Open Session:

There were no members of the public present

Apologies

Prior to the commencement of the meeting, the Deputy Town Clerk reported that apologies for absence had been received from Cllr Steele, Cllr Wiseman and Cllr J Terry.

Declarations of Interest

P/4627
As the Council has been involved in a dispute with the applicant of planning application number 09/93755 (Land of 9 & 11 Mount Pleasant Lane) on issues relating to access over Mount Pleasant Lane, all Members declared a personal and prejudicial interest and the Committee declined to comment on the application in order to make it clear that the Council is not predisposed to any particular outcome.

Present:

Cllr N R G Clarke (Chairman)
Cllr N J Chard
Cllr D R Cole
Cllr L C Ford
Cllr B H Terry
Cllr B Woodifield

In Attendence:

Jo Stannard, Deputy Town Clerk
Claire Perrens, Meetings Administrator
Ashley Finch, Student Advisor
Rachel Giles, Student Advisor

P/4626 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 27th February 2009, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record

P/4627 Planning Applications

Members considered planning applications in respect of periods ending 25th February, 4th March, 11th March and 18th March 2009.

APPLICATION 09/93755 LAND OF 9 & 11 MOUNT PLEASANT LANE
As the Council has been involved in a dispute with the applicant of planning application number 09/93755 (Land of 9 & 11 Mount Pleasant Lane) on issues relating to access over Mount Pleasant Lane, all Members declared a personal and prejudicial interest and the Committee declined to comment on the application in order to make it clear that the Council is not predisposed to any particular outcome.

RESOLVED:
1) That the Committee declines to comment on application 09/93755;

and

2) That the observations summarised in Annex ‘A’ be submitted.

P/4628 Conservation Areas

Members considered the Town Clerk’s report attached as Annex ‘B’ regarding the designation of conservation areas. The challenge for the Council is how to allow for a consistent conservation policy, whilst taking account of the need for economic viability. Cllr Cole felt that there should be more listed buildings and less Conservation Area, to preserve the best architecture without necessarily restricting the rest. Members agreed that more detail is needed as to policy, and to avoid a ‘frozen in time’ snapshot approach to the Conservation Area. The Chairman commented that the current stance is positively harmful for the economic vitality of the Town.

RESOLVED: That the New Forest Association of Local Councils be urged to invite the Head of Planning, the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation and the Chairman of the Planning Development Control Committee of the District Council to attend one of its general meetings to explain and debate the designation of Conservations Areas and the determination of planning applications within those areas.

P/4629 Appeal Regarding 13 Westbury Road

Members considered an appeal regarding Application Number 08/93175 – Two-storey extension; amendments to garage; 1.8 & 1.2 metre high boundary walls. Members had made a recommendation of ‘Refusal (4) – “Members support the Planning Officer’s comments”, at their meeting on 7th November 2008.

RESOLVED: That no further comments be made on the Appeal regarding 13 Westbury Road.

P/4630 Draft Traffic Management Programme 2009/10

The Deputy Town Clerk reported on the response from New Forest District Council to the Committee’s comments on the Draft Traffic Management Programme (P/4625 in Minutes dated 27/2/09 refers). The Chairman commented on the challenge of bringing together the many projects affecting traffic management in the Town. It was noted that the programme had now been agreed by the New Forest Hampshire Action Team.

RESOLVED: That the report regarding the Draft Traffic Management Programme in Annex ‘C’ attached be noted.

P/4631 Tree Preservation Order 36/08

Members considered an application for a Tree Preservation Order on land of Meadow View, 12 Salisbury Road, and whether to send representatives to the site visit and formal hearing of the District Council’s Appeals Panel on Thursday 9th April 2009. The trees in question are a group of pines on the boundary of Salisbury Road, close to the roundabout. Members felt that it was important to retain these trees which are clearly visible to motorists and pedestrians in a busy area. Cllr Ford commented that the key words are ‘public amenity’; the trees need to have an impact on a number of people to justify a Tree Preservation Order.

RESOLVED:
1) That, when available, the details of the case and any objections be further reviewed;

and

2) That, if necessary, Cllr Woodifield be appointed to support the need for a Tree Preservation Order at the formal hearing on 9th April 2009.

P/4632 Gorley Road Accident

On 21st November 2008, a resident of one of the Lantern Community’s properties was sadly killed, when hit by a car whilst he was crossing Gorley Road. Following the inquest in February, The Lantern Community had requested the Committee’s support in furthering a review of street lighting and provision of a pedestrian crossing in Gorley Road.

The Deputy Town Clerk reported that officers from the Casualty Reduction Partnership (CRP) have visited the area where the tragic incident occurred on two separate occasions, one in daylight and one at night. They have considered the provision of a pedestrian crossing using Department for Transport guidelines and have found that the levels of pedestrian movements, together with relatively low volumes of traffic, are not sufficient to justify a formal crossing. With regard to the street lighting, Hampshire County Council is looking to upgrade all street lighting under a Private Finance Initiative scheme beginning in 2011. Members were informed that it is likely that the street lights in Gorley Road will be replaced as part of this programme of works.

Members noted that there has been substantial investment in this area by the identification, upgrading and highlighting of preferred crossing points.

RESOLVED: That, in light of the substantial investment already made regarding road crossing points in this area, the likelihood of improvements to street lighting in 2011, and the additional information received from the Casualty Reduction Partnership outlined above, the request by the Lantern Community be not supported.

There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 3.25pm.