The Highways, Transport and Waste Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting scheduled for 5 March 2026 was set to cover a range of important topics concerning the county's infrastructure and services. Key discussions were planned around road casualty reduction, the proposed highways and transportation capital and works programmes for the upcoming year, and an update on the 2025/26 highways drainage programme. The committee was also scheduled to review performance reports for highways, transport, and waste services up to December 2025.

Road Casualty Reduction in Leicestershire

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing the approach to road casualty reduction in Leicestershire. The report provided an update on confirmed road casualty statistics up to the end of 2024, outlining the council's strategy and Leicestershire Police's efforts in road safety. This discussion was framed within the context of the council's Strategic Plan (2024-26) and its Road Safety Strategy (RSS), which aims for zero deaths by 2050. The report detailed collision data management, including collection, validation, and data quality, as well as changes to the STATS19 specification. It highlighted that while overall casualties in Leicestershire were among the lowest on record in 2024, Killed or Seriously Injured (KSI) casualties had increased. The report also detailed the council's approach to casualty reduction, including collision investigation, site prioritisation, and ongoing schemes, as well as community speed enforcement initiatives and road safety education programmes. The Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland Road Safety Partnership (LLRRSP) was also discussed, outlining its collaborative efforts to reduce road casualties.

Environment and Transport 2026/27 Highways and Transportation Capital Programme and Works Programme

The committee was presented with the proposed Environment and Transport Department's 2026/27 Highways and Transportation Capital Programme and Works Programme. These programmes, developed in accordance with the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2026/27 to 2029/30, outline planned investments in the county's transport infrastructure. The report detailed funding allocations from the Department for Transport (DfT), including the Integrated Transport Fund (ITF) and Bus Services Fund (BSF). Significant planned expenditures included major schemes such as the Zouch Bridge replacement, the Melton Depot replacement, and improvements in Market Harborough. The programme also detailed allocations for minor schemes, safety initiatives, active travel infrastructure, and the county council's vehicle replacement programme. A substantial portion of the budget was allocated to the Transport Asset Management Programme, focusing on capital maintenance works for roads, footways, bridges, and street lighting. The report acknowledged the challenges of population growth, climate resilience, and the deteriorating condition of highway assets, emphasising the need for proactive investment.

2025/26 Highways Drainage Programme and Works Update

An update was provided on the delivery of highway drainage works as part of the 2025/26 Highways and Transportation Capital Programme and Works Programme. The report highlighted the ongoing challenges faced, including increased costs due to inflation, underfunding in previous years, and the growing impact of severe weather events. It detailed the revenue and capital programmes for gully emptying, drainage repairs, and flood alleviation schemes. The report noted that while the gully emptying service was on target, there had been an increase in reactive cleansing and high-pressure jetting due to customer enquiries and flooding events. Looking ahead to 2026/27, additional funding from council reserves and carbon reduction initiatives was expected to support increased cleansing and repairs. The report also discussed the demand for highway drainage services, customer enquiries, and the prioritisation of work based on risk.

Highways, Transport and Waste Performance Report to December 2025

The committee received a performance update on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Highways, Transport, and Waste Services up to December 2025. The report provided a performance summary of all HTW KPIs supporting the council's aims, with detailed dashboards showing the latest data, direction of travel, targets, and comparative quartile positions. For Highways and Transport, satisfaction with the condition of highways remained in the top quartile despite a decline in satisfaction levels. Satisfaction with local bus services had declined, moving Leicestershire to the fourth quartile. Local bus passenger journeys remained similar to the long-term average. Satisfaction with cycle routes and pavements also saw declines, though pavement satisfaction remained in the top quartile. Satisfaction with traffic levels and congestion declined, placing the county in the third quartile. In road safety, Leicestershire was noted as a high-performing authority, with several indicators in the top quartile. Provisional data indicated that total casualties on Leicestershire roads had met their target, but KSI casualties had not. Waste performance showed a slight decline in the percentage of household waste recycled, narrowly missing its target, while the percentage of municipal waste sent to landfill had improved and achieved its target. Total household waste per household had also slightly declined.