

The plan sets the priorities for managing highway assets, with a focus on maintaining A, B, and C road classifications, and addressing potholes. The proposals include:

• Rolling out the 'Confirmed' asset management system
• Delivering improved repairs under a new managed service contract
• Improving the fault reporting app
• Using artificial intelligence (AI) powered inspections
• Using technology and data analytics to improve decision-making
• Improving communication with local communities

Kirsty Williams, Interim Head of Service Highways Operations and Design, introduced the Highway Safety Inspection Policy, explaining that it sets out how the council demonstrates it has taken reasonable care of people on the highway network. She also discussed new approaches to defect repairs using AI, explaining:

It's important to understand it's a pilot. Like I say, it's learning as we go. So we're pumping it full of information at the moment. We want it to learn. But we've currently got three of these machines on the network.

Councillor County David Whipp raised concerns about the lifespan of surface dressing, a road maintenance method, particularly on rural routes, and whether it is a cost-effective way of maintaining the highway network. He noted that surface dressing carried out 10 years ago is breaking up, and the carriageways are deteriorating.

Councillor County John R Singleton JP suggested that the council should seek contributions from developers for highways improvements. Councillor County David Whipp spoke against the suggestion, stating that any contributions must be directly related to the development in question, and that a general payment for maintaining the highway would be illegal. The committee agreed to investigate options to maximise developer contributions for highways improvements, where legally possible.

Councillor County David Whipp also raised concerns about a shift of resources away from residential roads towards the ABC network, and the impact on repairs in those areas.

Work Programme 2025/26

The committee considered its work programme for 2025/26, including five in-year requests for topics to be added to the programme.

The committee voted against including items related to net zero and decarbonisation on the work programme.

The committee agreed to consider the following items for inclusion in the work programme at a later date:

• Flood Risk Management
• The Love Clean Streets app
• Local Transport Grants
• Bus Service Improvement Plan
• Cultural Tourism Strategy

The Lancashire Skills and Employment Framework is already scheduled for January 2026 as part of 'Getting Lancashire Working'.

The committee also agreed to a briefing on how the work of the committee will transfer to the Lancashire Combined County Authority¹.