There were no members of public present.

Apologies

The Town Clerk reported that apologies for absence had been received from Rachel Giles, Student Adviser.

Declarations of Interest

There were none.

Present:

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

In Attendance:

Mr T Simpson, Town Clerk
Jo Stannard, Deputy Town Clerk
District Cllr C Treleaven
District Cllr E Heron

C/4817 Minutes of Previous Meeting

C/4826: Cllr Wiseman indicated that the Questions of the Mayor had not been submitted in writing and felt that reference should have been made to this in the minutes. The Town Clerk said that, as this issue had not been raised at the meeting, the minutes as stated were a true reflection of what took place.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 7th May 2008, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.

C/4818 Presentation - ACSOs

Members received a presentation from Leo Nightingale on the role of Accredited Community Safety Officers (ACSOs). It was noted that Mr Nightingale would now be based full time in the Rural West area, which covers Ringwood and Fordingbridge and the villages in between. There would also be two other ACSOs covering this area on a part time basis. ACSOs have the same powers as Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and deal with low level, high volume offences. They undertake such tasks as environmental audits, confiscating alcohol and dealing with antisocial behaviour.

Reference was made to Rainer, a youth recreation project, which aimed to make young people take responsibility for their behaviour and give something back to the community. The ACSOs were currently looking for projects in the Ringwood area for four individuals to undertake at weekends or evenings after school. Suggested projects were litter picking, gardening and graffiti removal. It was noted that the ACSOs liaised closely with the Police and PCSOs and undertook joint patrols from time to time. Mr Nightingale encouraged Members to contact him with any issues of concern.

C/4819 Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee

Cllr Chard presented the minutes of the Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee meetings held on 7th May and 14th May 2008.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee meetings held on 7th May and 14th May 2008 be received and the recommendation therein be adopted.

C/4820 Policy & Finance Committee

Cllr Heron presented the minutes of the Policy & Finance Committee meetings held on 7th May and 21st May 2008.

F/4264 – Cllr Heron pointed out that a sixth resolution should have been included with reference to the transfer of Provisions. It was noted that this would be corrected at the next meeting of the Committee.

21st May – It was noted that Cllr Mrs A Wiseman had been in attendance, not Cllr B Wiseman as minuted.

F/4267: – Cllr Mrs Wiseman asked if reference could be made in this minute to the necessity to submit Questions of the Mayor in writing. It was noted that Full Council was unable to amend the minutes of resolved items. However, Members were reminded that they should abide by the rules of Standing Orders with regard to written questions.

F/4628 – The Town Mayor felt that there was a more appropriate way of thanking the student advisers for their work this year than a small gift. He suggested that their work should be recognised in the form of an event and asked that Recommendation 4 be referred back to the Committee for further discussion.

F/4271 – it was noted that the Town Clerk or Deputy Town Clerk would attend the Tourism CAN meeting on 3rd June 2008. Cllr Heron and Cllr Clarke indicated that they would represent the Council on tourism issues whenever possible.

RESOLVED:

1) That the minutes of the Policy & Finance Committee meetings held on 7th May and 21st May 2008, excluding the recommendations, be received.

2) That Recommendations 1 to 3 of F/4268 be adopted, but that Recommendation 4 be referred back to Policy and Finance Committee for further consideration.

3) That the Town Clerk or Deputy Town Clerk attend the Tourism CAN meeting on 3rd June.

4) That Cllr Heron and Cllr Clarke represent the Town Council on tourism issues.

C/4821 Planning, Town & Environment Committee

Cllr Clarke presented the minutes of the Planning, Town & Environment Committee meeting held on 7th May and Cllr Steele presented the minutes of the meeting held on 23rd May 2008.

Cllr Ford and Cllr Chard asked that their objection to the demolition of 11-13 Meeting House Lane be recorded.

Cllr Chard said that, as there were only a few historic buildings left facing The Furlong, the demolition of 11-13 Meeting House Lane would destroy the character of this part of the town. Cllr Mrs Wiseman also did not support the demolition.

Cllr Heron objected generally to the removal of older buildings in the town, although in some cases he accepted that this was necessary for the enhancement and improvement of the town. However, he was of the opinion that the planning application for this development was not well founded and failed on several levels. He could not therefore support the demolition of these properties on this occasion. He therefore proposed that the Council’s observation on planning application number 08/92193 be amended to Refusal.

RESOLVED:
1) That the minutes of the Planning, Town & Environment Committee meetings held on 7th May and 23rd May 2008, excluding the recommendation at P/4560, be received and that the recommendation at P/4561 be adopted.

2) That the recommendations at P/4560 be adopted, with the exception of the observation on planning application number 08/92193, which should be amended as follows:

As the proposed demolition is integral to 08/92208, this Council recommends refusal of 08/92193, but would be prepared to reconsider this if an acceptable scheme for the whole development is submitted.

C/4822 Ringwood Festival Steering Committee

Members considered the Minutes of the Ringwood Festival Steering Committee meeting held on 6th May 2008 (Annex ‘A’).

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Festival Steering Committee meeting held on 6th May 2008 be received and the proposals therein be approved.

C/4823 Communications to be Received

The Town Mayor welcomed Cllr Mrs Woodifield to the Council and also reported that a letter had been received from a member of the public praising the Council for its decision to install another litter bin on the North Poulner Open Space.

C/4824 Appointment to Committees

Cllr Woodifield expressed an interest in joining the Policy & Finance and Planning, Town & Environment Committees. As there was only one vacancy on the Policy & Finance Committee, Cllr Chambers withdrew his interest in this committee.

RESOLVED: That Cllr Mrs Woodifield be appointed to the Policy & Finance and Planning, Town & Environment Committees.

C/4825 Reports from County and District Councillors

District Councillor Ford gave a verbal report. She reported on the Green Audit being undertaken by the District Council and particularly on the operation of vehicles and saving energy in Council owned premises.

Members received County Councillor Clarke’s written report (Annex ‘B’).

District Councillor Treleaven presented his written report (Annex ‘C’). Cllr Wiseman commended the District Council on reviewing the extension of concessionary bus passes. The Town Clerk asked that the District Council officer responsible for road closures write to all Town and Parish Councils to issue updated advice with regard to the new indemnity arrangements required for road closure orders.

C/4826 Forthcoming Meetings

There being no further business, the Town Mayor closed the meeting at 8.05pm.