ICV working , or not?

[Bonymaenjack]

Good afternoon
I've have this nagging doubt that my ICV isn't working as it should or is it something else perhaps.
my m20 2.5 has a "loose" idle ( piper fast road cam fitted a many years ago) so I'm used to it but I #'ve recently experienced a number of "faults
The car has just passed its MOT ( no advisories yippee ) with passable but highish carbon readings at idle and then fine at higher revs and after a long run with nice brown coloured plugs .
I noticed today whilst waiting in traffic the idle speed started dropping down towards 5-600 rpm from its normal steady idle of 700. The engine temperature was fine just in the quarter mark as normal.
On getting home I had a check under the bonnet and whilst running pulled off the ICV connector ( engine still hot) , this made no noticeable change to the idle speed nor did she stutter. I checked the ICV was running with a stethoscope which is was so I'm not sure whats going here . There is sometimes a strong smell of fuel in the engine bay and today was one of those days .Any advice gratefully received. I do suspect the blue temperature plug may have some bearing on another issue when shes starting from cold, sometimes she cuts out at the same junction approximately 2,000 yards from my home.

New AFM, new fuel pipes , new injectors all fitted last year and on a run according to the OBC I'm getting 28 mpg

[Brianmoooore]

Disconnecting the ICV on a M20 should have no effect until engine load conditions change.
For the fuel smell, I'd carefully check the two long rubber fuel hoses for cracks ASAP.
Have you checked that the idle switch section of the TPS is working?
Just noticed that the fuel hoses are new! In that case, check the hose clips are tight.