MINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME PARK. CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 9th NOVEMBER 2011 AT 7.30PM IN THE MAIN HALL, BRANKSOME ST. ALDHELM’S PARISH CENTRE
PRESENT:
John Sprackling (JS) Chairman
Wayne Hancock (WH) Vice-Chairman
Carol Parkin (CP) Secretary
Keith Alcroft (KA) Planning Officer
Bob Young (BY) Magazine Advertising
Cllr Mrs May Haines Ward Councillor
Cllr Peter Pawlowski Ditto
Cllr Neil Sorton Ditto
Approx. 15 Members/Wardens
1. APOLOGIES AND ACCURACY OF MINUTES ACTION
JS welcomed the three Canford Cliffs Ward Councillors and all those present.
Apologies: Apologies received from Terry Stewart, Michael Bond, Daphne Howell, Martin Heath & Ken Sanson.
Accuracy: After receiving no comments, JS said that he would sign the Minutes as a JS true and accurate record of the meeting held on 12 OCTOBER 2011.
2. MATTERS ARISING Poole Pottery/Old Orchard/Quay Thistle Hotel sites update: JS reported…
1. Quayside (former Dolphin Quays) development – JS said that his attention had been drawn to the Private Eye No.1300 dated October 28 2011, which included a piece about Dr Gerald Smith. Dr Smith was the ‘mastermind’ behind the Dolphin Quays development. At Dr Smith’s Confiscation Hearing at Inner London Crown Court on 13/11/07, HHJ Roberts determined the time for payment as 12 months and, in default, HHJ Roberts ruled that Dr Smith’s current eight year sentence should be extended by a further eight years. The final sentence of the piece in Private Eye says that Dr Smith is not exactly unknown at the offices of a company based at London’s Centre Point, so if this is to be believed, he must be out on licence.
2. Former Poole Pottery & Swan Inn site – ditto
3. Quay Thistle Hotel site – ditto
4. Old Orchard House. 39-61 High Street – ditto
5. Land at West Quay Road (Mixed use regeneration and new public quayside
to include; the demolition of a listed gate post and all existing buildings on site; the redevelopment of the site with 373 residential units provided in six apartment blocks with basement parking and courtyard) – Application was refused at special Planning Committee meeting on 01/11/11.
Planning Enforcement, TPOs/Tree replacements – update:
147 Banks Road (Damage to four Corsican pines) – On 20 October 2011 at Bournemouth Magistrates Court, Alistair Barrington Collier and Harvey Lee were found guilty of five offences of causing or permitting protected trees to be destroyed.
Sentencing will take place on 18 November 2011 at Bournemouth Crown Court.
Chairman’s Note: A bankruptcy order was made against Harvey Lee on 07/11/11
Other current Planning Enforcement issues include…
Victoria Education Centre (St Aldhelms Road entrance) – The school has carried out some suitable planting and erected a chain link fence.
19 Mornish Road (Tree replacement) – This property has been sold by the Receiver.
The new owners have agreed to comply with Tree Replacement Notice.
23 Ravine Road – The unauthorized felling of two trees was the subject of a
An appeal against a Tree Replacement Notice was heard today and the appellant informed the Inspector that he had lodged an appeal against the Magistrate’s decision. Whilst this is ‘by right’, an appellant has to lodge this within three weeks of the Court Hearing and it will now be down to the Authorities to decide if an out-of-date appeal will be accepted. Heavytree Road (Unauthorised felling of the 12m Scots pine as reported in the Daily Echo dated 23/06/10) – Case to be heard at Poole Magistrates Court on 12/12/11.
Community Working Group (CWG): The next meeting will take place on 15/11/11.
Council Budget 2012/13 & Council’s Budget Monitoring report: William Mutlow reported that the Council was forecasting a £938,000 deficit for the year but after various actions to mitigate this, the pressure at the end of September was reduced to £402,000. This was mainly due to a reduction in Adult Social Care and Transportation Services. This is still a very fluid situation.
