Test Valley Borough Council
Councillors:
43
Wards:
21
Committees:
17
Meetings (2026):
29
Meetings (2025):
92
Meeting
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Test Valley
Meeting Times
Scheduled Time
Start:
Wednesday, 16th July 2025
5:30 PM
Wednesday, 16th July 2025
5:30 PM
End:
Wednesday, 16th July 2025
9:30 PM
Wednesday, 16th July 2025
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
16 Jul 2025
16 Jul 2025
Location:
Conference Room 1, Beech Hurst, Weyhill Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 3AJ
Conference Room 1, Beech Hurst, Weyhill Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 3AJ
Meeting Attendees
Officer
Director of Strategy and Innovation
James Moody
Expected
Officer
Head of Community Development
David Growcott
Expected
Guest
Deputy Leader and Finance and Resources Portfolio Holder
Agenda
1
Apologies
Minutes
Apologies were received from Councillors Adams King, Budzynski and Yalden.
2
Public Participation
Minutes
There was no public participation.
3
Declarations of Interest
Minutes
There were no declarations of interest.
4
Urgent Items
Minutes
There were no urgent items.
5
Minutes of the previous meeting
To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2025.
Attachments:
- Document $$Minutes 08 Jul 2025
Minutes
Councillor Daas proposed and Councillor Donnolly seconded the motion that the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2025 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
Resolved:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2025 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
Resolved:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2025 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
6
Call in Items
Minutes
There were no call in items.
7
Urgent decisions taken since last meeting
Minutes
There were no urgent decisions.
8
Update on the progress of the Corporate Action Plan Year two
The Leader to make a presentation which will provide the committee with an update on the progress made during year two of the Corporate Action Plan with a particular focus on Regeneration and Waste reform (60 minutes)
Attachments:
- Document OSCOM report CAP Year 2 08 Jul 2025
- Document CAP - Review of Year 2 - 2025 - OSCOM 16 July - final 08 Jul 2025
Minutes
Councillor North presented the Corporate Plan which included the strategic context, delivery of the generation schemes and the implementation of waste reform, delivery of the Council’s Corporate Action Plan and a look forward to the coming year. The leader provided context, noting unprecedented times with multiple initiatives happening simultaneously, such as offer initiatives and large-scale generation plans.
Discussions included the impact of local government reorganization, fair funding review, and the need to consider resource allocation. Updates were provided on regeneration projects, with ambitions to get the Western Avenue/Riverside Park Project and the new threatre underway.
The Romsey master plan was discussed, with progress in technical support and community engagement, including citizens assemblies. There were concerns about the timing of public consultation for the Romsey regeneration options paper, with discussions about involving Romsey Future members.
The Council is implementing changes to waste collection systems, including the introduction of food waste collection with caddies being rolled out and staff recruitment underway. The Council is also moving towards a twin stream cycling system however a new facility won’t be operational until late 2027, requiring ongoing compliance efforts.
Members raised concerns about the lack of defined timelines in the corporate action plan making it difficult to assess progress. The Leader clarified that project plans with physical timescales are in place especially for projects like the new theatre. There was discussion about the need for clarity on the direction of regeneration efforts and the Council’s priorities, with a focus on collaboration and stakeholder consultation.
The Council is creating and delivering a new rural strategy to increase the resilience of communities, building on a strong track record. Support is being provided to rural businesses through financial support and advanced schemes including a business support service. A rural delivery fund is being established to increase the resilience of rural communities and address their specific needs. The council is also supporting businesses in transitioning to low carbon with support for rural businesses and educational establishments.
The Council is working through the climate emergency action plan, including switching from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil for Fleet vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and efforts are being made to encourage businesses and residents to reduce their carbon footprint through grants and funding opportunities.
The Council is committed to ensuring no one should have to sleep rough in the borough without having been made an offer of emergency accommodation.
Partnerships are being leveraged to enhance community resilience, detrimental health action and community safety including working with the police and other agencies.
Members discussed:
· Enough resources to undertake all the projects
· Options paper for the South of Romsey Masterplan
· Planning permission for the demolition of unit 62 in 26/27 if design is approved with the theatre opening in 2028
· Same timescales for Western Avenue and Vigo Park
· Introduction of food waste collection and communication
· Twin waste scheme
· Multi Recovery Facility (MURF)
· Aspirations, projects and timings
· CAP targets
· Achievements over the last 12 months
· Accommodation
· Military Forum
· Feedback on partnership meetings
· Circulation of information from the Test Valley Partnership
The Chairman thanked the Leader and Chief Executive for their interesting presentation and update on major projects.
Discussions included the impact of local government reorganization, fair funding review, and the need to consider resource allocation. Updates were provided on regeneration projects, with ambitions to get the Western Avenue/Riverside Park Project and the new threatre underway.
The Romsey master plan was discussed, with progress in technical support and community engagement, including citizens assemblies. There were concerns about the timing of public consultation for the Romsey regeneration options paper, with discussions about involving Romsey Future members.
