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, 4th March 2026
5:30 PM
Wednesday, 4th March 2026
5:30 PM
End:
Wednesday, 4th March 2026
9:30 PM
Wednesday, 4th March 2026
9:30 PM
Meeting Status
Status:
Confirmed
Confirmed
Date:
04 Mar 2026
04 Mar 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
Present, as expected
Officer
Head of Community Development
David Growcott
Present, as expected
Officer
Director of Community and Leisure
David Tasker
Expected
Guest
Recycling and Environmental Services Portfolio Holder
Agenda
1
Apologies
Minutes
Apologies were received from Councillors Adams King, Donnelly, Leech and Gidley.
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 21 January 2026.
Attachments:
- Document $$Minutes 24 Feb 2026
Minutes
Councillor Daas proposed and Councillor Budzynski seconded the motion that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2026 be confirmed and signed as a correct record subject to the amendment that Councillor G Cooper was in attendance at the meeting and that the Annual Impact Study on Youth Engagement be circulated to members.
Resolved
1. That the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme (updated for March 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.
Resolved
1. That the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme (updated for March 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.
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
Food Waste Collection Service Update
A presentation by the Recycling and Environmental Services Portfolio Holder on the Food Waste Collection Service (60 minutes)
Attachments:
- Document OSCOM Presentation March 2026 24 Feb 2026
Minutes
The Portfolio Holder for Recycling and Environmental Services supported by the Director of Environmental Services gave an update on the Food Waste Collection Service.
The Government made significant policy announcements, including Simpler Recycling’ in October 2023 and November 2024. In April 2025, funding for a new materials recovery facility in Hampshire was approved which will enable residents to recycle additional items at the kerbside - known as Simpler Recycling. The Council introduced the food waste collection service in October 2025, 5 months ahead of the Simpler Recycling required date of 31 March 2026.
In order to accommodate the new service, the depots were expanded to accommodate new vehicles, the ‘O Licence’ was extended to accommodate the new vehicles, rounds were designed, 20 new staff were recruited, caddy packs and communal bins were delivered and a comprehensive and original communications plan was developed.
In November 2025, the average weekly set out rate, where residents put a caddy out for collection on a particular week, was 48.71%. The participation rate was 64.17%.
Prior research supported the rollout of the new service, and advance planning ensured that vehicles, caddies, bins, and liners were secured in good time. A bespoke web page had been set up and an email service to respond to queries promptly. The council had worked with a local designer to design a bespoke campaign and informed residents in good time. There had, however, been some minimal delivery issues and missed bins due to teams learning the routes and caddy locations. Recruitment remains challenging however this had been expected. Due to the council launching the service 5 months early it had cost the council around £400,000 however there will be ongoing funding from 31 March 2026.
The future with Local Government Reorganisation is currently unknown. The council is working closely with their Project Integra partners. These relationships will help when the new authorities are announced.
The next step is to create a food waste collection service policy, review of all council waste collection policies and introduction of kerbside small WEEE, battery and vape collections.
Members discussed:
· What can be done in terms of education
· Increasing recycling rates
· New facility predictably opening in 2028 will recycle additional items including glass and plastic pots, tubs and trays
· 80% of glass collected at local bottle banks
· Damage to caddies due to weather are replaced free of charge
· Recycling team working with collection teams
· Review of areas not participating
The Chairman thanked the Recycling and Environmental Portfolio Holder and the Director of Environmental Services for their very informative presentation.
The Government made significant policy announcements, including Simpler Recycling’ in October 2023 and November 2024. In April 2025, funding for a new materials recovery facility in Hampshire was approved which will enable residents to recycle additional items at the kerbside - known as Simpler Recycling. The Council introduced the food waste collection service in October 2025, 5 months ahead of the Simpler Recycling required date of 31 March 2026.
In order to accommodate the new service, the depots were expanded to accommodate new vehicles, the ‘O Licence’ was extended to accommodate the new vehicles, rounds were designed, 20 new staff were recruited, caddy packs and communal bins were delivered and a comprehensive and original communications plan was developed.
In November 2025, the average weekly set out rate, where residents put a caddy out for collection on a particular week, was 48.71%. The participation rate was 64.17%.
