Open Session:

There was one member of public present, who did not wish to address the Council.

Apologies

The Town Clerk reported that apologies for absence had been received from Cllr Steele and Cllr Chambers.

Declarations of Interest

There were none declared at this time.

Present:

Cllr B H Terry (Town Mayor)
Cllr N J Chard
Cllr N R G Clarke
Cllr D Cole
Cllr L C Ford
Cllr J Heron
Cllr Mrs G O’Reilly
Cllr W S Rippon-Swaine
Cllr Mrs J Terry
Cllr Mrs M Urwin
Cllr Mrs A Wiseman
Cllr Mrs B Woodifield

In Attendance:

Mr T Simpson, Town Clerk
Ms C Perrens, Meetings Administrator
Ms R Giles, Student Advisor
Mr J Fullick, Student Advisor
Mr H Barker, Student Advisor
District Cllr M Thierry
District Cllr C Treleavan

C/4861 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 29 October 2008, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.

C/4862 Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee

Cllr Chard presented the minutes of the Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee meeting held on 5 November 2008.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee meeting held on 5 November 2008 be received.

C/4863 Planning, Town & Environment Committee

Cllr Clarke presented the minutes of the Planning, Town & Environment Committee meeting held on 7 November 2008. However, with regard to the recommendation at Minute No P/4596, he wished to make an amendment.

Further information had become available about the Highways Agency’s proposals for improvements of the various junctions on the A31. The District Council’s Planning and Transportation Review Panel had also considered Councillor Thierry’s Motion and it seemed to him, therefore, that since that Panel’s views very much coincided with views expressed at this Council, that we ought to offer our support to the recommendations they are making to the District Council’s Cabinet. The amendment to the recommendation at Minute number P/4596 will amend that recommendation by the following :-

Firstly, the recommendation as shown in the Minutes to be notated as recommendation 1 and after the words “be not supported”, the insertion of the word “but” and then a new recommendation number 2 as follows :-

i. Thanks the Highways Agency for providing accident information and details of their emerging proposals for the A31.

ii. Requests urgent action is taken to reduce the number and severity of personal injury accidents along the A31 from Picket Post to the Hampshire/Dorset county boundary.

iii. Urges the Highways Agency to introduce a package of measures that will improve road safety along the A31 in the Ringwood area and improve conditions for residents near the A31 including:

· Queue detection linked to warning signs to alert drivers to traffic queues ahead within the next 12 months;

· The trial use of road markings (possibly chevrons on the road surface) to help drivers to better judge their speed;

· The introduction of a 50 mph speed limit with appropriate enforcement;

· Further consultations be undertaken with the County, District and Town Councils on the development of detailed proposals to improve or close the West Street link to the A31, subject to such proposals making full provision for ensuring adequate traffic flow arrangements within the Town Centre;

· The development of proposals to improve the westbound carriageway of the A31 before 2012 by the addition of a westbound traffic lane on the A31 west of the “on slip” from the A338/B3347 roundabout so as to enable further consultations with the Council and others to be undertaken.

iv. Asks the Highways Agency to inform the Council of its timescale for implementing
the above measures and the estimated costs.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Planning, Town & Environment Committee meeting
held on 7 November 2008 be received, and that the amendment moved by Cllr Clarke to the recommendation therein at Minute No P/4596 be approved.

C/4864 Policy & Finance Committee

Cllr Heron presented the minutes of the Policy & Finance Committee meeting held on 19 November 2008. The final response relating to recommendation F/4327 Direct Elections to English National Parks is attached as Annex ‘A’.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Policy & Finance Committee meeting held on 19 November 2008 be received and the recommendation therein be approved.

C/4865 Communications to be received

The Town Mayor reported the following:

1) He announced that the office will close on Christmas Eve at lunchtime and re-open on Friday 2 January 2009.

2) The Mayor of Lymington Town Council had written to thank members for allowing the Town Clerk, Terry Simpson, to help them out during the absence of their own Clerk in August. She thanked Terry for his contribution and ongoing help to their new locum Clerk, Malcolm Leatherdale.

3) Hampshire Association of Local Councils had put forward a county motion to the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Policy Committee on the issue of red diesel and whether the new tax applies to equipment used by town councils for the maintenance of public facilities.

4) He reported that Black Velvet Travel had given notice that they wish to terminate their contract to run bus service 35 and 300, on 10 January 2009 and this was disappointing as they only took up this contract in May of this year.

5) He noted the problems being experienced by Woolworths and hoped that the Ringwood branch would not be affected.

C/4866 Reports from County and District Councillors

County Councillor Clarke presented his written report (Annex ‘B’).

District Councillor Ford presented her written report (Annex ‘C’).

District Councillor Treleaven presented his written report (Annex ‘D’).

District Councillor Rippon-Swaine commented that the ‘credit crunch’ has caused a huge reduction in planning applications and loss of revenue leading to the need for the District Council to cut expenditure.

District Councillor Heron reported that an event was planned in Ringwood by New Forest Community Safety Partnership seeking the views of local people. It will be held on Saturday December 6, from 9am-3pm, at the Trinity Centre, Christchurch Road.

District Councillor Thierry was very concerned for retail traders in Ringwood at this difficult time and had tried, unfortunately without success, to find support for a proposal to suspend car parking charges for two consecutive Saturdays in December, to encourage shoppers.

C/4867 Forthcoming Meetings

There being no further business, the Town Mayor closed the meeting at 7.45pm.

RECEIVED AND ADOPTED