Open Session:

There were no members of the public present.

Present:

Cllr N R G Clarke (Chairman)
Cllr M A Steele (Vice-Chairman)
Cllr N J Chard
Cllr D R Cole
Cllr B H Terry
Cllr Mrs J Terry
Cllr A Wiseman
Cllr B Woodifield

In Attendence:

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

P/4731 Apologies

The Deputy Town Clerk reported that apologies for absence had been received from Cllr L C Ford and Ed Fullick, Student Advisor.

P/4732 Declarations of Interest

There were three declarations of interest. Cllrs Steele and Wiseman made personal and prejudicial declarations of interest and Cllr Clarke made a personal declaration of interest. Please see P/4734 Planning Applications for details.

P/4733 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 8th January 2010, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record.

P/4734 Planning Applications

Members considered planning applications in respect of periods ending 6th January, 13th January, 20th January and 27th January 2010 (Annex ‘A’ attached)

Cllr Steele declared a personal & prejudicial interest in Planning Application 09/95042 as he is a business associate of the applicant. He left the room whilst this application was considered, taking no part in the debate or decision made. Cllr Steele then returned to the Meeting.

Cllr Wiseman declared a personal & prejudicial interest in Planning Application 10/95091 as she is related to the applicants. She left the room whilst this application was considered, taking no part in the debate or decision made. Cllr Wiseman then returned to the Meeting.

Cllr Clarke declared a personal interest in Planning Application 10/95101, as he is a trustee of Community First and the Town Council’s representative.

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

P/4735 Appeal Regarding 83-87 & Rear of 79-81 & 89-91, Eastfield Lane

Members considered an appeal in respect of Application No 09/94669:- Development of 24 dwellings comprised: 10 detached houses; 5 pairs of semi-detached houses; 1 terrace of 3 houses; 1 link detached house; garages & carports; vehicular & pedestrian access; parking; public open space & landscaping; demolition of 83, 85 & 87 Eastfield Lane.

The Deputy Town Clerk understood that there was likely to be an appeal hearing in March to consider both this and the appeal relating to the previous application for the same site. In view of the comments made by the applicant that the District Council had not provided a proposal for the use of transport contributions. Cllr Steele suggested that the Town Council’s comments on this matter should be reiterated.

RESOLVED: That a further written representation be made to reiterate the Town Council’s original observation that Transport Contributions be used to fund improvements to nearby Cloughs Road.

P/4736 Bus Stop – Poulner Hill

Members considered a proposal by Little Chef to fund a replacement bus stop shelter, which would include advertising. Photographs were projected of the existing shelter, and illustrations of how it might look. It was noted that no planning permission was necessary, but that any new bus shelter of this type must be designed with integral advertising space.

Members questioned whether this was still a scheduled bus stop and who would be responsible for maintenance of a new structure, which might be vandalised.

RESOLVED:
1) That the Deputy Town Clerk take action to confirm whether the bus stop at Poulner Hill is still a scheduled stop;

and

2) That Little Chef be contacted to ascertain future liability for maintenance and insurance of the new bus stop shelter, should permission be granted.

P/4737 Name of New Access Road at Cloughs Road Site

Members considered a proposal to name the new access road at the site of 13-17 Cloughs Road as ‘Cedar Gate’.

RESOLVED: Members had no objection to the name ‘Cedar Gate’.

P/4738 Signage Project Group

Members considered the recommendations of the Signage Project Group (Annex ‘B’ attached). The Deputy Town Clerk commented that the Signage Project Group had been convened four years previously, since which time it had invested a great deal of effort in producing a pedestrian signage scheme, completed in May 2008.

Unfortunately, there was no funding to implement the scheme. However, as part of the Southampton Road Environmental Improvements scheme, two of the proposed signs could be funded, along with a new third sign. The Signage Project Group had considered the design and content for the proposed signs and for signs proposed for future once funding was obtained.

RESOLVED:
1) That the recommendations of the Signage Project Group, with the amendments shown underscored in Annex ‘B’, be approved;

and

2) That the recommendation that £500 in the budget for built environment/furniture be expended on a new replacement Welcome To Ringwood sign on the main town roundabout be approved.

P/4739 Traffic Management Programme 2010/11

Members considered the Draft Management Plan Programme proposals received from New Forest District Council (NFDC) which had been prepared under the new Traffic Management Agency/Partnership Agreement between HCC and NFDC (Annex ‘C’).

RESOLVED:
1) That the Draft Management Programme 2010/11 be noted;

and

2) That NFDC be advised that the one day trial proposed for Hightown Road should not be undertaken during half-term as this would not provide realistic data (Annex ‘C’ Appendix C).

P/4740 Toad Crossing

Members considered a request from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation for support for the Ringwood Toad Crossing. Members noted that the toad patrol in Ringwood, across North Poulner Road and Gorley Road, organized by a local resident and volunteers rescued over 1,200 toads in 2008.

RESOLVED:
1) That Amphibian and Reptile Conservation be advised of the opportunity to apply for Grant Aid from the Town Council in the new financial year (from April 2010) for their work relating to Ringwood toad conservation;

and

2) That Amphibian and Reptile Conservation be advised to apply to Hampshire County Council for Toad Crossing signage and that any application would be supported by the Town Council.

There being no further business, the Chairman closed the meeting at 4.00pm.

RECEIVED AND ADOPTED

24th February 2010

TOWN MAYOR

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN