Consultation outcome - increase of Lincolnshire Permit Scheme (LiPS) fees

Executive summary

The consultation on proposed changes to Lincolnshire’s Permit Scheme fees ran for 30 days from 10 November to 10 December 2025.

There were 88 responses to the consultation from a broad range of stakeholders, including residents, councillors, utilities, and other organisations.

Of the 88 responses, the majority, 79 (89.8%) agreed with the proposal to increase the permit scheme fees, 6 (6.8%) said they shouldn’t be increased and 3 (3.4%) were unsure.

Since its introduction in 2016, the Lincolnshire Permit Scheme (LiPS) has operated close to cost-neutral. However, rising administration costs and factors raised in the consultation document show that this now exceed income, creating a forecast deficit unless fees are adjusted.

Findings will be published on the Let’s Talk Lincolnshire platform, and Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) intends to implement the revised fees from 5 January 2026 to ensure the scheme remains sustainable and effective.

Introduction and stakeholders

The Lincolnshire Permit Scheme (LiPS) was introduced in 2016 to better manage and co-ordinate works on the highway within Lincolnshire. Permit schemes are now a Department for Transport statutory requirement nationally. The scheme requires works promoters planning to carry out work affecting the highway, such as a utility company or the Council’s own contractors to seek permission prior to starting work.

Permit fees associated with the LiPS scheme were established to cover the cost of the operating the service with the intension that the service remains cost neutral (with respect to utility works). Since 2016, the total fee income for utility works has closely met the cost to deliver the service with modest variances placed within a ringfenced reserve. Whilst this has worked well for a number of years, the cost to administer the scheme has started to outweigh the income received and the LiPS scheme is forecast to remain operating in a deficit unless permit fees are increased.

Stakeholders

As per Regulation 3(1), the consultation included:

• every person who carries out works in the proposed specified area from time to time, to the extent the Permit Authority is aware of them doing so;
• every local authority other than the Permit Authority in whose area is situated any street to which the proposed permit scheme relates;
• where any street to which the proposed permit scheme relates is in Greater London, Transport for London (not applicable);
• where any street to which the proposed permit scheme relates is in the passenger transport area of a Passenger Transport Executive, the relevant Passenger Transport Executive;
• the emergency services which operate in the proposed specified area;
• the Secretary of State; and such other persons as the Permit Authority considers appropriate - the council deemed it appropriate to consult with all our council elected members and members of the public via Let’s Talk Lincolnshire

There were 88 responses to the survey, 71 from Lincolnshire residents, 11 were from councillors, 4 were from undertakers of works or promoters and 2 were from representatives of organisations.

Methodology and findings

A survey was hosted on the Let’s talk Lincolnshire platform. The consultation was open for 30 days from 10 November to 10 December 2025.

Two key documents were placed on the platform, these were the consultation document and the Permit Scheme for Road Works and Street Works (Variation) Order 2025.

A written invite to comment was sent directly to primary stakeholders (specified above).

Utilities were given the opportunity discuss the consultation at the Lincolnshire Highways Authorities and Utilities Committee co-ordination meeting on 3 December 2025.

Newsletters including:

• Town and parish council newsletter
• County Catch Up
• Let’s talk newsletter (5,400 recipients)

Findings

The project page had 467 visits from 418 individuals and representatives.

The majority (214) came to the project page from newsletters that were sent out to residents that are signed up to receive news of engagement activities. 134 came direct because of targeted communications.

74 potential respondents downloaded key documents (72% were the consultation document).

Over 410 people viewed more than one project page (418).

Almost 85 stakeholders (83) completed the survey to provide feedback. Another 5 responded directly to the service area giving a total of 88.

Of the 88 responses, 79 (89.8.%) agreed with the proposal to increase the permit scheme fees, 6 (6.8%) said they shouldn’t be increased and 3 (3.4%) were unsure.

There were responses from 71 residents, 66 agreed, 4 disagreed and 1 was unsure about the proposal.

There were responses from 11 councillors, 10 agreed with the proposal to increase permit scheme fees and 1 was unsure.

Four undertakers of work responded, 2 agreed with the proposal and 2 disagreed.

Responses from 2 local interest groups were also in support of the proposal.

When the comments were analysed, the main responses are as follows:

• support for increasing fees (general approval): 21
  • many respondents said the proposal is fair/reasonable, overdue, or needed, including several parish or town councils expressing support
• fees should cover costs or be cost‑neutral (no taxpayer subsidy): 10
  • strong view that the scheme should at least break even and not be subsidised by council taxpayers; utilities/contractors should pay
• better coordination and collaborative working (including discounts): 7
  • requests to plan and consolidate works so roads aren’t dug up multiple times; suggestions to incentivise collaboration
• costs will be passed to customer bills (acknowledged/concern): 7
  • recognition that utilities may pass costs to customers, but several felt that is preferable to council taxpayers subsidising
• deposits, retention or stronger post‑works inspections: 6
  • calls for a deposit or retention (or rigorous inspections and defect management) to ensure quality reinstatement
• implementation timing, staged increases or inflation linkage: 6
  • suggestions to index to inflation, have regular annual reviews, or specific timing
• oppose increase, reduce or remove need for permits: 6
  • suggestions to reduce fees, make permits free, or remove the scheme altogether

Conclusion and next steps

The majority of respondents agreed with the proposal to increase permit scheme fees and all comments have been carefully considered. Our response to individual comments can be found in appendix A.

After careful consideration of the responses received, it is LCC’s intention to make the proposal the changes live from Monday 5 January 2026, as advised in the variation order.

Enquiries can be made be sent by email to: PermitConsultation@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

Appendices

• appendix A - LiPS consultation responses
• appendix B - variation order

These can be found on the permit scheme fees consultation - Let's Talk Lincolnshire page.

The proposed revised fee structure table is shown below:

Lincolnshire County Council