The Environment Select Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Thursday 23 July 2026 to discuss a range of environmental and operational matters. Key topics on the agenda included an annual review of the Highways Service, an update on the Wiltshire Community Air Network, and an interim report from the Waste Transformation Task Group.

Highways Annual Review of Service 2025-26

The committee was scheduled to receive a report reviewing the performance of the Highways Service for the 2025-26 period. This report, detailed in the Highways Annual Review of Service 2025-26, outlined the condition of Wiltshire's road network, which was noted as being similar to or better than the average for other South West highway authorities, despite a slight decline in recent years. The report highlighted the impact of extreme weather during the 2025/26 winter period, which accelerated deterioration in some areas. An additional £10 million in funding was provided for preventative highway maintenance, enabling an extensive programme of road surfacing and treatment. The report also detailed the performance of various highway contractors, including MGroup Highways, AtkinsRealis, Tarmac, Kiely Bros Ltd, and Uptons Specialised Tree Services, all of whom were assessed as performing good . The council itself received a Green rating from the Department for Transport for its local road maintenance efforts.

Wiltshire Community Air Network (WCAN) Update

An update was scheduled on the Wiltshire Community Air Network (WCAN) project, presenting interim findings from its first six months. This project, which uses low-cost PurpleAir Zen PM2.5 sensors, aims to provide a dense monitoring network across Wiltshire to understand fine particulate matter pollution. The interim analysis indicated that median PM2.5 levels across Wiltshire are generally good to fair, aligning with the UK Government's interim annual mean PM2.5 target but remaining above World Health Organization guidelines. The data revealed significant variation between seasons and communities, with higher levels observed in winter and early spring, influenced by meteorological conditions and increased use of solid fuels for heating, as well as regional and international pollution events. The project has also fostered community engagement and highlighted the limitations of low-cost sensor technology, emphasizing the need for careful communication of findings.

Interim Report of the Waste Transformation Task Group

The committee was to receive an interim report from the Waste Transformation Task Group, focusing on Household Recycling Centres (HRCs), the HRC booking system, and Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) contracts. The report noted the complexity of the Waste Transformation Programme, which aims to comply with legislative changes such as the Environment Act 2021 and the introduction of Simpler Recycling.

Regarding Household Recycling Centres, the report discussed the contracts with Hills Waste Services Ltd. and FCC Environment Ltd. It noted that the Purton and Lower Compton HRCs were identified for closure, a decision that was later reversed during the council budget process. The Task Group expressed concern about the lack of alternative provision in the north of the county and recommended that the council develop its own HRC infrastructure for greater control and flexibility.

A pilot online booking system for HRCs was scheduled to launch in August 2026 at six sites. The system aims to level service demand, reduce queuing, mitigate commercial waste abuse, and improve customer service. The Task Group remained sceptical about the impact of three-weekly residual waste collections on HRC usage and fly-tipping, noting that the booking system trial did not coincide with these changes.

Concerning Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) contracts, the report addressed the impact of separate food waste collections on the Northacre MBT facility in Westbury. Due to legislative changes, the facility will not function at full capacity, leading to a reduction in waste available for treatment. While terminating the MBT contract was identified as the best value option financially and environmentally, it was deemed unaffordable in 2027/28 due to a significant termination fee. Consequently, the recommended approach was to vary the MBT contract, with ongoing monitoring of financial assumptions and negotiations.

Other Scheduled Discussions

The committee was also scheduled to receive updates from Task Groups and Representatives on Programme Boards, review the Forward Work Programme, and address any urgent items. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as 9 September 2026.