The Council is implementing changes to waste collection systems, including the introduction of food waste collection with caddies being rolled out and staff recruitment underway. The Council is also moving towards a twin stream cycling system however a new facility won’t be operational until late 2027, requiring ongoing compliance efforts.
Members raised concerns about the lack of defined timelines in the corporate action plan making it difficult to assess progress. The Leader clarified that project plans with physical timescales are in place especially for projects like the new theatre. There was discussion about the need for clarity on the direction of regeneration efforts and the Council’s priorities, with a focus on collaboration and stakeholder consultation.
The Council is creating and delivering a new rural strategy to increase the resilience of communities, building on a strong track record. Support is being provided to rural businesses through financial support and advanced schemes including a business support service. A rural delivery fund is being established to increase the resilience of rural communities and address their specific needs. The council is also supporting businesses in transitioning to low carbon with support for rural businesses and educational establishments.
The Council is working through the climate emergency action plan, including switching from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil for Fleet vehicles to reduce carbon emissions and efforts are being made to encourage businesses and residents to reduce their carbon footprint through grants and funding opportunities.
The Council is committed to ensuring no one should have to sleep rough in the borough without having been made an offer of emergency accommodation.
Partnerships are being leveraged to enhance community resilience, detrimental health action and community safety including working with the police and other agencies.
Members discussed:
· Enough resources to undertake all the projects
· Options paper for the South of Romsey Masterplan
· Planning permission for the demolition of unit 62 in 26/27 if design is approved with the theatre opening in 2028
· Same timescales for Western Avenue and Vigo Park
· Introduction of food waste collection and communication
· Twin waste scheme
· Multi Recovery Facility (MURF)
· Aspirations, projects and timings
· CAP targets
· Achievements over the last 12 months
· Accommodation
· Military Forum
· Feedback on partnership meetings
· Circulation of information from the Test Valley Partnership
The Chairman thanked the Leader and Chief Executive for their interesting presentation and update on major projects.
9
Programme of Work for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
To enable Members to keep the Committee’s future work programme under review (10 minutes)
Attachments:
- Document Work Programme - Report July 25 08 Jul 2025
- Document Work Programme - Annex 1 (Recovered) 08 Jul 2025
- Document Work Programme - Annex 2 08 Jul 2025
- Document Work Programme - Annex 3 08 Jul 2025
- Document Work Programme - Annex 4 08 Jul 2025
- Document Work Programme - Annex 5 08 Jul 2025
Minutes
The Chairman presented the Work Programme and gave an update on current activity and the Head of Strategy and Innovation reported that the Digital Inclusion round table will be held on 13 August to explore the opportunity of developing a scope for a panel. Project Management round table will be on 3 September 2025.
The Chairman requested updates from the Lead Member of the Housing (User Experience) and (Demand and Supply of Affordable Housing). Councillor Hasselmann explained that the next meeting will be held on 30 July due to the Local Plan exhibitions and would like time to circulate the report to the panel prior to it coming to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Parker echoed this and both Lead Members will attempt to get the reports reading for the August meeting.
Councillor Matthews gave an update on the Budget Panel. The panel had focused on business rates reset and the funding review which is likely to have a significant affect on future funding streams already built into the forecast. The results of the MHCLG consultation will be published in September and the Head of Finance and Revenues will bring an update to the next panel meeting. The panel also requested that the Fees and Charges report followed a similar format to last year with increases to services with clear public benefits to only be increased to providing those services and other areas being increased by inflation or at competitive levels.
Councillor Budzynski had indicated that he would like to remain on the Budget Panel.
Resolved:
1. That the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme (updated for July 2025), as shown in Annex 1 to the report, be approved.
2. That the update on Panels shown in Annex 2 to the report be noted.
3. That Councillor Budzynski be appointed to the Budget Panel.
The Chairman requested updates from the Lead Member of the Housing (User Experience) and (Demand and Supply of Affordable Housing). Councillor Hasselmann explained that the next meeting will be held on 30 July due to the Local Plan exhibitions and would like time to circulate the report to the panel prior to it coming to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Parker echoed this and both Lead Members will attempt to get the reports reading for the August meeting.
Councillor Matthews gave an update on the Budget Panel. The panel had focused on business rates reset and the funding review which is likely to have a significant affect on future funding streams already built into the forecast. The results of the MHCLG consultation will be published in September and the Head of Finance and Revenues will bring an update to the next panel meeting. The panel also requested that the Fees and Charges report followed a similar format to last year with increases to services with clear public benefits to only be increased to providing those services and other areas being increased by inflation or at competitive levels.
Councillor Budzynski had indicated that he would like to remain on the Budget Panel.
Resolved:
1. That the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme (updated for July 2025), as shown in Annex 1 to the report, be approved.
2. That the update on Panels shown in Annex 2 to the report be noted.
3. That Councillor Budzynski be appointed to the Budget Panel.
Previous Meetings
Future Meetings
Join the Discussion
You need to be signed in to comment.
Sign in