Basingstoke & Dean Borough Council
Councillors:
54
Wards:
18
Committees:
23
Meetings (2026):
68
Meetings (2025):
75
Meeting
Environment and Infrastructure Committee - Basingstoke & Dean
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Thursday, 5th February 2026
6:30 PM
Thursday, 5th February 2026
6:30 PM
End:
Thursday, 5th February 2026
9:30 PM
Thursday, 5th February 2026
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
05 Feb 2026
05 Feb 2026
Location:
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Committee Rooms 1 & 2 - Deanes
Meeting Attendees
Reserve
Chair of the South Ham & Buckskin Regeneration Committee
Committee Member
Vice-Chair of the Resident Services Committee
Committee Member
Committee Member
Chair of the Investigating and Disciplinary and Standards Appeals Committee and Vice Chair of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee
Secretary
Ellie Cole
Not required
Officer
Communications
Not required
Committee Member
Chair
Deputy Leader of the Labour Group and Chair of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee
Reserve
Councillor Jenny Vaux
Present, as substitute
Reserve
Councillor Hayley Eachus
Not required
Reserve
Councillor Alex Lee
Not required
Committee Member
Chair of the Resources Committee
Reserve
Leader of the Conservative Group
Committee Member
Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecological Emergency
Agenda
1
Apologies for absence and substitutions
Minutes
Councillor Carr was replaced by Councillor Vaux.
Councillor Tuck was replaced by Councillor Grassi.
Councillor Tuck was replaced by Councillor Grassi.
2
Declarations of interest
Minutes
There were no declaration of interest.
3
Minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2025
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 4 September 2025 28 Jan 2026
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2025 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
4
Biodiversity Strategy Annual Report 2025-26
Contact Officer: Rebecca Aziz
This report sets out the background context of the Biodiversity Strategy, provides the Committee with a summary of key updates since its adoption, and monitoring updates on the Strategy priorities.
This report sets out the background context of the Biodiversity Strategy, provides the Committee with a summary of key updates since its adoption, and monitoring updates on the Strategy priorities.
Attachments:
- Document Report 28 Jan 2026
Minutes
The Cabinet Member for Climate and Ecological Emergency introduced the report which set out the background context of the Biodiversity Strategy and provided the Committee with a summary of key updates since its adoption, and monitoring updates on the Strategy priorities.
The Chair invited visiting speaker Gill Smallman to address the Committee, her comments included:
Welcomed the Councils commitment to support local biodiversity through the delivery of the Biodiversity Strategy.
Eastrop park was an opportunity for biodiversity improvement within the town centre.
Welcomed further engagement between the Council and Natural Basingstoke.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Questioned why the target for Biodiversity net gain was not higher and requested that the council pursue a higher target wherever it was possible to do so.
Stated that they would like to see more engagement with schools.
Stressed the importance of enforcing BNG commitments and hedgerow policies.
Congratulated Officers on their work on the new nature reserve in Evingar.
Would like to see the work with the Housing Association prioritised more in the coming year.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
The Chair invited visiting speaker Gill Smallman to address the Committee, her comments included:
Welcomed the Councils commitment to support local biodiversity through the delivery of the Biodiversity Strategy.
Eastrop park was an opportunity for biodiversity improvement within the town centre.
Welcomed further engagement between the Council and Natural Basingstoke.
The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments:
Questioned why the target for Biodiversity net gain was not higher and requested that the council pursue a higher target wherever it was possible to do so.
Stated that they would like to see more engagement with schools.
Stressed the importance of enforcing BNG commitments and hedgerow policies.
Congratulated Officers on their work on the new nature reserve in Evingar.
Would like to see the work with the Housing Association prioritised more in the coming year.
Resolved: The Committee notes the report.
5
Review of 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 28 Jan 2026
- Document Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan Review - Chatburn 28 Jan 2026
Minutes
Councillor Izett suggested that the Committee consider an item on Manydown South and Manydown North and agreed to complete a topic suggestion form.
The Committee agreed to appoint a task and finish group on Biodiversity and appointed Councillors Harper, Chatburn and Slimin as members.
Councillor Chatburn gave an overview of the topic suggestion forms that he had recently submitted, and it was agreed that these would be reviewed after the meeting.
The Committee agreed to appoint a task and finish group on Biodiversity and appointed Councillors Harper, Chatburn and Slimin as members.
Councillor Chatburn gave an overview of the topic suggestion forms that he had recently submitted, and it was agreed that these would be reviewed after the meeting.
Previous Meetings
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