Prior research supported the rollout of the new service, and advance planning ensured that vehicles, caddies, bins, and liners were secured in good time. A bespoke web page had been set up and an email service to respond to queries promptly. The council had worked with a local designer to design a bespoke campaign and informed residents in good time. There had, however, been some minimal delivery issues and missed bins due to teams learning the routes and caddy locations. Recruitment remains challenging however this had been expected. Due to the council launching the service 5 months early it had cost the council around £400,000 however there will be ongoing funding from 31 March 2026.
The future with Local Government Reorganisation is currently unknown. The council is working closely with their Project Integra partners. These relationships will help when the new authorities are announced.
The next step is to create a food waste collection service policy, review of all council waste collection policies and introduction of kerbside small WEEE, battery and vape collections.
Members discussed:
· What can be done in terms of education
· Increasing recycling rates
· New facility predictably opening in 2028 will recycle additional items including glass and plastic pots, tubs and trays
· 80% of glass collected at local bottle banks
· Damage to caddies due to weather are replaced free of charge
· Recycling team working with collection teams
· Review of areas not participating
The Chairman thanked the Recycling and Environmental Portfolio Holder and the Director of Environmental Services for their very informative presentation.
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 February 2026 24 Feb 2026
- Document Work Programme - Annex 1 Work Programme March 24 Feb 2026
- Document Work Programme - Annex 2 Panel Update 24 Feb 2026
- Document Work Programme - Recs Cabinet and Council - Annex 3 24 Feb 2026
- Document Work Programme - Annex 4 - CWP 24 Feb 2026
- Document Annex 5 CAP January (003) 24 Feb 2026
Minutes
The Work Programme was discussed and the Chairman reported on topics for future meetings. The next meeting will focus on the Leader’s presentation on the CAP update reflecting on year 3 of the programme and looking forward to year 4 and the Housing and Environmental Health Portfolio Holder will also be reporting on the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy. The draft Chairman’s Annual Report scheduled for 27 May 2026 aims to review the year’s activities, highlight achievements and set the stage for the next year’s work programme. The report will be structured in a similar way to last year’s report. This will be presented to Council on 27 July 2026.
The Digital Inclusion Panel has met and focused on skills, development and hardware recycling. The Panel are looking at priorities and where to focus efforts for maximum impact.
The Chairman updated the committee on the recommendations to Cabinet. Progress on the Affordable Housing panels will be monitored and a review will take place after Annual Council in May. Updates to the Cabinet Work Programme were verbally reported and will be reflected in the next published Cabinet Work Programme.
The Corporate Action Plan is progressing with a focus on regeneration and supporting communities. Updates on regeneration plans were discussed and will be looked at in more detail at the Away Day. The Deputy Chief Executive will find out when the last regeneration plan briefings were held and when the next one is due.
Questions were asked about planning enforcement cases. There was a request to ask the Director of Planning for statistics about resolution times and potential capacity/resource issues.” Members noted similar issues in other areas with some cases remaining unresolved for years. The committee agreed to look into enforcement and seek specialist advice.
The Away Day is scheduled for Monday 18 May in Broughton Village Hall starting at 5pm.
The motion was proposed by Councillor Daas and seconded by Councillor Parker. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.
Resolved:
1. That the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme (updated for March 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.
The Digital Inclusion Panel has met and focused on skills, development and hardware recycling. The Panel are looking at priorities and where to focus efforts for maximum impact.
The Chairman updated the committee on the recommendations to Cabinet. Progress on the Affordable Housing panels will be monitored and a review will take place after Annual Council in May. Updates to the Cabinet Work Programme were verbally reported and will be reflected in the next published Cabinet Work Programme.
The Corporate Action Plan is progressing with a focus on regeneration and supporting communities. Updates on regeneration plans were discussed and will be looked at in more detail at the Away Day. The Deputy Chief Executive will find out when the last regeneration plan briefings were held and when the next one is due.
Questions were asked about planning enforcement cases. There was a request to ask the Director of Planning for statistics about resolution times and potential capacity/resource issues.” Members noted similar issues in other areas with some cases remaining unresolved for years. The committee agreed to look into enforcement and seek specialist advice.
The Away Day is scheduled for Monday 18 May in Broughton Village Hall starting at 5pm.
The motion was proposed by Councillor Daas and seconded by Councillor Parker. Upon being put to the vote the motion was carried.
Resolved:
1. That the current Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme (updated for March 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.
Previous Meetings
Future Meetings
Join the Discussion
You need to be signed in to comment.
Sign in