NS added that there are continuing pressures in Children’s Services. For instance, the estimate of children in care has been increased from 135 to 145.
JS said that the Medium Term Financial Plan has a £1.5m 3 year (2011 to 2014) target for the Employee Cost Efficiency Review Programme. £1m will be delivered through the Trade Unions acceptance of proposed changes from 2012/13 but a residual £0.5m remains to be delivered if the target is to be reached.
Public Rights of Way:
Westminster Road end of Dalkeith Road – No new developments.
Buccleuch Road to Lakeside Road – ditto
Bessborough Road – ditto
Footpath 82 Spur – ditto
Pinecliff Gardens (Sunken garden): WH reported that he has had an offer of another donation towards the sunken gardens. He went on to say that some of existing plants have been stolen, and another of the benches has been vandalised and burnt. Both these incidents have been reported to the Council.
Public Liability Insurance (PLI) – JS said that he had recently been informed by a representative of the Church’s insurers that non-church organisations using the Parish Centre should have PLI cover. He will investigate if the PLI insurance which the Association has taken out in connection with work carried out at the Sunken Garden covers the Parish Centre too.
Hazel Clifton pointed out that the Canford Cliffs Village Hall PLI policy covers for users of the Hall. Stan Alfert felt that this should apply to the Parish Centre policy too.
Poole Council’s Efficiency Review Programme: JS reported that the Head of Property Services and Asset Management has left the Council’s employment and the functions of this Unit have been split in two. Property Services is being taken over by Transportation Services and Asset Management is being taken over by Financial Services There is a 3rd element – their business support team, which will be redesigned to fit in with the existing teams in the other two Service Units.
The next Council Efficiency and Effectiveness Overview and Scrutiny Committee is fixed for 23/11/11
Localism Bill & National Planning Policy Framework: No new developments. Chairman’s Note: Since the meeting, I’ve received the following Press release…
“The Localism Bill, which includes measures for major reform of the planning system in England, is now waiting for Royal Assent, having completed its scrutiny by Parliament.
Court Hearing on 12/08/11 and the Magistrates found the case proven.
The legislation abolishes regional strategies, establishes new plan-making in the shape of neighbourhood plans, creates a new duty on neighbouring planning authorities to “cooperate” on issues which cross council boundaries, brings in compulsory pre-application scrutiny and abolishes the Infrastructure Planning Commission, paving the way for the commission’s functions to be carried out by a new unit in the Planning Inspectorate and decisions to be made by minsters who are democratically accountable to the public.
When the commission is abolished next April, decisions on nationally significant infrastructure projects like power stations and new reservoirs will be considered by a yet-to-be established Major Infrastructure Planning Unit in the Inspectorate, which will make a recommendation to the relevant Secretary of State who will make the final decision.
During the final consideration of the Bill in the Commons, Decentralisation Minister Greg Clark insisted there was now considerable political consensus over much of the legislation.
He told the Commons, which approved all the most recent Lords amendments: “It is important to say that we want to see more planning, not less. We feel that over time the imposition from above has stood in the way of local communities expressing their own vision of the future of their community. That is what we want to give them a greater chance to do. At the heart of that is the need to achieve sustainable development. Section 39 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 provides a duty on those preparing local plans to do so with the aim of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development. Amendment 370 extends that principle to neighbourhood planning, with an explicit condition that it should contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. The duty to co-operate will require that public bodies should co-operate effectively on sustainable development.”
Mr Clark also made it clear that although sustainable development was not defined on the face of the Bill it would be in the National Planning Policy Framework, the final version of which is planned for publication in April 2012.”
Offshore Wind Farm – RP reported that the saga of the NAVITAS Wind Farm rumbles on. Construction is due to start in 2016 or 2017. The Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes on the Isle of Wight has now added their voice to the opposition. RP is worried that there is no co-ordination between Dorset and Hampshire and this is needed in order to make some headway into opposing this proposed Wind Farm which will be implemented by the Government without any Planning or Public Consultation at all. RP requests that through our Ward Councilors there is continuing dialogue with our local MP and any further bodies who could help.
