Open Session:

There was one member of public present.

Present:

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

In Attendance:

Mr T Simpson, Town Clerk
Ms C Perrens, Meetings Administrator
Mr J Fullick, Student Advisor
District Cllr C Treleaven

C/4922 Apologies

The Town Mayor regretted to inform those present that Cllr Heron had been involved in a serious car accident. She asked Cllr Woodifeld to report further as she had the latest information. Cllr Woodfield said that Cllr Heron had been released from hospital this afternoon and was suffering from a broken wrist and collarbone and head injuries. His daughter also had serious injuries, but it was hoped would be out of hospital shortly. She wished a speedy recovery for both. A Get Well Soon card was circulated for signatures.

There were no other apologies for absence.

C/4923 Declarations of Interest

There were none declared at this time.

C/4924 Grant Aid - Presentation

The Town Mayor presented a grant aid cheque for £3,000 and a certificate to Mr Barrie Sindall of Greyfriars (Ringwood & District Community Association), for the Ebenezer Hall Appeal. Mr Sindall thanked the Council, on behalf of the manager Janet Dolby and all the volunteers. After 15 months of fundraising, they had now raised nearly all of the £159,000 required. It was good to know the Council supported the many community activities at Greyfriars. He presented the Council with a copy of a booklet on the history of the Ebenezer Hall and its refurbishment.

C/4925 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Meeting held on 6th May 2009, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.

C/4926 Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee

Cllr Terry presented the minutes of the Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee meetings held on 6th and 13th May 2009. There was one correction to the draft minutes; Cllr O’Reilly noted that she had been present on 6th May and the Meetings Administrator confirmed this had been noted prior to this Meeting by Cllr Terry and was correct in the minute book.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee meetings held on 6th and 13th May 2009 be received.

C/4927 Planning, Town & Environment Committee

Cllr Clarke presented the minutes of the Planning, Town & Environment Committee meetings held on 24th April and 6th May 2009.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Planning, Town & Environment Committee meetings held on 24th April and 6th May 2009 be received.

C/4928 Policy & Finance Committee

Cllr Rippon-Swaine presented the minutes of the Policy & Finance Committee meeting held on 6th and 20th May 2009.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Policy & Finance Committee meetings held on 6th and 20th May 2009 be received and the recommendation therein be approved.

C/4929 Communications to be Received

The Town Mayor reported the following:

1. She had attended the Danny Cracknell Charity Golf Tournament 2009 at Moors Valley, last week, at which close to £1,000 had been raised. She thanked the Town Clerk for his tremendous work in organising this.

C/4930 Reports from County and District Councillors

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

The Town Mayor commented on item 1) of Cllr Treleaven’s report, that following her meeting with Mark Kincaid, she was hopeful that the façade of the old cinema would be improved. Regarding item 2) public facilities at SW corner of Furlong Car Park, she noted that the lack of progress on improving the toilets was due to lack of funding for the wider plans for this area incorporating the visitor centre, which could mean a three year wait.

She considered further delay to be unacceptable and intended to take up the matter with senior officers at the District Council, as improvements to the substandard public conveniences should be given priority, independently of longer term plans. She also felt that the term affordable housing gave the wrong impression and that the term ‘starter homes’ would be more pertinent.

District Cllr Treleaven added that he had been awarded a prize at the Danny Cracknell Golf Tournament as he was the oldest participant!

County Councillor Clarke had prepared his final report as a county councillor although it was not available at the meeting (attached as Annex ‘B’).

District Cllr Rippon Swaine commented on the success of the recent public exhibition on the Southampton Road Environmental Improvements proposals. County officers had been very impressed by the large footfall. He commended the Deputy Town Clerk for securing an excellent location in a vacant shop on Southampton Road, which made all the difference.

The Town Mayor added that access to the Geographical Information System, which the Deputy Town Clerk had been working on introducing, should hopefully be available at the end of July.

C/4931 Forthcoming Meetings

There being no further business, the Town Mayor closed the meeting at 7.25pm.

RECEIVED AND ADOPTED