Council – 15 December 2025

Questions Under Standing Order 22

First Questions

Question 1

From Cllr Barry Dunning to the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economy, Cllr Derek Tipp

Can the Portfolio holder for Planning and Economy, please update the Council on the current position of the ongoing legal dispute between this Council and Redrow/Barratt over the development at Lymington Shores in Lymington and will the footbridge be built or not?

Question 2

From Cllr Richard Young to the Portfolio Holder for Community, Safety and Wellbeing, Cllr Dan Poole

Could the portfolio holder for Community, Safety and Wellbeing please update us on the progress of the CCTV programme?

Question 3

From Cllr David Millar to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Geoffrey Blunden

The Phase 2 roll-out of the new waste service has thankfully avoided the significant issues we saw in Phase 1. However, many residents are frustrated by the lack of information and delays around both smaller and larger bin requests. Smaller bins matter for manoeuvrability and where there is limited storage space, while some larger households were promised bigger bins but are still waiting, relying on extra sacks in the meantime, which are often missed by the collecting teams who are focused on wheelie bins.

Can you confirm how many requests for small bins and large bins were made in Phases 1 and 2, how many of these requests have been satisfied, when the outstanding requests will be met, how long the longest wait has been, and what has caused the delays?

Question 4

From Cllr Colm McCarthy to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Geoffrey Blunden

Given that Members and Officers had previously been warned about the likelihood of animal interference with food caddies, why did the Council underestimate both the operational implications and cost of switching “behind the gate” collections – resulting in a £1.5m annual pressure and additional vehicle requirements?

Question 5

From Cllr Mark Clark to the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate, Cllr Jeremy Heron

The Medium Term Financial Plan had been built on the expectation of new burdens funding for food waste to bring sites and early positive indicators from the fair funding review. Why were these assumptions not stress tested for downside risk, especially given the Government’s track record of late changes to distribution formulas?

Question 6

From Cllr Caroline Rackham to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Geoffrey Blunden

There has been a rise in visits to the recycling centres and other bring-sites with the roll out of limited size wheelie bins. Can I ask what modelling was used to predict this behaviour change and why it wasn’t budgeted for?

Question 7

From Cllr Sean Cullen to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Geoffrey Blunden

How many assisted collections were requested in phases 1 and 2 and did numbers increase during the rollout? How many have been requested for phase 3 and from the experience of phases 1 and 2, how confident are you that you would be able to satisfy the demand?

Question 8

From Cllr Malcolm Wade to the Leader of the Council, Cllr Jill Cleary

In the spirit of devolution and understanding it will take a level of resourcing, transferring assets to the people of the New Forest District will be a positive lasting testament of this authority’s  legacy. Therefore will this administration support this council devolving assets to Town and Parish councils across the district, where they have requested it to do so, where it is practical  and sustainable to do so.

Question 9

From Cllr Jack Davies to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Geoffrey Blunden

It was good to hear Cllr Heron state at the most recent Resources and Transformation Scrutiny Panel that New Street Public Conveniences in Lymington will be upgraded. Does the Portfolio Holder have a timescale for when these upgrades will be completed?

Question 10

From Cllr Alex Wade to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Geoffrey Blunden

Ahead of Phase 3 of the introduction of wheelie bins next year, what review of communication to Residents is being considered to mitigate ongoing concerns such as missed daily collections, and the general consensus of Waterside Residents disappointed by the whole bin bag delivery process? Will Ward Cllrs be included in steering groups and be utilised to assist in updating Residents when required, supporting our hard working operational teams?