The Highways, Transport and Waste Overview and Scrutiny Committee are scheduled to meet to discuss the next steps for delivering the Local Transport Plan (LTP4) 2025-2040, and the government's Collection and Packaging Reforms. The meeting will also include an opportunity for questions from the public and committee members.

Delivering the Local Transport Plan (LTP4) 2025-2040

The committee is scheduled to discuss the development of the Enabling Travel Choice Strategy (ETCS) and the progress of three Multi-Modal Area Investment Plans (MMAIPs) pilots in Market Harborough, South Leicestershire and Hinckley. These initiatives form part of the wider Local Transport Plan (LTP4) 2025-2040.

The LTP4 Core Document was approved by the Cabinet on 22 November 2024 and by the County Council on 2 July 2025.

The ETCS will explain how the council intends to enable residents and workers in the county to make informed travel choices. It will encompass all relevant modes of transport, not just sustainable options, and aims to improve access to services and facilities such as workplaces, schools, healthcare, shops and leisure opportunities. The ETCS will focus on understanding and addressing communities' needs, including health, economic circumstances, and educational attainment.

The ETCS will cover two key areas:

• Working with existing communities to understand their travel barriers and enable realistic travel choices.
• Collaborating with Local Planning Authorities and developers to deliver sustainable developments with good transport connections.

The report pack outlines six draft key 'policy positions' for the ETCS:

1. Understanding Communities' Needs: The council aims to work with partners to understand the needs of Leicestershire's communities, including their health, economic circumstances and educational attainment, to enable travel choices and tackle barriers to accessing essential services.
2. Working Through the Local Plan Process: The council intends to work with district councils to ensure Local Plans¹ accurately reflect accessibility to services and facilities and promote sustainable development.
3. Working with Local Planning Authorities and Site Promoters: The council will expect site promoters to provide a clear vision for new developments, demonstrating how they will improve transport choices and meet community needs.
4. Piloting New and Innovative Ideas: The council aims to proactively pilot new transport solutions to meet community and business needs.
5. Considering 'Value for Money': The council will consider the wider benefits of transport interventions, such as addressing health issues, tackling environmental concerns, and reducing inequality.
6. Facilitating Efficient Delivery of Safe and Suitable Infrastructure: The council intends to foster a positive approach to design departures from highway infrastructure standards, provided that schemes meet certain criteria and objectives, such as supporting the principles of LTP4 and aligning with local plans.

The MMAIPs will focus on specific areas of the county, addressing local issues and priorities related to transport and accessibility. Drafts for the three pilot MMAIPs will be prepared, informed by an initial consultation exercise.

An initial consultation exercise, branded as 'The Big Travel Survey', is scheduled to take place during November and December 2025 to gather feedback from communities, businesses, partners, and stakeholders. The consultation will inform the development of the draft ETCS document and the draft MMAIPs.

Collection and Packaging Reforms

The committee is scheduled to receive a summary of the government's Collection and Packaging Reforms (CPRs). These reforms aim to increase recycling rates, promote sustainable packaging, and reduce waste.

The CPRs consist of three main components:

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): This makes producers responsible for the post-use stage of their products, incentivising them to design more recyclable packaging. From 1 April 2025, local authorities will be compensated by packaging producers for the costs of managing household packaging waste.
• Deposit Return Scheme (DRS): This scheme, scheduled to launch across the UK in October 2027, charges consumers a deposit on drinks containers, which can be redeemed when the empty containers are returned to designated points.
• Simpler Recycling: From 31 March 2026, all local authorities in England must collect the same recyclable waste streams from households, including paper, card, plastic, glass, and metal. Weekly food waste collections must also be arranged.

The government has indicated that it will provide funding to cover the costs of new statutory duties for local authorities, including weekly food waste collections.

The anticipated total EPR for packaging payment for the financial year 2025/26 is £5,731,429, with a one-off in year top up from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government of £601,571.