Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Penman.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2026 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2026  were confirmed as a correct record.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item. The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To receive any public participation in accordance with the Council’s public participation scheme.

There was no public participation.

To consider an Economic Development Strategy.

The Panel considered a Draft New Forest Economic Development Strategy 2026–2030.

The Panel noted opportunities across the District and in particular the Freeport and the Waterside, and the overall area represented a local economy of £6.4bn, 84,000 jobs and approximately 8,000 enterprises. Officers explained that they were pressing Freeport landowners to ensure that maximum economic growth opportunities were extracted for local people.

Feedback on the proposed Strategy had been received from the New Forest Business Partnership, the Federation of Small Businesses and HCC. There was general agreement with the overall approach of the Strategy, and it aligned with the Skills Action Plan and the HCC Economic Development Strategy.  All comments would be taken on board and Council officers would meet all the bodies providing feedback.

Members raised issues relating to skills work with schools, maximising business contacts, LGR risks, monitoring town centre resilience, social deprivation, and better focus on the Waterside.

RESOLVED:

That subject to officer consideration of feedback from the Panel as per the above comments, the Panel support the Draft New Forest Economic Development Strategy 2026–2030, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, for final approval at Cabinet and Council.

To receive a report and presentation on the work of the  Climate and Nature Emergency Task and Finish Group.

The Panel received the report of the Climate Change and Nature Emergency Task and Finish Group together with a related presentation.

The Climate Change and Nature Emergency Task and Finish Group had provided feedback on the priorities for the Council’s work against the declared Climate Change and Nature Emergency.

Over 6 sessions, a wide variety of feedback from Members was received, emphasising the importance in areas such as building resilience, supporting communities, working effectively with partners, and ensuring that the Council’s own operations were demonstrating sustainability.

Cllr Clarke, Chairman of the Task and Finish Group, commended the report and thanked the members and officers involved for their hard work in bringing the report together.  In particular, he highlighted environmental trends such as flooding, heatwaves and coastal erosion and related resilience issues for the future.

Members emphasised the importance of the role residents could play and the need for good communications in this regard.

RESOLVED:

That the outcomes of the Climate Change and Nature Emergency Task and Finish Group be noted.

That, subject to the above comments, it be a recommendation to the Portfolio Holder for Environment & Sustainability that the Climate Change and Nature Emergency priorities as suggested by the CCNE Task and Finish Group and attached in Appendix 1, be supported.

To receive the Corporate Plan: Key Performance Indicator Dashboard for Quarter 2 - 2025/26 for items falling under this Panel.

The Panel received the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Quarter 3 (October to December 2025) and Measure IDs 16 to 33 for Panel review.

Members raised various queries relating to fly tipping to which answers were given, and officers reminded members that the Panel received substantial data on this specific topic and related matters at their last meeting on 15 January, which was still available online. 

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

An opportunity for the Portfolio Holders to provide an update on developments within the portfolios relating to this Panel.

The portfolio holders gave updates on various issues.

Cllr Tipp, Planning and Economy

The Portfolio holder reported that Local Plan Spatial Options and Policy Directions consultation was underway, which ran until 20 March and engagement so far had been very strong.

It was noted 10 drop?in events had been held across the District, from Calmore and New Milton through to Fordingbridge, Lymington, Totton, Hythe and Hordle. These events had been extremely well attended.  Residents had raised a wide range of issues, including infrastructure capacity, flooding, housing affordability, and site?specific concerns. Feedback captured would help shape the next stage of the Local Plan.

Members were reminded of the online questionnaire on the NFDC website via GoVocal, and Email responses were also accepted.

Members noted that the Council was continuing to work with partners across the District to support local businesses, build skills, and strengthen the New Forest economy. Initiatives included the Totton Business Breakfast, EcoBoost Pilot
Business Resilience Workshops, and 3 Skills Action Plan groups.

A new exhibition celebrating long?standing New Forest businesses was open in Lyndhurst until 27 April, with NFDC as a sponsor and partner. The Council was
also sponsoring the new Young Talent category at the Advertiser & Times 2026 Food & Drink Awards, with the final on 24 March.

The Portfolio holder  explained that UKSPF projects were on track, several REPF business and community projects were complete, and the Apprenticeship Hub was nearing completion. Since 2022, about £2m had supported skills, business resilience, communities and environmental projects.

Cllr Blunden, Environment and Sustainability

Residents in the phase 3 area were due to start receiving their wheelie bins and food waste caddies, involving 36,000 homes in Hythe, Fawley, Lyndhurst, Marchwood, Totton, and surrounding areas.

More than 47,000 households were already using the system, and nearly 4 million collections had been completed in the phase 1 and phase 2 areas.  So far, more than 2,000 tonnes of food waste had been collected for recycling - helping to turn material that would otherwise be thrown away into renewable energy and fertiliser. 

Bin and caddy deliveries would take place through to the end of April ready for the new collections starting in May. Residents could check the Council website for the latest advice.   It was suggested that the regular updates on waste include progress with the new waste facilities

The Portfolio holder reported the recent publication of the Council’s revised Environmental Enforcement Policy, emphasising the Council’s commitment to taking firm action against those who choose to harm the New Forest’s environment.

The Panel noted that an individual responsible for a significant fly?tip within the District was in the process of being prosecuted. The individual’s vehicle had been seized, and upon conviction the Council would seek a court order for its destruction.

The Portfolio holder explained that NFDC  recently attended joint operations targeting waste carriers. Council Environmental Enforcement Officers inspected 35 vehicles to check for valid waste carrier licences, supported by partners from the Police, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

To note the Panel’s future work programme.

RESOLVED:

That the Work Programme be approved.