Present:

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

In Attendance:

Mr T Simpson, Town Clerk
Mrs J Stannard, Deputy Town Clerk
District Cllr C Treleaven

C/4964 Apologies

The Town Clerk reported that apologies for absence had been received from Cllr P Chambers, Cllr D Cole and Cllr Mrs J Terry.

C/4965 Declarations of Interest

C/4970 - Cllr Steele declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the Green Paper on Care as he owns a care home. He made a statement and left the room whilst the matter was discussed.

C/4971 - Cllr Heron declared a personal interest in the National Park Draft Management Plan as he is a member of the National Park Authority.

C/4966 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Meeting held on 30th September 2009, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.

C/4967 Climate Change

Members received a presentation from Amy Rawlins, the newly appointed Climate Change Officer at the New Forest National Park Authority. She reported on the likely consequences of Climate Change and the impact these could have on the environment, people and wildlife.

In the South East there would be warmer wetter winters, hotter drier summers and rising sea levels, resulting in increased incidents of floods, storms and higher temperatures. Species could be lost, habitats degraded and livelihoods impacted.

In response, the National Park Authority had developed an Adaptation Plan and was looking to work with stakeholders to minimise the impact of Climate Change. They had also developed a Sustainability Action Plan and Travel Plan and were trying to raise awareness amongst both staff and members of the public, with the aim of the National Park remaining a special place into the future for people and wildlife.

In response to a question on sustainable energy generation, it was noted that the Authority had approved 80% of planning applications for solar panels and 50% of applications for wind turbines. In addition, the Forestry Commission was investigating the possibility of planting woodlands as energy crops.

C/4968 Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee

Cllr B Terry presented the minutes of the Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee meeting held on 7th October 2009.

OS/5134 – It was noted that Natural England was now contributing £10,000 towards the landscaping scheme at the Danny Cracknell Pocket Park.

OS/5136 – The Town Clerk reported that the Cemetery gates would be opened at school opening and closing times after half term. However, if the parking problems re-occurred, the gates would be closed again.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Recreation, Leisure and Open Spaces Committee meeting held on 7th October 2009 be received and the recommendations at OS/5134 be approved.

C/4969 Planning Town and Environment Committee

Cllr Clarke presented the minutes of the Planning, Town & Environment Committee meeting held on 9th October 2009.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the Planning, Town & Environment Committee meeting held on 9th October 2009 be received.

C/4970 Policy and Finance Committee

Cllr Heron presented the minutes of the Policy & Finance Committee meeting held on 21st October 2009.

F/4474 – There were no Members who wished to replace Cllr Woodifield on the Festival Steering Committee.

F/4482 – Cllr Steele declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the Green Paper on Care as he owns a care home. He presented his report (Annex ‘A’) and left the room.

It was noted that Cllr Clarke had submitted a personal representation in response to the Green Paper on Care (Annex ‘B’). He reported that the last comprehensive review had been carried out in the late 1940s and that this Paper represented a major political and economic change. In his opinion, evidence suggests that the vision will not be achieved, however, something must be done to improve the current situation. A great deal of public education and political commitment would be required.

RESOLVED:

1) That the minutes of the Policy & Finance Committee meeting held on 21st October 2009 be received and the recommendations at F/4470, F/4473, F/4479 and F/4483 be approved.

2) That no Member be appointed to replace Cllr Woodifield on the Festival Steering Committee at the present time.

3) That the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Cllr Clarke, be authorised to respond to the Green Paper on Care based on Cllr Steele’s report and taking into account any other comments from Members.

C/4971 National Park Draft Management Plan

llr Heron declared a personal interest as a member of the National Park Authority.

RESOLVED: That the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Vice-Chairman of Policy & Finance Committee and Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Planning, Town & Environment Committee, be authorised to respond to the National Park Draft Management Plan in line with representations made when the document was previously considered by the Council.

C/4972 Communications To Be Received

The Town Mayor reported on the following:

1. She thanked Mr Bill Wickens for donating a seat for The Bickerley – this was in the Town Council’s ‘corporate style’.

2. She offered congratulations to all those who had been involved in the floral displays around the town - Pam Brown for planting, the Council’s groundstaff for watering and Raymond Brown and Ringwood Carnival for sponsorship.

3. She had attended a meeting on 29th September to discuss the Visitor Information Centre.

Those present included representatives from the District Council, Ringwood Chamber of Commerce, and Tourism Group, and Cllr Heron and the Town Clerk. District Council representatives agreed to improve signage on the outside of the building to show whether the Centre is open or closed, and to consider putting up signs directing visitors to alternative information sources when the Centre is closed.

They were also willing to discuss partnership arrangements with other organisations for operating the Centre. However, no funds were available for improvements to the building (because of its general condition and short life expectancy) or to increase the opening hours of the Centre.

Cllr Heron queried why the National Park Authority was investing in local information points in rural areas, but not in Ringwood, which was considered to be a “gateway” to the National Park. The Town Clerk agreed to ask the District Council to follow this up.

4. She commented on the memorial stone which had been recently cleaned by the Council’s groundstaff. The Council was initially reluctant to take on this work, but agreed to provide the service in special circumstances. In this case the person in question lives in Australia. Full costs had been recovered.

5. She reported that the Planning Meeting to be held on Friday 6th November would be held in the Wedding Room at the Public Offices, 65 Christchurch Road and not at Greenways.

C/4973 Reports From County and District Councillors

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

County Councillor Rippon-Swaine presented his written report (Annex ‘D’).

District Councillor Heron – reported that some litter bins had now been replaced in the town. He also reported on the forthcoming National Park Authority meeting, which would include discussions on the appointment of a new Chief Executive and the Hampshire Minerals and Waste Core Strategy.

District Councillor Ford presented her written report (Annex ‘E’). She expressed concern about the location of the recycling facilities at the Leisure Centre, which were no longer easily accessible.

She also reported that the Joint Litter Working Group was looking to organise community events to litter pick. She had suggested Smugglers Road or Picket Post as possible areas to target – an item would be included on the agenda for the next Recreation Committee.

4Cllr Treleaven reported that residents in his Ward organised a voluntary litter pick in their area. Cllr Wiseman reported that Bisterne residents also organised a similar event.

C/4974 Forthcoming Meetings

There being no further business, the Town Mayor closed the meeting at 8.20pm.

RECEIVED AND ADOPTED
25th November 2009