Open Session:

There were no members of the public present.

Apologies

Prior to the meeting, the Town Clerk reported that an apology for absence had been received from Cllr Cracknell.

Declarations of Interest

There were none.

Present:

Cllr M F Daly (Chairman)
Cllr N J Chard
Cllr P Chambers
Cllr D Cole
Cllr L C Ford
Cllr B H Terry
Cllr M J Urwin
Cllr A C Wiseman

In Attendance:

Mr T R Simpson, Town Clerk
Mr M Townsend, Finance Manager
Mrs L A Wickens, P A to the Town Clerk
Miss B Scrivens, Student Adviser
Miss C Fleming, Student Adviser

Cllr Daly, Chairman of Committee, welcomed Cllr Chambers and Charlotte Fleming to their first meeting of the Committee.

OS/4946 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 3rd October 2007, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.

OS/4947 Committee Budgets 2008/09

Members considered the Report in respect of progress on new expenditure items included in the Budget for 2007/08 (Annex ‘A’) and made the following observations:

Item 4. Cllr Wiseman enquired whether a stile was likely to be installed in the near future. The Town Clerk replied that negotiations were still taking place with the County, as owner of the Castleman Trail and English Nature which he hoped would result in confirmation that a stile could be installed.

Item 5. Cllr Chard enquired whether the Council would consider handing over the wooded area at Folly Farm to the Parish of St Ives & St Leonards as the land was of no use to the people of Ringwood. The Town Clerk confirmed that there had never been any intention to use the land for any purpose other than recreation. It was, proposed, seconded and agreed to review the Council’s ownership of the land in the New Year.

Members considered the Report in respect of New Budget Proposals for 2008/09 and prioritised the items, as shown in Annex ‘B’.

A. RESOLVED:

(1) that the Expenditure Report on new proposals for 2007/08, as amended at the meeting, be noted (Annex ‘A’)

and

(2) that a report on ownership of land at Folly Farm be brought to the Committee in the New Year

and

(3) that since funds are currently available for the street lighting at Carvers (item 13 in Annex ‘B’, the work be carried out as quickly as possible.

B. RECOMMENDED TO POLICY & FINANCE COMMITTEE:

that the proposals in Annexes ‘B’ and ‘C’ with the exception of item 13 in Annex ‘B’ referred to above for 2008/09 to 2011/12, as amended at the meeting, be approved.

The Chairman thanked the Finance Manager for producing the Budgets.

Mr M Townsend, Finance Manager, left the meeting at 8.04 pm.

OS/4948 Ash Grove Play Area

Members considered the report prepared by the Deputy Town Clerk, (Annex ‘D’) on the outcome of the public meeting with local residents held on 22nd October 2007 to discuss the upgrading of the Ash Grove Play Area.

RESOLVED: that the Report be received and the action to be taken approved.

OS/4949 Carvers Recreation Ground

(a) Update on use of Tennis Pavilion as a Drop-in Centre

The Town Clerk advised Members that the flooring was now the only item still outstanding and the work would be carried our next week. It was hoped that a large proportion of the costs involved in the refurbishment of the pavilion as a Drop-in Centre would be met from Grants available from the County and District Councils.

A provisional date for the formal opening of the Drop-in Centre was now the evening of Friday 23rd November. The Town Mayor had asked Cllr Goff Beck, Chairman of the Community Safety Partnership to open the centre. The Town Clerk reported on discussions with the District Council’s Planning Department about the category of use of the building but he was confident this would resolved shortly.

(b) Security lighting at the Cricket Pavilion

The Town Clerk reported that the District Council’s Planning Officer had advised that the security light which the Committee had agreed would be installed at the Cricket Pavilion could be fitted to a street lighting column and would therefore not require planning permission. However, in view of the fact that the County would be installing street lighting along the footpath across Carvers, he suggested that the security light be not installed at present and the Committee wait to see whether the additional street lighting would suffice.

(c) Slide in the Children’s Play Area

The Town Clerk advised that safety reports had indicated that, due to its age and new health and safety requirements, the large slide on the mound would soon need replacing. Three quotations had been received, the lowest of which was for £8,000. Members felt that further consideration needed to be given to replacing the slide and it was agreed that this would be an agenda item at the next meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

(a) that the Clerk’s Report be noted,

(b) that, in view of the new information received, a security light at the Cricket Pavilion be not installed at the present time,

and

(c) that as more time was required for Members to consider the action to be taken with regard to the replacement of the large slide, this would be an agenda item at the next meeting.

OS/4950 Dog Control Orders

Members considered the Consultation from New Forest District Council regarding the options available to implement new provisions under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 (ANNEX ‘E’).

RESOLVED: that, having considered the options put forward by the District Council,

(a) the Town Council’s preferred Option be Option 4, whereby the District Council declares a Dog Control Order for fouling on the whole of the district, including Town and Parish Council land and for any other specified offences, as necessary and

(b) that Members consider whether additional controls, such as dog banning orders, should be sought for specific recreation and open space land in the Town Council’s ownership and bring back suggestions to a future meeting for consideration.

OS/4951 Rugby Facilities at Ringwood Junior School

The Town Clerk reminded Members that the Council had resolved that no further monies should be released from Developers’ Contributions until the loan from the Rugby Football Union had been received, the Lottery Grant approved and the final signed lease documents with the County Council completed. He regretted that to date, he had received no further information from any source on the progress of the scheme.

RESOLVED: that the Town Clerk’s Report be noted.

OS/4951 EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

RESOLVED: That in view of the confidential nature of the business about to be transacted, it was advisable in the public interest that the press and public be temporarily excluded and they were instructed to withdraw (Annex ‘F’ ).

Cllr Wiseman, declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following item, left the room and took no part in the discussion and voting.

OS/4952 Land at Long Lane

The Town Clerk reported on progress to acquire land at Long Lane.

RESOLVED: that the action taken by the Town Clerk be approved.

There being no further business, the Chairman closed the Meeting at 8.40 p.m.