Havant Borough Council’s Cabinet has agreed on the future delivery of its Environmental Services.
Currently, waste collection, recycling, street cleaning, and grounds maintenance are provided by Norse South East (Norse SE), a joint venture company between Havant Borough Council and Norse Commercial Services Ltd, a subsidiary of Norse Group.
The decision, made by Cabinet on Wednesday 4 June, follows a review of options and a recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny panel that took place on 22 May.
The transition is scheduled to begin from 31 March 2026, when the current service agreement with Norse SE is due to end.
The changes will enable greater control over the future delivery of these frontline services, which will align better with the council’s priorities.
During the meeting, it was agreed that a transition to an in-house service model would begin, to enable the services to be delivered differently and more cost-effectively by 1 April 2028.
The Cabinet also agreed on the proposed recommendations to extend the current service level agreement with Norse SE for two years to ensure the continued delivery of service is undertaken, whilst a smooth transition to the in-house service model is achieved.
Councillor Netty Shepherd, Cabinet lead for Commercial, said “The decision to bring services provided by Norse SE in-house has been made after extensive analysis. Havant, like all local authorities nationwide, is facing enormous financial challenges, and with the initial ten-year joint venture agreement drawing to an end, now is the right time for the service to begin the transition back to the council.
“An in-house service model will provide the council with direct control over the delivery of services that will enable us to flex the service and be responsive to our residents’ needs. It will also enable better alignment of the services with the council’s corporate priorities, including the Biodiversity and Climate Change strategies.
“We have taken into consideration the recommendations brought to this Cabinet by the Overview and Scrutiny panel, and I’d like to thank my Councillor colleagues for their diligence and extensive questions in taking their time to consider this important change.
“Norse SE is the largest contract this council has, and the implications of this change are not insignificant. Extending the current service with them for a defined period will allow us to ensure the transition to an in-house service model is performed as effectively and efficiently as possible.”