Open Session:
There were three members of the public present, two of whom who gave notice that they wished to speak on specific planning applications to be considered by the Committee.
Apologies
Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Deputy Town Clerk reported that apologies for absence had been received from Cllr N J Chard, Cllr D E Cracknell and Cllr M F J Daly.
Declarations of Interest
Cllr Clarke gave notice that he would be declaring a personal and prejudicial interest in planning application number 07/90708 as he knew the applicant. Cllrs B and Mrs Terry gave notice that they would be declaring a personal interest in planning application number 07/91113.
Present:
Cllr N R G Clarke (Chairman)
Cllr D R Cole
Cllr M A Steele
Cllr B H Terry
Cllr Mrs J A M Terry
Cllr Mrs A Wiseman
In Attendence:
Jo Stannard, Deputy Town Clerk
Harriet King, Student Adviser
Amy Lowry-Carter, Student Adviser
Chief Inspector Gary Cooper
Sergeant Rick Gallagher
Martyn Powell, CCTV and Licensing Manager, NFDC
P/4510 Minutes of Previous Meeting
That the minutes of the meeting held on 9th November 2007, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.
P/4511 Planning Applications Considered
The following planning applications were considered:
Application 07/90708
Mrs Gloria O’Reilly of 5 Handley Court, Bickerley Road spoke of the disturbance experienced by local residents, many of whom were elderly, as a result of the use of the scout hall as a “school”. There was excessive noise from children playing outside on a hard core surface several times a day and several residents had had their driveways blocked when children were being dropped off or collected. She, and other residents, felt that this was a completely unsuitable site for a school.
Members noted that District Council enforcement officers had been investigating the unauthorised use and that a Senior Environmental Health Officer had stated that it would be “significantly detrimental to the amenity of the immediate neighbourhood”. In addition, over 30 residents had signed a petition asking the Scout Group to reconsider its decision to allow the opening of a school in the scout hut.
Cllr Clarke declared a personal and prejudicial interest in planning application number 07/90708 as he knew the applicant. He left the room whilst members considered the recommendation. Cllr Steele took the Chair.
The Committee considered the application and the representations received and for the reasons set out in the Annex, agreed that the application should be recommended for refusal.
Cllr Clarke rejoined the meeting and re-took the Chair.
Application 07/91113
Mr Moison spoke in support of this application. He explained that the previous application for a pair of semi-detached bungalows with access via Stillwater Park had been given approval. This new application was for one bungalow with access from North Poulner Road via a driveway shared with 89 North Poulner Road. This application would therefore have less impact on the adjoining neighbours than the approved application.
The Committee considered the application and the representations received and for the reasons set out in the Annex, agreed that the application should be recommended for permission.
RESOLVED: That the observations as shown in Annex ‘A’ be submitted.
Agenda item 3 was taken next.
P/4512 Designated Public Places Order
Chief Inspector Gary Cooper and Sergeant Rick Gallagher presented a case for the introduction of a Designated Public Places Order (DPPO) in relation to the drinking of alcohol in public. This was new legislation that would enable officers to be more proactive in preventing alcohol related nuisance, antisocial behaviour and criminal damage. It would give officers the authority to confiscate alcohol from adults drinking in public places (18+), not from young people who were covered by existing legislation. It was noted that this was a discretionary power and would only be used when considered necessary.
Martyn Powell, the District Council’s CCTV and Licensing Manager explained that a DPPO could only be made by the District Council. He said that there must be support from the Police, the local council, local businesses and community and there must be evidence of an existing problem of people drinking in public with the consequence of disorderly behaviour. Although some areas had introduced blanket Orders, guidance from the Home Office was that problem areas should be identified and covered, together with any areas where the problem may be displaced to. He stressed that an Order would not stop people drinking in licensed premises or in areas with a Temporary Event Notice. Before an Order could be made, the District Council would need to carry out an extensive written consultation exercise and all the evidence would then be scrutinised by the Full Council. It was also noted that the District Council had not yet made any DPPOs and there was some uncertainty as to the cost of implementation.
Sergeant Gallagher referred to four areas that he felt should be included in a DPPO, as follows:
1) The area around the Visitor Information Centre, where there had been 40 incidences of street drinking reported in the last year;
2) Carvers Recreation Ground – although this area attracted mainly underage drinkers, the group was interspersed with some over 18s, who it was believed purchased the alcohol;
3) North Poulner Open Space – this group had been displaced from Carvers, following the introduction of additional patrols in the area;
4) Bickerley
Martyn Powell said that he had monitored the problems around the Visitor Information Centre on CCTV and had seen no link with drinking and disorderly conduct in this area. It was noted that the Police were able to arrest anyone who was drunk and disorderly in a public place using existing powers and Sergeant Gallagher stated that he had personally arrested three people in this area in the last year. Chief Inspector Cooper said that the new legislation would allow officers to prevent it reaching this stage – if officers believed that people were intent on being unruly, they could ask them to move on or alcohol could be confiscated.
