Open Session:

There were four members of the public present who gave notice 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 R G Clarke and Cllr D E Cracknell.

Declarations of Interest

Cllr Steele indicated that he would be declaring a personal interest in Planning Application Number 07/90887 and would leave the meeting during discussions on that matter.

Present:

Cllr M A Steele (Chairman)
Cllr N J Chard
Cllr D R Cole
Cllr M F J Daly
Cllr B H Terry
Cllr Mrs J A M Terry
Cllr Mrs A Wiseman

In Attendence:

Jo Stannard, Deputy Town Clerk
Cllr L C Ford
Miss Harriet King, Student Adviser
Miss Amy Lowry-Carter, Student Adviser

P/4497 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 14th September 2007, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.

P/4498 Student Advisers

Cllr Steele welcomed Harriet King and Amy Lowry-Carter who had been appointed by Ringwood School as Student Advisers to the Committee.

P/4499 Planning Applications Considered

Planning applications in respect of periods ending 12th, 19th & 26th September and 3rd October 2007 were considered.

Cllr Steele declared a personal interest in Planning Application Number 07/90887 as he knew the Agent. He left the room during discussion of this item and Cllr Chard took the Chair in his absence.

Application 07/90887

Mr and Mrs Smith, the applicants, referred to a letter from their Agent, copies of which had been circulated to members of the committee, explaining the background to the planning application. Cllr Mrs Ford said that the existing cottage was an harmonious building and the proposal to demolish it and replace it with five dwellings would destroy the character of the country lane.

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 officer decision.

Cllr Steele returned to the meeting and re-took the Chair.

Application 07/89742

Mrs Williams, an adjoining property owner, spoke in objection to this application. She was concerned about loss of light, the planting of a Silver Birch tree close to her fence, which she felt could undermine her property and possible difficulties with parking/access.

The Committee considered the views expressed and agreed that the application should be recommended for permission.

RESOLVED: That the observations as shown in Annex ‘A’ be submitted.

P/4500 Traffic Management

Members noted that an Informal Local Members’ Liaison Meeting would be held in the next two months, primarily to discuss comments received on the proposed waiting and loading restrictions for High Street, Market Place and Southampton Road. Members asked for an update on the District Council’s Traffic Management Programme for 2007/08, which included an experimental one-way order for Kings Arms Lane. Members also asked that a review of the effectiveness of new arrangements in Quomp and Bickerley Road be included on the agenda. Issues of particular interest were pedestrian routes in the Quomp area and parking outside Bickerley Green Old Persons Home – it was suggested that this be restricted to one hour as there were still cars parked here all day. Cllr Chard asked that New Street be included on the agenda so that consideration could be given to the introduction of a one-way system

RESOLVED: That the District Council be requested to include the following items on the agenda for the next Informal Local Members’ Liaison Meeting:

• Implementation of Traffic Management Programme
• Review of Quomp and Bickerley Road
• New Street
  

P/4501 Survey of Taxi Ranks,

The Deputy Town Clerk reported that, following the last meeting of the Committee when Members had considered the District Council’s survey of taxi ranks, further information had been received that had an impact on the Town Council’s response. She advised that the District Council was proposing to locate a temporary taxi rank in the Market Square in an attempt to reduce anti-social behaviour that occurs in this area when the pubs and clubs close. Members supported this proposal, but suggested that the temporary taxi rank should not operate before 11pm, so as not to reduce the number of parking spaces available to members of the public using the local restaurants.

RESOLVED: That the proposal by New Forest District Council to locate a temporary taxi rank in the Market Place be supported, provided that it did not operate prior to 11pm.

P/4502 Expenditure Plans

Members gave initial consideration to the Committee’s budget for 2008/09. The Deputy Town Clerk reported that she was awaiting information regarding the funding of street lights alongside the footpath across Carvers and signage and hoped that this would be available for the next meeting. Members also noted that, as the District Council was proposing not to circulate paper copies of planning applications at some stage in the future, it would be necessary to improve the Council’s display equipment. Members were asked to think about what improvements in service they envisaged for the coming year and to bring their considerations to the next meeting for possible inclusion in the Committee’s Budget for 2008/09.

RESOLVED: That this information be noted.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 3.45pm.