The Environment Select Committee of Wiltshire Council met on Thursday 5 March 2026 to discuss a range of environmental and transport-related issues. Key decisions included noting the outcomes of a waste recycling trial in Chippenham which found no benefits to a three-stream system, and approving a consultation strategy for the Local Transport Plan 4 Delivery Plan. The committee also received updates on various local transport initiatives, including demand-responsive transport, bus services, active travel, and taxi licensing, as well as progress on implementing a trusted bill poster scheme and updates from the Waste Transformation and Climate Emergency Task Groups.

Waste Recycling Trial in Chippenham

The committee reviewed the findings of a trial of a three-stream recycling collection model in Chippenham, which aimed to support compliance with the Environment Act 2021 (EA21). The trial, involving 571 households, did not identify any operational, financial, or recycling quality benefits from adopting a full three-stream system. Based on this evidence, officers concluded that implementing such a system would not deliver economic, technical, or operational advantages at this time. The committee noted these outcomes and agreed that improvements in recycling performance would be better achieved through enhancements to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) rather than a three-stream collection system. This decision aligns with the council's commitment to making cost-effective, evidence-based decisions and reducing waste, as outlined in the Wiltshire Plan 2025-2035. The trial data will inform future decisions on flexible plastics collection and communication strategies for EA21-driven service changes.

Local Transport Plan 4 Delivery Plan Consultation

A strategy for consulting on the draft Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) Delivery Plan was presented and approved. Following the adoption of LTP4 in March 2025, the delivery plan has been updated to align with the council's adopted Our Wiltshire Plan 2025-2035. The proposed four-week consultation, to be hosted on the Commonplace platform, will seek feedback on the suitability of the criteria for setting priorities and identify any additional measures that could benefit local communities. The consultation aims to gather input on the scope of the plan and the prioritisation of strategy development, particularly for market towns. The LTP4 Delivery Plan aims to support the development of the Integrated National Transport Strategy and contribute to the council's carbon reduction ambitions.

Local Transport Update

An update was provided on various local transport initiatives. This included progress on Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs), with several now completed and others in development. Scheme delivery for active travel is progressing, with pilot projects for School Streets and cycleway designs underway, funded by Active Travel England. Wiltshire's Capability Rating for active travel remains at Level 1, and officers are working with Active Travel England to improve this. A Sustainable Transport Forum is set to launch to foster collaboration with external stakeholders.

In terms of taxi licensing, driver numbers have fallen by 9% in 2025, and vehicle numbers have stabilised but remain below pre-pandemic levels. This decline is attributed to changing footfall and the impact on the night-time economy. The falling vehicle numbers have a significant impact on the Passenger Transport Unit, as taxis are a vital part of school transport solutions. The team is reviewing guidelines to align with new government advice and considering the impact of the Environment Bill on air quality, potentially shifting vehicle licensing criteria from age to emissions-based. Projects are also underway to review taxi rank accessibility and transition the fleet to hybrid or fully electric vehicles.

Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) services, operating under the Wiltshire Connect banner, continue to perform well, with the Pewsey Vale/Marlborough service seeing a 6% increase in patronage in 2025. However, this service is experiencing demand pressure at peak times due to non-entitled school transport requests. New DRT services launched in the Royal Wootton Bassett/Malmesbury and South-West Wiltshire areas are showing promising passenger numbers, with further promotion planned. Passenger feedback for DRT services remains overwhelmingly positive.

The Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) projects in 2025 focused on policy development, software procurement for timetable displays, and the commencement of bus stop infrastructure upgrades. Government has confirmed longer-term funding for BSIP until 2029/30. Infrastructure projects will focus on repairs and upgrades to bus stations and key routes, aiming to improve accessibility, real-time information, and bus punctuality. Stakeholder engagement will continue through an annual survey, and a Bus Network Accessibility Plan and updated BSIP will be published.

Trusted Bill Poster Scheme

An update was provided on the implementation of a Trusted Bill Poster scheme, following a motion referred to the committee by Full Council. The proposed approach modifies the original motion to align with the Council's position as the Highway Authority. The guidance document outlines conditions for placing advertising signs on the highway, aiming to balance commercial interests with public safety. Signs placed in accordance with these conditions will be considered acceptable, but non-compliant signs may be removed. The scheme aims to prevent visual clutter, reduce fly-posting, and create a cleaner streetscape.

Task Group Updates

Updates were received from the Waste Transformation Task Group and the Climate Emergency Task Group.

The Waste Transformation Task Group met on 12 February 2026 to discuss public engagement for proposed service changes, including a three-week collection schedule and a booking system for Household Recycling Centres (HRCs). They also received an update on proposed council representation on Local Authority Trading Companies (LATCos) that will manage collections and the MRF. The task group noted the decision to delay the closure of the Lower Compton and Purton HRCs and discussed the associated costing.

The Climate Emergency Task Group met on 13 February 2026 to receive an update on the Warm Homes programme, which provides grants for energy upgrades to lower-income households. The programme targets homes with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D or below and includes measures such as insulation, low-carbon heating, and renewable technologies. The task group raised questions regarding quality monitoring, eligibility, and targeting of the scheme.

Public Participation

Two questions were received from Mr Chris Caswill regarding the Environment Select Committee's scrutiny of waste policy decisions, particularly concerning the closure of Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) and the proposed booking system for HRCs. Mr Caswill questioned the circumstances under which effective scrutiny did not occur and suggested ways to assure it in the future, including the establishment of a specific task group to examine the HRC booking system. Verbal responses were to be provided at the meeting.