Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council
Councillors:
54
Wards:
18
Committees:
23
Meetings (2026):
68
Meetings (2025):
75
Meeting
Resident Services Committee - Basingstoke & Dean
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 12th February 2026
6:30 PM
Thursday, 12th February 2026
6:30 PM
End:
Thursday, 12th February 2026
9:30 PM
Thursday, 12th February 2026
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
12 Feb 2026
12 Feb 2026
Location:
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Meeting Attendees
Committee Member
Reserve
Chair of the Human Resources Committee
Secretary
Ellie Cole
Expected
Committee Member
Councillor Alex Lee
Absent
Committee Member
Vice-Chair of the Audit and Accounts Committee
Reserve
Leader of the Conservative Group
Committee Member
Councillor Jenny Vaux
Present, as expected
Reserve
Councillor Paul Gaskell
Not required
Reserve
Deputy Leader of the Labour Group and Chair of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee
Vice-Chair
Vice-Chair of the Resident Services Committee
Committee Member
Chair of the Licensing Committee
Reserve
Chair of the South Ham & Buckskin Regeneration Committee
Reserve
Chair of the Investigating and Disciplinary and Standards Appeals Committee and Vice Chair of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes
Apologies were received from Councillor K Watts.
2
Declarations of interest
Minutes
There were no declarations of interest.
3
Minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2026
The Chair will move that the minutes of the meeting be signed as a correct record. The only part of the minutes that can be discussed is their accuracy.
Attachments:
- Document Minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2026 30 Jan 2026
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2026 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
4
Tackling Graffiti on Utility Cabinets
Contact Officer: Susan Croker
This report provides the Committee with the results of an in depth review into the Council’s approach to tackling graffiti on utility cabinets.
This report provides the Committee with the results of an in depth review into the Council’s approach to tackling graffiti on utility cabinets.
Attachments:
- Document Report 30 Jan 2026
Minutes
The Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and Housing introduced the report which provided the Committee with the results of an in-depth review into the Council’s approach to tackling graffiti on utility cabinets.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Made reference to examples where there was graffiti on Council owned buildings and the issue of political graffiti.
Queried the graffiti figures contained in the report. The Head of Environment and Community Services agreed to circulate a written response on the methodology after the meeting.
Questioned whether the contact centre could collect data on any calls they received from residents in relation to graffiti complaints. The Head of Environment and Community Services agreed that he would discuss the issue with the Director for Customers, Digital and Improvement.
Suggested that a dedicated contact for councillors to report issues would be useful.
Resolved: The Committee:
Notes the legislative powers and enforcement options available to the Council in relation to graffiti on utility boxes.
Endorses the proposed approach to strengthen engagement with utility companies to secure more timely removal or treatment of graffiti on their assets, including the use of preventative measures where appropriate.
Supports the improvements to the information provided on the Council’s website to help residents report graffiti on utility cabinets to the appropriate asset owner more easily and effectively.
Suggests that the item be reviewed in further detail at a future meeting.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Made reference to examples where there was graffiti on Council owned buildings and the issue of political graffiti.
Queried the graffiti figures contained in the report. The Head of Environment and Community Services agreed to circulate a written response on the methodology after the meeting.
Questioned whether the contact centre could collect data on any calls they received from residents in relation to graffiti complaints. The Head of Environment and Community Services agreed that he would discuss the issue with the Director for Customers, Digital and Improvement.
Suggested that a dedicated contact for councillors to report issues would be useful.
Resolved: The Committee:
Notes the legislative powers and enforcement options available to the Council in relation to graffiti on utility boxes.
Endorses the proposed approach to strengthen engagement with utility companies to secure more timely removal or treatment of graffiti on their assets, including the use of preventative measures where appropriate.
Supports the improvements to the information provided on the Council’s website to help residents report graffiti on utility cabinets to the appropriate asset owner more easily and effectively.
Suggests that the item be reviewed in further detail at a future meeting.
5
Weed Control in the Borough
Contact Officer: Susan Croker
This report provides an overview of the council’s approach to weed management across the borough.
This report provides an overview of the council’s approach to weed management across the borough.
Attachments:
- Document Report 30 Jan 2026
Minutes
The Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services and Housing introduced the report which provided the Committee with an overview of the council’s approach to weed management across the borough.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Noted the excellent work and improvements that the make a difference team had made to the wards.
Questioned whether glyphosate was animal safe. The Head of Environment and Community Services confirmed that it was animal safe and agreed to circulate a written response so that Councillors could use it to help respond to resident queries.
Raised concern in relation to some occasions where weed killers had been used excessively. The Head of Environment and Community Services confirmed that the Council was aware of the issue.
Suggested that the Council liaise with parish councillors to identify problem areas.
Welcomed the reduction in the use of glyphosate.
Resolved: The Committee
Notes the outcomes of the 2024 review of council’s approach to weed control on pavements and highways.
Notes the significant reduction in herbicide use achieved in 2025 through improved equipment and application methods.
Notes that officers will continue to monitor and evaluate emerging alternatives to glyphosate.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Noted the excellent work and improvements that the make a difference team had made to the wards.
Questioned whether glyphosate was animal safe. The Head of Environment and Community Services confirmed that it was animal safe and agreed to circulate a written response so that Councillors could use it to help respond to resident queries.
Raised concern in relation to some occasions where weed killers had been used excessively. The Head of Environment and Community Services confirmed that the Council was aware of the issue.
Suggested that the Council liaise with parish councillors to identify problem areas.
Welcomed the reduction in the use of glyphosate.
Resolved: The Committee
Notes the outcomes of the 2024 review of council’s approach to weed control on pavements and highways.
Notes the significant reduction in herbicide use achieved in 2025 through improved equipment and application methods.
Notes that officers will continue to monitor and evaluate emerging alternatives to glyphosate.
6
Review of the work programme
The Committee is asked to note and review its Work Programme and to receive updates from the Lead Members of Task and Finish Groups.
Attachments:
- Document Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme May v2 30 Jan 2026
- Document RSC Topics - policies and strategies 30 Jan 2026
Minutes
The Chair introduced the work programme and gave a brief overview of the items that would be included on the agenda for the upcoming meetings.
Previous Meetings
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