Open Session:

There were three members of the public present wishing to speak on individual planning applications.

Apologies

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Deputy Town Clerk reported that apologies for absence had been received from Cllr Cole, Cllr Mrs Terry and Rachel Giles, Student Advisor.

Declarations of Interest

Cllr Woodifield expressed a personal and prejudicial interest in Speed Limit on A31 P/4596 and Planning Application 08/93456 – see P/4595. Cllr Ford declared a personal interest in Speed Limit on A31 P/4596.

Present:

Cllr N R G Clarke (Chairman)
Cllr M A Steele (Vice-Chairman)
Cllr N J Chard
Cllr L C Ford
Cllr B H Terry
Cllr A Wiseman
Cllr B Woodifield

In Attendence:

J Stannard, Deputy Town Clerk
C Perrens, Meetings Administrator
A Finch, Student Advisor
District Cllr C Treleaven

P/4593 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 October 2008, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.

As there were members of the public wishing to comment on agenda item 3, the Chairman brought this item forward.

P/4594 NFNPA Planning Application Number 08/93336 – Hurn Farm, Forest Lane

Members reconsidered this application, following receipt of further information. The key issue was whether the detached outbuilding should be included within the original floor space calculations. Mr Foster, the applicant, made a statement in support of his application. He referred to evidence from a previous neighbour, stating that the outbuilding had been used as living space associated with the house since 1962. The room was currently used by an elderly relative and the proposal was to incorporate an annex as part of the extension of the house. Members agreed that the outbuilding should be included in the original floor space and that the proposed work will represent a pleasing extension of the existing building.

RESOLVED: That planning application 08/93336 be supported and that a response, based on the comments above, be sent to NFNPA.

P/4595 Planning Applications

Members considered planning applications in respect of periods ending 08, 15, 22 and 29 October 2008.

Application Number 93533
Mr Edwin Terry, a neighbour, made a statement against this application for a Certificate of Lawful development for existing use of land as domestic curtilage at Hyland House. As the owner of a formal right of way across the land in question, he was very concerned that this would be compromised in future, if the application were to be successful.

Cllr Woodifield declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Planning Application 08/93456, as it related to a neighbouring property. Having made a statement, Cllr Woodifield left the room and took no part in the discussion and voting.

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

As District Cllr Treleaven was in attendance to speak on the Speed Limit on A31, this Agenda Item was brought forward by the Chairman.

P/4596 Speed Limit on A31

Members considered whether the Town Council should express a view on a motion moved by District Councillor Michael Thierry at the District Council meeting on 27 October, to request the Highways Agency to implement a 50mph speed limit on the A31 from Picket Post to link up with the 50mph speed limit already in operation on the A31 at St Leonards.

Cllr Woodifield declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item, as she lives close to this section of the A31. Having made a statement, Cllr Woodifield left the room and took no part in the discussion and voting.

Cllr Ford declared a personal interest in this item, as she is a district councillor, and she seconded the motion.

District Cllr Treleaven commented that whilst very sympathetic to the proposal to reduce the speed limit, he had to take account of the views of the Police and the Highways Agency who did not support it. They have analysed the accident record and do not conclude that speed is the cause. They propose alternative measures to include ‘variable’ speed signs and a fourth lane.

Cllr Ford said she represented local constituents who experience great difficulty in joining the A31 due to the short slip roads and that this reduced speed limit would facilitate this. She did not support the police view, and expressed concerns that an additional lane would make the road even faster.

Members noted that problems were exacerbated by the poor design on the junctions at Ringwood, which make it confusing for visitors. There are no speed reduction signs on the Ringwood slip road, which adds to the problem.

Cllr Terry felt that reducing the speed from 70mph to 50mph would be too great a differential. Cllr Chard felt that the speed limit would be ineffective unless properly enforced. Ashley Finch, Student Advisor, commented that he would feel much safer as a learner driver if the speed limit were 50mph and supported the motion.

RECOMMENDED: That the motion moved by District Councillor Michael Thierry at the District Council meeting on 27 October, to request the Highways Agency to implement a 50mph speed limit on the A31 from Picket Post to link up with the 50mph speed limit already in operation on the A31 at St Leonards, be not supported.

Cllr Woodifield rejoined the Meeting.

P/4597 Committee Budget 2009/10

Members considered the revised budget for 2008/09 and gave initial consideration to proposals for inclusion in the Committee’s budget for 2009/10. Having discussed the various proposals in detail these were then ranked, according to priority. Members wished to build up a fund for Street Lighting which would be available to use as necessary.

The Deputy Town Clerk stated that, as she had already incorporated estimated costs relating to the Town Plan consultations into the draft budget, Agenda item 4 b) should be deferred to the next meeting, when an update on progress would be provided.

RESOLVED:
1) That the new budget proposals for 2009/10 be ranked in the order of priority as shown in the attached Annex ‘B’;

and

2) That further consideration of the proposals put forward in the Town Plan consultations be deferred until the next meeting.

RECOMMENDED: That Policy & Finance Committee consider the revised 08/09 and original 09/10 budget proposals as shown in Annex ‘B’ and ‘C’ attached.

P/4598 Southampton Road Environmental Improvements

The Deputy Town Clerk gave a verbal update following the meeting of the project group held on 04 November 2008. Terms of Reference had been agreed for a steering group and a technical group. The two Student Advisors on the Town Plan Partnership Steering Group would be invited to join the steering group. Due to funding restraints, the focus would remain on the southern section of Southampton Road. However, the project group would look at ways to reduce the impact of the severance caused by Mansfield Road and allow for continuity of enhancement works in the future. Innovative use of the area was to be encouraged, for example, market stalls, charity events and pavement cafés. Funding would be provided from Hampshire County Council and developers’ contributions, with a modest but important contribution from the Town Council itself, which is included in the budget proposals as number one priority.

RESOLVED:

1) That the Deputy Town Clerk’s report on the Southampton Road Environmental Improvements project group meeting of 04 November 2008 be noted;

and

2) That Student Advisors Kim Abell and Henry Barker be invited to join the new steering group.

P/4599 Bus Shelters, Furlong Car Park, Meeting House Lane

Members considered the Town Clerk’s report regarding the New Forest District Council (NFDC) proposal to increase the Licence fee for land at the Furlong car park fronting Meeting House Lane for bus shelters. The Town Council receives no benefit from the arrangement as it receives no income for the bus shelters. As the provision of bus shelters is often the responsibility of a District Council, members considered whether the Town Council should simply give notice terminating the Licence, thereby transferring responsibility for the provision of bus shelters back to NFDC.

RESOLVED: That notice be given to NFDC terminating the Licence for land for bus shelters.

P/4600 Date of January Meeting

Due to Christmas shut-down, members considered moving the date of the January meeting to Friday 09 January 2009.

RESOLVED: That the January meeting be rescheduled to 09 January 2009.

There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 4.45pm.