The meeting focused on several key topics, including the appointment of a vice chairperson, the procurement of waste and recycling vehicles, and the annual scrutiny report. The meeting also addressed public participation and the appointment of external bodies related to scrutiny.

Appointment of Vice Chairperson

The committee appointed Councillor Wallace as the vice chairperson for the municipal year 2024-25. Councillor Bolton was also nominated but did not receive enough votes.

Procurement of Waste and Recycling Vehicles

The committee discussed the urgent need to procure waste and recycling vehicles, particularly for the introduction of a food waste service by April 2026. The discussion included:

• Vehicle Options: The committee considered diesel vehicles running on hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) as the most reliable and cost-effective option. Electric vehicles were deemed less viable due to infrastructure limitations and higher costs.
• Environmental Impact: The use of HVO is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by over 90%. The committee also discussed the potential for an electric refuse collection vehicle pilot to learn about its feasibility.
• Funding and Costs: The total cost for the vehicles is estimated at £1.3 million. The government is expected to provide some funding, but the exact amount is still uncertain.
• Public Participation: Councillors Horrell and Lee raised several questions, including the environmental impact of HVO, the flexibility of procurement contracts, and the need for a robust communication strategy to educate residents about the new service.

Annual Scrutiny Report

The committee reviewed the annual scrutiny report, which included:

• Economy and Housing: Concerns were raised about the lack of support for rural areas and the need to link business support to the cultural strategy.
• Climate and Environment: The need to focus on both mitigation and adaptation to climate change was emphasized.
• Community Safety: The committee discussed the importance of following up on actions related to the closure of landlines and residents' anxieties.
• Housing: The report's statement on carbon neutrality by 2030 was questioned for not including embodied carbon.
• Carbon Credit Trading: The committee sought clarity on the way forward for this initiative.

Appointments to External Bodies

The committee made several appointments to external bodies:

• Portsmouth City Council Health and Overview Scrutiny Panel: Councillor Vivian Atwell was appointed, with Councillor Jonathan Williams as the deputy.
• Centre of Governance and Scrutiny South East Regional Networks: The chairperson was appointed to this role.
• Partnership for Southampton: Councillor Sudhakar Atwell was appointed, with Councillor James Bathrow as the deputy.

Future Meetings and Work Programme

The committee noted the dates and times of future meetings and discussed the draft work programme for 2024-25. The need for task and finish groups to address specific issues was highlighted, with a focus on prioritizing topics that are most significant to residents.

Recommendations to Cabinet

The committee recommended that the Cabinet consider education programs to encourage composting and reduction of food waste in general.