The Environment, Economic Growth and Transport Scrutiny Committee of Lancashire County Council met on Thursday 18 December 2025 to discuss the operational status of household waste recycling centres, the framework for street works, and the committee's work programme for the upcoming year. The committee approved recommendations concerning all three of these key areas.

Household Waste Recycling Centres

The committee reviewed a report detailing the current issues and operational performance of Lancashire County Council's household waste recycling centre (HWRC) network. The report highlighted that the council operates 15 HWRCs and one Community Recycling and Reuse Centre (CRRC). Many of these facilities are dated and, in some cases, too small to accommodate modern standards and increasing visitor numbers. The report noted that several sites are struggling to cope with demand, leading to congestion and longer queuing times during peak periods. Furthermore, none of the facilities are currently fully compliant with modern environmental permit standards without significant investment.

Key issues identified include:

• Infrastructure: The size and suitability of HWRC infrastructure vary, with some facilities being significantly smaller than others. Changes in regulations require more waste types to be separated, increasing the number of containers needed, which smaller sites struggle to accommodate.
• Compliance: The majority of HWRCs operate under older 'Bespoke' environmental permits. The Environment Agency is encouraging a move to 'Standard Rules Permits', but none of Lancashire's facilities are currently fully compliant. Some will require minor modifications, while others would need substantial investment, raising questions about value for money for smaller, older sites.
• Security: Intrusion and vandalism are significant concerns at most HWRCs, with intruders rummaging through skips, damaging fences, and leaving waste strewn around. Overnight security guards are the most effective solution but would cost over £1.5 million annually. While the police provide some patrols, they cannot offer the necessary resources. CCTV is present at some sites but is often not downloadable, preventing its use as evidence.
• Visitor Numbers and Tonnages: The council's recycling centres receive over 3 million visitors annually and manage over 100,000 tonnes of waste. There has been a 14.4% increase in visitor numbers and a 21.9% increase in waste received over the last three years, attributed to population and housing changes.
• Recycling Rates: Across the network, 61.3% of waste is diverted for recycling, reuse, or composting. Carnforth HWRC performs best at 68.7%, while Altham is the lowest at 53.2%.
• Inert Waste: There has been a significant increase in inert waste, including plasterboard, since the COVID-19 pandemic. This is partly due to legislative changes classifying more 'DIY waste' as household waste. The increase is estimated to be costing the council over £0.5 million per annum. A new policy is being developed to limit householder deliveries of inert waste.
• Commercial Waste: The delivery of commercial or 'trade' waste to HWRCs is an ongoing issue. It is illegal for businesses to deposit such waste, and for the council to knowingly accept it. Identifying trade waste can be difficult, and it is estimated that around 10% of waste received could be trade waste, costing taxpayers. The introduction of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems is being considered to address this.

The committee noted that these issues are being addressed through a waste service transformation programme. The committee approved the recommendations from the report, which included considering how the council should approach investment in HWRCs to improve site security and compliance.

Street Works

The committee received a report explaining how utility companies operate when working on the highway and Lancashire County Council's role as the street authority. The report detailed the regulatory framework, permitting processes, traffic management requirements, and inspection procedures governing street works.

Key aspects discussed included:

• Regulatory Framework: Utility companies are statutory undertakers with powers to place their infrastructure in the highway, governed by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the Traffic Management Act 2004.
• Permitting: All highway authorities in England operate permit schemes, requiring utility companies, developers, and others to obtain a permit before commencing works on the highway, except for emergency works. The permit scheme is described as being more akin to a road booking system than a grant of permission.
• Traffic Management: Utility companies are legally responsible for ensuring the safety of their workforce and highway users through appropriate traffic management, adhering to the national code of practice, Safety at Street Works and Road Works.
• Over-Occupation of the Highway: Section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act allows the county council to charge utility companies for exceeding agreed work durations, with charges ranging from £10 to £100 per day. Lancashire County Council actively implements this, issuing over £170,000 in charges in the 2024/25 financial year.
• Inspections: Utility companies are responsible for reinstating the highway after works, following the Reinstatement of Openings in the Highway Code of Practice. The highway authority can conduct sample inspections, with costs recoverable from utility companies based on their performance. The report detailed failure rates for different inspection categories, with Category B (following reinstatement) showing the highest failure rate at 16.05% between April 2024 and March 2025.
• Co-ordinating Works: The New Roads and Street Works Act places a duty on the county council to coordinate works on the highway, primarily through the permit scheme. However, utility companies are not statutorily obligated to share long-term plans, making coordination challenging, especially with the high volume of works and short notice periods.
• Lane Rental: A feasibility study is underway to assess the suitability of a lane rental scheme in Lancashire. This scheme aims to reduce disruption by charging utility companies for occupying road space during peak times, capped at £2,500 per day. The outcome of the study is expected in Spring 2026.

The committee noted the report for information and approved recommendations to consider formulating any recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport. A further report on lane rental schemes is scheduled for Spring 2026.

Environment, Economic Growth and Transport Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025/26

The committee reviewed and approved its work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. The work programme outlines the planned scrutiny activities for the year, focusing on climate change, the environment, highways and transport, and economic development and growth.

Key decisions made regarding the work programme included:

• Noting the work programme for 2025/26 and approving the scheduling of an additional meeting for Thursday 23 April 2026.
• Noting the formal written responses from County Councillor Warren Goldsworthy, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, regarding the committee's recommendations on Repairing Our Road Network – Overview of the TAMP .
• Noting the formal written responses from County Councillor Joshua Roberts, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, regarding the committee's recommendations on Public Rights of Way - Processing of Definitive Map Modification Orders .
• Discussing and confirming key lines of enquiry for the report to be presented at the next scheduled meeting on 29 January 2026.

The committee also noted that the appendices to the report contained detailed information on the work programme, including responses from Cabinet Members and specific topics to be scheduled or placed on a reserve list. The committee approved the work programme as presented.