The Environment, Economic Growth and Transport Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday, 19 March 2026, to discuss local electric vehicle infrastructure and the review of public rights of way processes. Key decisions included formulating recommendations for the Cabinet Member on electric vehicle infrastructure, particularly concerning the LEVI fund and cross-pavement cable channels, and reviewing options to improve efficiency in public rights of way processes.

Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

The committee received an update on Lancashire's plans to support the transition to electric vehicles, focusing on two main areas: the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund and the provision of cross-pavement cable channels.

The LEVI fund, a national scheme, has allocated £10.1 million to Lancashire for the delivery of public charging points. This funding, supplemented by private sector investment, aims to increase the number of charging sockets to at least 6,000 by 2030. The council will partner with a chargepoint operator to influence the location, quality, and pricing of these chargers, ensuring they are accessible and competitively priced, especially for residents without off-street parking. A resident mapping tool will be launched to gather public input on desired locations.

Separately, a successful trial of cross-pavement cable channels, also known as 'cable trays', has led to the development of a business-as-usual service offer for residents who need to charge their electric vehicles from the street. Lancashire has received £650,000 in grant funding to subsidise the cost of these installations, which are delivered in-house by the council's Highways Service.

During the discussion, concerns were raised about the suitability of these solutions for terraced housing, the potential impact on electricity grids, and the timeline for meeting national targets. Councillor David Shaw highlighted the challenges in terraced streets, including parking issues and the potential for theft of cables. Councillor Paul Stubbins questioned the economies of scale for the council undertaking the work itself and suggested exploring shared cable trays between properties. Councillor Joel Tetlow raised concerns about the allocated funding for cable trays and whether it was sufficient for the demand across Lancashire.

In response, officers explained that the LEVI funding is specifically for residential areas and aims to provide affordable charging options. They also confirmed that the council's highways teams can deliver the cable tray installations at a comparable cost to private companies, while maintaining control over quality and asset management. The potential for co-charging and shared cable trays was acknowledged.

Councillor Fred Cottam proposed a recommendation for the Cabinet Member to consider the commercial viability and potential payback for Lancashire County Council on these projects, particularly exploring options for commercially viable locations and car parks. While acknowledging the grant limitations for industrial sites, the committee agreed to explore community charging locations and requested further information on the cost viability of lamppost charging.

Public Rights of Way Processes

The committee reviewed a report detailing potential efficiency improvements for public rights of way processes, prompted by an Ombudsman's investigation into delays in processing Definitive Map Modification Orders (DMMOs).

Several options were presented for consideration:

• Signage: Replacing missing fingerposts with waymark arrows on existing posts to reduce costs and installation time, while acknowledging safety risks for roadside work and potential for vandalism.
• Gates and Stiles: Investigating DEFRA grants to replace stiles with gates to improve accessibility, though grant eligibility is limited.
• Obstructions: Serving immediate notices on those responsible for obstructions, rather than the current practice of polite requests, to potentially speed up resolution and improve cost recovery.
• Deterrent Signs: Similar to obstructions, serving immediate notice for misleading deterrent signs.
• Enforcement Notices: Delegating the authority to prepare and serve enforcement notices to the Public Rights of Way Service, rather than Legal Services, to streamline the process.
• Definitive Map Modification Orders (DMMOs) and Public Path Orders (PPOs): Exploring the possibility of delegating decisions on DMMOs and PPOs to officers, or adopting a hybrid system involving local members or committee call-ins, to reduce delays and costs associated with Regulatory Committee approval.

Councillor David Shaw expressed concerns about replacing fingerposts, arguing they serve as a reminder of walkers' presence and can encourage exploration. Councillor Paul Stubbins, referencing a previous Ombudsman case in his area, advocated for a thorough review of the overall process between the DMMO team and Legal Services before considering delegation, emphasizing the benefits of scrutiny in preventing conflicts of interest and ensuring transparency. Councillor Chris Snow supported increased use of delegated powers for straightforward matters but stressed the importance of involving local members in potentially controversial decisions.

Following discussion, the committee reached a consensus to recommend that officers be empowered to serve notices for obstructions and deterrent signs (options 5 and 6), which was seen as a way to speed up processes and potentially save costs. The committee also agreed to defer the decision on delegating DMMO and PPO decisions (options 8 and 9) to a later date, opting to maintain scrutiny at this stage. A recommendation was made to the Cabinet Member to consider how the council can improve the DMMO process, focusing on the workflow between teams before considering removing the scrutiny stage.

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

The committee noted its work programme for the upcoming municipal year. An in-year request from Councillor Jordan Fox to review street lighting was considered. It was highlighted that a significant number of lighting columns are over 40 years old and in poor condition, with replacements delayed due to budget constraints and other priorities. The committee agreed to add the street lighting review to its April schedule.

The committee also discussed the deferral of a report on the street works permits lane rental scheme to the June meeting due to ongoing challenges with utility companies regarding traffic-sensitive streets.

Key lines of inquiry for the upcoming report on the Gully Cleaning Policy were discussed, with a consensus to include the adequacy of existing criteria and the need for representation from Highways Maintenance and Environment teams.

The meeting concluded with the date of the next meeting being set for Thursday, 23 April 2026.