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, 21st January 2026
5:30 PM
Wednesday, 21st January 2026
5:30 PM
End:
Wednesday, 21st January 2026
9:30 PM
Wednesday, 21st January 2026
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
21 Jan 2026
21 Jan 2026
Location:
The Annexe, Crosfield Hall, Broadwater Road, Romsey SO51 8GL
The Annexe, Crosfield Hall, Broadwater Road, Romsey SO51 8GL
Meeting Attendees
Officer
Director of Strategy and Innovation
James Moody
Expected
Officer
Head of Community Development
David Growcott
Expected
Officer
Director of Community and Leisure
David Tasker
Expected
Guest
Leader and Strategic Regeneration and Partnerships Portfolio Holder
Councillor Phil North
In attendance
Agenda
1
Apologies
Minutes
Apologies were received from Councillors Cattell and Leech.
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 26 November 2025.
Attachments:
- Document $$Minutes 13 Jan 2026
Minutes
Councillor Daas proposed and Councillor Donnolly seconded the motion that the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2026 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
Resolved:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 2025 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.
Resolved:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 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
Working with Communities
To receive a presentation from the Leader and Chief Executive on the way in which the Council works with its communities at a local level (30 minutes)
Minutes
The Leader and Chief Executive delivered a presentation on the Council’s approach to community based working, the Community Council Model, and the implications of Local Government Reorganisation. Test Valley’s model is widely regarded as unique nationally with a strong cross party recognition and interest from other authorities.
The key points from the presentation were:
· Test Valley’s model is widely regarded as unique nationally with strong cross party recognition and interest from other authorities.
· Every councillor is a community leader.
· Dedicated officer and financial support to enable all councillors to deliver local priorities.
· Place based working, such as Romsey Future and Andover Vision is recognised as efficient and effective.
The Leader highlighted that enabling councillors to escalate and resolve ward issues has strengthened community leadership and confidence. Officers now work proactively with members on local projects, enabling consistent ward improvements across the borough. Community engagement methods such as assemblies, priority setting and asset based working continues to be key.
The Government’s interest in Neighbourhood Governance and devolution legislation may require councils to propose new locally led governance models. The Leader and Chief Executive emphasised that Test Valley’s approach offers a credible blueprint for the future larger councils. The council is preparing a 12 month research programme with partners to capture learning for submission to Government and the future shadow authority.
Members raised a number of themes;
· Strong support for the inclusive culture at Test Valley and concern that this may be harder to maintain in larger unitary authorities.
· Recognition that parish and town councils will remain crucial partners, and that early clarity on future neighbourhood footprints is needed.
· The importance of flexibility – maintaining core principles while varying implementation for rural or urban contexts.
· Desire for Test Valley’s good practice to directly shape any new unitary arrangements.
· Concerns around planning, infrastructure funding, and national policy constraints limiting local decision making.
The Chairman thanked the Leader and Chief Executive for their contribution.
The key points from the presentation were:
· Test Valley’s model is widely regarded as unique nationally with strong cross party recognition and interest from other authorities.
· Every councillor is a community leader.
· Dedicated officer and financial support to enable all councillors to deliver local priorities.
· Place based working, such as Romsey Future and Andover Vision is recognised as efficient and effective.
The Leader highlighted that enabling councillors to escalate and resolve ward issues has strengthened community leadership and confidence. Officers now work proactively with members on local projects, enabling consistent ward improvements across the borough. Community engagement methods such as assemblies, priority setting and asset based working continues to be key.
The Government’s interest in Neighbourhood Governance and devolution legislation may require councils to propose new locally led governance models. The Leader and Chief Executive emphasised that Test Valley’s approach offers a credible blueprint for the future larger councils. The council is preparing a 12 month research programme with partners to capture learning for submission to Government and the future shadow authority.
Members raised a number of themes;
· Strong support for the inclusive culture at Test Valley and concern that this may be harder to maintain in larger unitary authorities.
· Recognition that parish and town councils will remain crucial partners, and that early clarity on future neighbourhood footprints is needed.
· The importance of flexibility – maintaining core principles while varying implementation for rural or urban contexts.
· Desire for Test Valley’s good practice to directly shape any new unitary arrangements.
· Concerns around planning, infrastructure funding, and national policy constraints limiting local decision making.
The Chairman thanked the Leader and Chief Executive for their contribution.