Lindsay Road and St Aldhelms Road Junction: No new developments.
BPCCRA Autumn Magazine: JS said that the Autumn 2011 magazine had been
largely distributed and that he was grateful to John Gunton for organising this.
Application to register Baiter and Whitecliff Recreation Ground as a town green – No further developments.
Chairman’s Note: Since the meeting, I have been, belatedly, informed of a meeting held on 27/10/11 between the Head of Leisure Services, Cllr Mrs Judy Butt, Head of Legal & Democratic Services, a legal officer and three representatives of the Parkstone Bay Association to seek a way forward.
Green Waste scheme – A fortnightly collection service will be offered to all households in Poole running from March-November.
Only those households choosing to opt-in to the scheme would pay for the service. The charge will be £31 a year, although those residents who sign up by 31 March 2012 will receive a 30% discount for the first year of the scheme. Registration is due to commence on 1st December 2011.
JS said that he would include, in the Minutes, an extract from a note from Cllr Mrs Dion, the Portfolio Holder responsible for Environmental Services
“There will be no prioritising areas and anyone who signs up sooner rather than later can expect a full bin collection service beginning in March next year. People who sign up towards the end of the discount period (i.e. March 31st 2012) may face a bit of a delay, but officers are working on the exact timings. Therefore all Branksome Park residents have equal opportunity to sign up for the scheme. They also have the option to have more than one bin if they wish, but each is charged the same.
It will only be those residents who do not opt in to the scheme that will face a further choice of whether to home compost (and, as you say, much is not compatible with composting) or to take their green waste to the recycling centre. Whilst there is not law against bonfires, it does risk upsetting neighbours when people habitually burn and the consumer protection services receive many complaints each year for that reason.
We will not be ‘policing’ black bins by any means, but the point about allowing green waste in small black bins only a) is designed to encourage people to swap large black bins for smaller ones, and means that people in flats or very small gardens who would not use a green bin, do not feel penalised or discouraged from putting what would be a very small amount of green waste in their black bin (such as an old bunch of flowers or a few weeds). We do want, however to discourage people from filling large black bins full of green waste on a persistent basis. These residents will be written to reminding them of alternative options, and if they still persist, may face not having their bin emptied and, ultimately, perhaps having it swapped for a small one.”
Compton Acres – The proposed meeting has yet to be arranged.
Canford Cliffs Village Christmas Lights – JS reported that, having consulted the Association’s Executive, it had been agreed to make a contribution of £750 towards No the lights. further
Chairman’s Note: Owing to another commitment, I was unable to attend the switching on of the lights but am told that this was very sociable
3. NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Keith Alcroft reported that
19 Links Road (Sever land and erect a detached dwelling house and replacement garage at land to the rear) – Application registered on 12/10/11. Letter of objection lodged on behalf of the Assn on 10/11/11.
Other current planning issues
35 Bingham Avenue (Demolition of the rear of the existing semi-detached house and garage and the construction of a new two storey extension to the rear of the property and detached garage) – Letter of objection lodged on behalf of the Assn on 13/10/11.
24 Ravine Road (Overhang on right hand side of garage is 800mm but should be 200mm) – Retrospective application granted by Planning Committee on 20/10/10.
15B Bury Road (Demolish the existing bungalow. Replace with 5 bedroom family home. Improvements to landscape) – Application granted with conditions on 17/10/11.
11 Compton Drive (Remodelling of existing house and erection of a new detached dwelling) – Application registered 24/08/11.
8 Shore Road (Demolition of existing dwelling, erection of three duplex apartments with underground car parking) - Application refused on 28/10/11.
5 Excelsior Road (Demolish existing buildings and erect 1 No 4 bed house with integral garage) – Amended plans lodged on 25/10/11 and application to be determined at the Planning Committee meeting on 17/11/11.