Members were generally in support of the introduction of a DPPO in certain areas of the town. However, it was not clear how much alcohol related antisocial behaviour and criminal damage was caused by people drinking in licensed premises, as opposed to those drinking in the streets. There was also some concern about the ability of the Police to enforce the Order. It was also agreed that there was a need to determine exactly what would be achieved by the introduction of a DPPO and to identify the areas it should cover.
RECOMMENDED:
1) That, in principle, the introduction of a Designated Public Places Order in certain areas of the town be supported.
2) That a meeting be held with the Police to identify target groups and specific areas to be covered by the DPPO.
3) That, following the joint meeting, a report be brought back to this Committee, prior to submitting a case to New Forest District Council for consideration.
Chief Inspector Cooper, Sergeant Gallagher and Martyn Powell left the meeting.
P/4513 Planning Applications (Cont.)
The remaining planning applications in respect of periods ending 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th November 2007 were considered.
RESOLVED: That the observations as shown in Annex ‘A’ be submitted.
P/4514 Provision of Car Parking Space in Residential Development
Members considered consultation from New Forest District Council on a Draft Supplementary Planning Document for the provision of car parking space in residential development.
It was noted that current car parking standards were insufficient, particularly in an area not well served by public transport, and there was a need to increase provision on new developments. However, there was some concern that too great an increase may prevent new houses being built and there was a need to be flexible. Sometimes it may not be possible to fit the required amount of spaces into a development and other times it may be preferable to provide more spaces in an area that perhaps already suffered from under-provision. There was also some question as to how the figures, which were not whole numbers, would be applied to developments of, say, less than 5 dwellings.
RESOLVED: That the Draft Supplementary Planning Document for the provision of car parking space in residential development be supported in principle, but that the District Council be asked to clarify:
i) what scope there would be to tailor provision to individual sites, especially in inner-urban areas and;
ii) how the figures would be applied to developments of less than 5 dwellings.
P/4515 Hampshire Minerals and Waste Development Framework
Members considered consultation from Hampshire County Council on the Hampshire Minerals Plan Preferred Options.
It was noted that the preferred sites in the Ringwood area were extensions of existing sites. However, there was some concern about the generation of additional HGV traffic in the area, particularly on the A31. The B3347 through the town centre could also be affected if the site at Roeshot Hill, Christchurch came into use. It was therefore agreed that traffic impact assessments would be critical.
RESOLVED: That the proposals in the Hampshire Minerals Plan consultation be supported.
P/4516 Committee Budget 2008/09
Members reconsidered the Committee’s draft base budget for 2008/09 and new budget proposals for inclusion in the 2008/09 budget (Annex ‘B’).
As a result of the need to make savings to reduce the Council’s overall budget, it was noted that the Policy & Finance Committee had recommended that the street lighting budget be reduced to £1,000 and the new bid for bicycle racks be deleted.
RECOMMENDED TO POLICY & FINANCE COMMITTEE:
1) That the Committee’s base budget for 2008/09 be approved.
2) That the new proposals outlined in Annex ‘B’ be approved for inclusion in the 2008/09 budget.
P/4517 Appeal to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Members noted that Churchill Retirement Living Limited had submitted an Appeal against the District Council’s decision to refuse planning application number 07/89487 for proposed office building, cycle and refuse storage building, external store and associated car parking and landscaping, and that this would be determined by a Public Inquiry.
RESOLVED: That no further comments be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate at this stage but that members would wish to make representation at the Public Inquiry.
P/4518 Street Lighting
Following the recommendation by Policy & Finance Committee to reduce the street lighting budget to £1,000, the Deputy Town Clerk reported that she had submitted a bid to the County Council’s Community Safety Initiative (CSI) Street Lighting Programme 2008/09 for the addition of one new light in Kings Arms Row.
In addition, a bid had been made for funding from the County Council’s Country Towns Initiative (CTI) for environmental improvements in Southampton Road and part of The Close, and it was hoped that improved lighting in The Close could be included in any works to be undertaken in this area.
RESOLVED: That the action taken by the Deputy Town Clerk to submit a bid to the County Council’s CSI Street Lighting Programme 2008/09 for Kings Arms Row be approved.
P/4519 Training
The Deputy Town Clerk informed Members that Hampshire Association of Local Councils had organised a Planning Workshop on Responding to Planning Applications, to be held on 7th February 2008 at Chilworth Manor Hotel, near Southampton. The cost per delegate would be £40. Cllr Steele expressed an interest in attending and suggested that it may be a useful insight into how the planning system works for the Student Advisers.
RESOLVED: That up to four members of the Committee, including Student Advisors, be authorised to attend the Planning Workshop, and that their reasonable travel expenses be paid.
P/4520 Date of Next Meeting
The Deputy Town Clerk recommended that, due to the office closure over the Christmas period, the date of the next Committee meeting be moved from 4th January to Friday 11th January 2008.
RESOLVED: That the date of the next Committee meeting be rescheduled for Friday 11th January 2008.
The Chairman closed the meeting at 4.55pm. |