9
Community Based Approach to Health
To receive a presentation from the Director of Strategy and Innovation andand Dr Kate Elliot (Andover PCN) on thecommunity based approach being undertaken by the Council and partners to health and wellbeing (40 minutes)
Minutes
A presentation on community based approach to health was presented by the Director of Strategy and Innovation and Dr Kate Elliott, Primary Care Network (PCN)
The presentation concentrated on the Andover Health Hub, community based health delivery and emerging neighbourhood health models. A short video was shown outlining the development of the hub and its partnership model.
The Andover Health Hub has become a regional exemplar for integrated primary and community care with significant impacts on;
· the increased capacity through shared clinic rooms,
· higher take up of health checks and screening, including among underserved groups,
· co-location of services i.e. community mental health team improving joined up patient journeys
· Stronger educational partnerships i.e. T-level placements and university collaborations.
The approach aligns with NHS integrated neighbourhood ambitions and has attracted national and regional interest, including bids for a cardiovalcular outcomes pilot.
Members raised the following topics;
· Social care integration and opportunities for co-location
· Barriers for patients accessing services
· The need for similar models in Romsey where PCN engagement remains challenging
· The importance of prevention, public health input, and the need for additional resource shifts from secondary to primary care
· How community level partnerships could catalyse progress where PCN motivation is lower.
The Chairman thanked the presenters for their work and commitment.
The presentation concentrated on the Andover Health Hub, community based health delivery and emerging neighbourhood health models. A short video was shown outlining the development of the hub and its partnership model.
The Andover Health Hub has become a regional exemplar for integrated primary and community care with significant impacts on;
· the increased capacity through shared clinic rooms,
· higher take up of health checks and screening, including among underserved groups,
· co-location of services i.e. community mental health team improving joined up patient journeys
· Stronger educational partnerships i.e. T-level placements and university collaborations.
The approach aligns with NHS integrated neighbourhood ambitions and has attracted national and regional interest, including bids for a cardiovalcular outcomes pilot.
Members raised the following topics;
· Social care integration and opportunities for co-location
· Barriers for patients accessing services
· The need for similar models in Romsey where PCN engagement remains challenging
· The importance of prevention, public health input, and the need for additional resource shifts from secondary to primary care
· How community level partnerships could catalyse progress where PCN motivation is lower.
The Chairman thanked the presenters for their work and commitment.
10
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 November 2025 13 Jan 2026
- Document Work Programme - Annex 1 November 13 Jan 2026
- Document Work Programme - Annex 2 (AutoRecovered) 13 Jan 2026
- Document Work Programme - Annex 3 13 Jan 2026
- Document Work Programme - Annex 4 13 Jan 2026
- Document Annex 5 CAP January 13 Jan 2026
Minutes
The Chairman updated members on the work programme. The recommendations from the Affordable Housing Panel – Demand and Supply were considered by Cabinet on 14 January. Members requested that the recommendations tracker should fully reflect individual panel recommendations and it was agreed this would be included in the action tracker going forward.
The Digital Inclusion Panel has commenced and Councillor Gillies was confirmed as the lead member.
The Budget Panel requested the Committee to support its recommendation that Council continues to set its budget in accordance with the principles set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy and any additional funding be allocated to reserves that will add financial capacity to the Council’s aspirational programme in Andover and Romsey and wider legacy projects.
Forthcoming items include;
· Round table on barriers to cycling and review of parking standards on 2 February 2026 on Teams.
· Six month review of food waste collections by the Recycling and Environmental Services Portfolio Holder
· Homelessness Prevention and rough sleeping strategy, the housing strategy linking into the recent affordable housing panels by the Environmental Health Portfolio Holder and the Director of Housing and Environmental Health
The motion as set out in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Daas and seconded by Councillor Budzynski. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.
Resolved:
1. That the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme (updated for January 2026), 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 Gillies be appointed as the Lead Member of the Digital Inclusion Panel.
4. That the Council continues to set its budget in accordance with the principles set out in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and any improvements to the net budget be allocated to reserves to add financial capacity to the Council’s aspirations to deliver its regeneration programme in Andover and Romsey, and wider legacy projects driven by the Corporate Plan.
The Digital Inclusion Panel has commenced and Councillor Gillies was confirmed as the lead member.
The Budget Panel requested the Committee to support its recommendation that Council continues to set its budget in accordance with the principles set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy and any additional funding be allocated to reserves that will add financial capacity to the Council’s aspirational programme in Andover and Romsey and wider legacy projects.
