Open Session:

There were two members of the public present. (see notes below)

Present:

Cllr N W Light (Chairman)
Cllr N J Chard
Cllr D Cole
Cllr D E Cracknell
Cllr M F J Daly
Cllr Mrs V A Sullivan
Cllr Mrs N Wood

In Attendance:

Mr T R Simpson, Town Clerk
Jo Stannard, Deputy Town Clerk
Cllr B H Terry

OS/4680 Absence

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Mrs B Charlton and Cllr L C Ford.

OS/4681 Declarations of Interest

There were none.

OS/4682 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 7th September 2005, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.

Ringwood Junior School

Members considered a revised proposal from Ringwood Junior School, in partnership with Ellingham and Ringwood Rugby Football Club, to provide a dual use pavilion on the School playing field with changing rooms, storage and a small clubroom (Annex `A').

It was noted that a total of £315,000 had been secured from Sport England, the Rugby Football Union and Ellingham and Ringwood Rugby Football Club, and that a further £185,000 was required in order for the scheme to proceed. The project also had the support of Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council and it was believed that this facility would have significant benefits for the town as a community sports facility.

There was some concern that Hampshire County Council was not contributing financially to the scheme, other than to offer a 35-year lease on the playing field, and it was felt that efforts should be made to secure additional funding from this source.

Members also asked that public consultation be carried out in advance of submission of a planning application in order that local residents could be kept informed.

RECOMMENDED TO POLICY & FINANCE:
That the revised scheme and use of Developers Contributions up to £185,000 be supported, subject to:

a) the Town Council being offered the opportunity to take over the lease in the event of the Rugby Club's tenancy being terminated for any reason;

b) Ringwood Junior School making earnest efforts to obtain funding from Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council;

and

c) a full public consultation exercise being undertaken immediately.

OS/4684 The Bickerley and Pocket Park

Members were introduced to Catherine Harris, a Landscape Architect at New Forest District Council, who would be taking over management of the scheme from Tony Harris.

She briefed members on proposals to clear areas of the site and riverbank, carry out tree works, create new grass areas and install picnic benches, seats, bins and nesting boxes. New dragons teeth would also be installed as close as possible to the edge of the Village Green in order to prevent cars parking in the narrow road. There would also be an interpretive board to explain to visitors what wildlife and plants could be seen in the park.

It was hoped that the scheme could be put out to tender in the next three months, as much of the work would need to be carried out during the winter months. This would enable the majority of works to be complete by Summer 2006, although there may be some work, such as seeding, which would need to be phased in at a later stage.

When complete, the Town Council would be issued with a management plan to enable the groundsmen to maintain the park.

It was noted that a plan of the proposals had been circulated to residents in the area and that they were supportive of the scheme.

The Town Clerk reported that the purchase of land was proceeding smoothly and it was hoped that this would be complete soon.

RESOLVED:
1) That New Forest District Council be appointed to design the scheme for Bickerley and Pocket Park, and to let and supervise the contract.

2) That a Working Party be appointed to work with the Landscape Architect, if necessary, to work up a detailed design and to agree a specification for the contract. Members appointed to the Working Party were Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee and Cllr Cole.

OS/4684 Hard Tennis Courts

The Town Clerk reminded members that the Committee had agreed last year to allow Ringwood School to use the hard tennis courts for netball for one year, subject to a review at the end of the year. It was noted that the School now wished to continue with this arrangement, although the Tennis Club was not in favour. A meeting had been arranged with representatives of the School and Club and it was hoped that any concerns could be overcome.

Members were keen that the arrangement should continue and agreed that sport of any kind should be encouraged.

RESOLVED: That, subject to consultation with Ringwood School and the Tennis Club, the arrangements for the use of the hard tennis courts for netball be allowed to continue.

OS/4685 Carvers Recreation Ground

i) Security Lighting

The Town Clerk reported that there was no lighting in the area of the green storage sheds on Carvers and, as there had been a few attempted break-ins recently, the Community Safety Officers had recommended the Council should install lighting as a deterrent.

A quotation of £511 had been received to install three automatic lights on poles, with protective guards.

RESOLVED: That the purchase of three security lights to be installed at the green storage sheds on Carvers be approved.

OS/4686 Tree Survey

It was noted that the Tree Survey was taking longer than expected due to the contractor's high volume of work and the fact that the survey involved setting up a process that the Council's groundstaff could continue in the future. However, five site reports would be complete in the next few weeks and would be presented to the Committee to consider any action that may be required. It was further noted that the groundstaff would be undertaking training to identify any problems with trees so that they would have a better understanding of when works may be required.

RESOLVED: That the contractor be asked to complete Tree Surveys for all sites without delay.

OS/4687 Ringwood Bowls Club

The Town Clerk reported that areas of the bowling green had become diseased, resulting in patches of grass dying off. It was estimated that it would cost the Bowling Club £9,000 over three years to eradicate the disease and restore the quality of the green. The Club was therefore seeking a contribution towards this unforeseen expense.

RESOLVED: That £1,500 be included in the Committee's capital grants budget for the next three years as a contribution towards the works required to the bowling green.

OS/4688 Urgent Business

Flower Planters

It was noted that the planters outside the Visitor Information Centre were in such a disgusting state that it would not be possible to plant them with winter bedding. The Town Clerk recommended that these two planters be emptied and stored temporarily over the winter until a decision was made on where to relocate them.

RESOLVED: That the two planters outside the Visitor Information Centre be emptied and stored for the winter.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 8.00pm.

Open Session:

Peter Gray and Carol Hazell, Governors of Ringwood Junior School, were in attendance.

Peter Gray spoke on the revised proposals for a sports pavilion on the School playing fields.

He was aware that there was a shortage of open space in Ringwood and said that this scheme would bring 5 acres of land in the heart of Ringwood into use as a community sports facility.

He said that £315,000 had been secured towards the project; £175,000 from Sport England, £100,000 from the Rugby Football Union and £40,000 from Ellingham & Ringwood Rugby Club. A further £185,000 was now required for the scheme to proceed.

The scheme has considerable support from the other schools in the town, from Hampshire County Council (which had granted a 35-year lease on the land), New Forest District Council, the RFU and Sport England. Mr Gray himself had carried out a great deal of consultation recently and had taken all views on board ­ he hoped that this was reflected in the submission.

Mr Gray believed that the proposal would be a significant benefit to the town as a whole, not just the School and Rugby Club.