60A Kings Avenue (Tree Replacement Notices to replant 3 Scots Pines) – Confirmation awaited that the Council’s Arboriculturist visited both 60 and 60a to check tree issues and that letters sent to the owners requesting planting under Treework/Planning conditions.
4. REPORT RE CANFORD CLIFFS & PENN HILL AREA COMMITTEE MEETING (26/10/11) – The main items were a presentation by one of the Strategic Directors about the Twin Sails Bridge and a presentation the Leader of Council, Cllr No Mrs Elaine Atkinson on the Council’s 2012/13 Budget. This was the same as the further presentation to the Budget Consultation meeting with Residents’ Associations action mentioned at the last meeting.
5. ACCOUNTS TO DATE – JS reported that the total Assn. funds as at 31st October amounted to £34,362.48. JS
6. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Magazine Advertising Manager – JS said that he was very sorry to report that, after six years in the role, Bob Young has indicated that he would like to step down as Magazine Advertising Manager but is willing to be responsible for the Spring 2012 magazine, if the Association has been unable to find a replacement in the meantime.
Campaign for Tree Management – JS reported that a petition is being circulated for ‘Tree Management’ by the Council. JS has been sent a copy but the name of the originator is not shown.
RP pointed out that there is a clear argument for responsible Tree Management by the Council as a number of trees are adding nothing to the environment, whilst still being under a TPO. There appears to be no forward planning for replacing the trees that are coming or have come to the end of their life.
SA pointed out that there are several categories to be considered; private land, Council land, Conservation Area, areas covered by TPOs and that it would be extremely difficult to put all this under one Tree Management plan.
JS said that, because the Council was facing severe financial constraints, he was wondering how members would feel about offering to help the Council financially to prosecute ‘tree cases’? This provoked a lively discussion but, at the end of the day, it was agreed that the Association should not get involved.
Thursday’s Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee & Report of the Chairman of the Beach Hut Working Party – A new policy is to be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting whereby it is proposed to grant 5 or 10 year leases and to impose these on existing licensees. This is not going down well with some existing licensees.
Chairman’s Note: At the EO & SC meeting, Cllr Mrs Haines made the point that no consultation had taken place with current beach hut owners and those on the waiting list. The Allotment Review Working Party looked at allotments and invited current plot holders as well as those on the wait list to seek their views and it worked really well.
The decision has to go to Cabinet and then to the Full Council so current Beach Hut licensees can still make representation to Cabinet members about their concerns.
If current Beach Hut licensees are interested in forming a Poole Beach Hut Association to oppose the new proposals, they should contact Bob Lister <boblister@orange.net>
4 Nairn Road (Construction of a detached 4 bedroom house with integral double garage. Amended plans received 05.09.2011and 20.09.2011) – Ben Hurley expressed his appreciation to Cllr Mrs Haines for ‘Red-carding’ this application which is due to be determined at the Planning Committee meeting on 17/11/11.
BPCCRA 2012 AGM – Hazel Clifton asked if the Association had fixed the date for next year’s AGM. JS said that the Association would normally hold this on the 2nd Saturday in May Chairman’s note: HC has subsequently contacted JS and informed him that Canford Cliffs Land Society is holding its AGM on 12th May 2012 and the following Saturday JS
(19th May) it is the Craft/Motor Neurone Fair. It has been suggested that the Association hold its AGM on the last Saturday in April (28th), as the Village Hall is free on that date.
Bulb planting in the pocket park between Bessborough Road and Haven Road – The CCLS is planting bulbs on the weekend 19/20th November between 10 – 12 midday. Everyone is welcome to join them. Please bring a trowel with you.
There being no further business the meeting closed at 8.30 pm
Date of next Meeting: Wednesday 14th December 2011 in the Main Hall at Branksome St Aldhelm’s Parish Centre (Entrance via Lindsay Road) NB To be concluded by Mulled wine & Mince pies.
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