Forthcoming items include;
· Round table on barriers to cycling and review of parking standards on 2 February 2026 on Teams.
· Six month review of food waste collections by the Recycling and Environmental Services Portfolio Holder
· Homelessness Prevention and rough sleeping strategy, the housing strategy linking into the recent affordable housing panels by the Environmental Health Portfolio Holder and the Director of Housing and Environmental Health
The motion as set out in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Daas and seconded by Councillor Budzynski. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.
Resolved:
1. That the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme (updated for January 2026), 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 Gillies be appointed as the Lead Member of the Digital Inclusion Panel.
4. That the Council continues to set its budget in accordance with the principles set out in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and any improvements to the net budget be allocated to reserves to add financial capacity to the Council’s aspirations to deliver its regeneration programme in Andover and Romsey, and wider legacy projects driven by the Corporate Plan.
11
Engagement Project with Young People
To receive details of work being undertaken exploring the ways in which the council engages with young people (20 minutes)
Attachments:
- Document Young People report 13 Jan 2026
Minutes
Officers provided an update on the Youth Engagement Future Leader’s Project, delivered in partnership with Yellow Brick Road Projects working with young people to explore their views and perspectives on a variety of subjects.
To date there has been strong engagement with young people who would not typically participate in activities and sessions delivered on democracy, budgeting, leadership and creative projects. A youth led Andover Music Festival was delivered successfully and will repeat in 2026. There is evidence of increased confidence and skills among individual participants and strong relationships have been established with local schools and youth facing organisations.
Members discussed;
· Data capture, safeguarding and representativeness across groups.
· Ensuring the programme includes issues important to the council as well as topics young people choose
· Opportunities for extending learning to other areas, recognizing higher resource needs for intensive youth work
· Clarification that although the University of Southampton was not funding the project, it still incorporates structured learning and evaluation.
The motion as set out in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Daas and seconded by Councillor Donnelly. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.
Resolved:
That the committee endorses the work being undertaken as part of the Future Leaders and Decision Makers Project.
To date there has been strong engagement with young people who would not typically participate in activities and sessions delivered on democracy, budgeting, leadership and creative projects. A youth led Andover Music Festival was delivered successfully and will repeat in 2026. There is evidence of increased confidence and skills among individual participants and strong relationships have been established with local schools and youth facing organisations.
Members discussed;
· Data capture, safeguarding and representativeness across groups.
· Ensuring the programme includes issues important to the council as well as topics young people choose
· Opportunities for extending learning to other areas, recognizing higher resource needs for intensive youth work
· Clarification that although the University of Southampton was not funding the project, it still incorporates structured learning and evaluation.
The motion as set out in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Daas and seconded by Councillor Donnelly. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.
Resolved:
That the committee endorses the work being undertaken as part of the Future Leaders and Decision Makers Project.
12
Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan Progress Report
To provide a progress report against each of the corporate peer challenge recommendations and agreed actions. The review has been concluded with a final review report from the Local Government Association (20 minutes)
Attachments:
- Document CPC Update on action plan 13 Jan 2026
Minutes
The Director of Strategy and Innovation presented the final progress update on the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan.
All nine recommendations have been addressed and several areas are now marked as complete. Improvements include a strengthened system leadership across the Test Valley Partnership, further embedding of community based approaches, workforce development and organisational culture enhancements and continued progress on digital transformation and data use.
The LGA follow up feedback in late 2025 was positive and recognised Test Valley’s preparedness for Local Government Reorganisation.
The committee endorsed the action plan progress and agreed the peer review process could now be closed.
The motion as set out in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Daas and seconded by Councillor Hasselmann. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.
Resolved:
That the committee endorses the work being undertaken as part of the Future Leaders and Decision Makers Project.
All nine recommendations have been addressed and several areas are now marked as complete. Improvements include a strengthened system leadership across the Test Valley Partnership, further embedding of community based approaches, workforce development and organisational culture enhancements and continued progress on digital transformation and data use.
The LGA follow up feedback in late 2025 was positive and recognised Test Valley’s preparedness for Local Government Reorganisation.
The committee endorsed the action plan progress and agreed the peer review process could now be closed.
The motion as set out in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Daas and seconded by Councillor Hasselmann. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.
Resolved:
That the committee endorses the work being undertaken as part of the Future Leaders and Decision Makers Project.
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