Tag Archives: Branksome Park

Provisional Minutes for meeting 14 December 2016

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Provisional Minutes for meeting 14 December 2016

Present:-         Bob Reid          chairman

Carol Parkin     Secretary/minute secretary

Mike Parkin     Membership secretary

Tracy Homes   Planning Officer.

John Gunton   magazine editor.

Terry Stewart President

17 Wardens and Members

 

Minutes of November approved

Apologies:-  Mohan Iyengar, May Haines, Chris Stracey, Paul Fernley, Neil Denning, Roger Allen, Martin Heath.

Parking issues :- Chair confirmed that the meters in Canford Cliffs and Branksome Park are not going ahead and we are pleased the council listened to our objections.

We are still monitoring proposed meters on Western Road.

Planning:- Due to time constraint only 14 Pinewood was mentioned by the Chair who explained that a larger plan had been submitted but the HMO situation might be stopping.

Beach Road Car Park Draft Proposals:- Nick Perrins (Planning Policy & Implementation Manager at BOP Council. Gave a presentation on the proposed draft plans.

He took questions after the presentation.

After he left we had a straw pole and about 1/3 felt totally against any building on the Car Park.

About 1/3 thought a nursing home would be a good idea.

About 1/3 did not mind if building took place.

Accounts:-  Showed a continued balance and the income from the magazine is now in. Most items close to budget.

 

The meeting closed at 8.30 and Mulled Wine and Mince Pies were enjoyed by all.

Minutes of Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & District Residents Association Nov 2016

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Minutes of monthly meeting held Wednesday November 9, 2016 at 19.30

PRESENT                              Bob Reid                              Chairman

Roger Allen                         Vice Chairman

Carol Parkin                        Secretary/Minutes Secretary

Mike Parkin                        Membership Secretary

Tracy Holmes                     Planning Officer

Cllr. May Haines and approximately 30 wardens and members.

 APOLOGIES                       Terry Stewart, Mohan Iyengar, John Gunton, Paul Fearnley, Dawn Goodson

Christine Blake, Julie Reid.

The Chairman extended a welcome to those present.

 

MINUTES OF OCTOBER 2016 MEETING

The minutes of the meeting held in October were accepted as a correct record.

Methods of sending out minutes to members were discussed.

 

MATTERS ARISING

Our Steering Committee are keeping a close eye on this even though nothing is happening at present.

Roy Pointer (RP) asked if Cllr. Haines could give him advance warning of Council intentions in order that there is time to make representation.  Cllr. Haines responded that she is not in a position now to confirm which Council meeting will be dealing with an alternative plan.

 

NEW MAGAZINE

The Chairman (BR) reported that he feels the new magazine was a success and that he has had a great deal of positive feedback.  He thanked Roger Allen for his work on procuring the advertising, John Gunton, the Editor and the wardens for their work in distributing the magazine which is co-ordinated by John Sprackling.  There was a box of magazines available for attendees at the meeting to take if they wished.   The Vice Chairman, Roger Alan (RA) reported that the new magazine had cost no more to print than the old black and white one, due to changing printer.

RP suggested printing stick on labels for the front of the spare magazines with an invitation to join our organisation, and distributing these in areas under threat from the proposed parking schemes, as this might encourage people to support our cause.  Various methods of encouraging new members through the distribution of the magazine were discussed.  Mike Parkin (MP) suggested a label on a magazine addressed to the Chairman of the board of a block of flats who are not block members asking if the board could consider block membership, as there are some 80 blocks of flats in our area who are not members.  He asked that any ideas for blocks of flats be addressed to him as Membership Secretary.  John Morison said that a decision was taken by the board of the flats he lives in to pay for block membership from their service charges as they feel this is important.

RA suggested that MP could approach the Managing Agents of flats in our area who take out advertisements in the magazines, suggesting that if they can introduce new members they can have a free page of editorial in the magazine.

PLANNING ISSUES

3 Beaumont Road.   Demolish Existing house and build two dwellings – granted.

The Gatehouse, 6 Tower Road West.  Use of gatehouse as self-contained accommodation –  refused.

5/7 Chaddesley Glen.  Demolition of existing buildings and construct two blocks of four apartments

Brought to the Committee with the recommendation to refuse; the committee granted permission.

14 Chester Road.  Erection of a side extension.  An appeal has been lodged.

30 Tower Road.  Outline application for 12 flats.  This has not yet been decided.

15B Bury Road.  Tree works appeal.  A split decision. Tracy Holmes, planning officer, explained that some trees are to come down and others still protected.

2 Western Avenue.  Erection of a garden Room.  Grant with conditions.

14 Pinewood Road.    Permission has been granted for a block of flats and the application for an HMO has been withdrawn.  RR wrote to Stephen Thorn (Head of Planning) to ask why it had taken so long for the application for an HMO had been removed as this property has been used as an HMO for some three months without permission.  BR read the answering letter from Stephen Thorne.

It explained that as the application was incomplete it took a long time to get the Applicant to comply and then it was Red Carded by Cllr. May Haines so had to go to a decision before which it was withdrawn.

Cllr Haines denied that her ‘red carding’ this application had delayed matters.  Christine Norman pointed out that this application had only been withdrawn once the application to build flats had been granted, and that the building is still being operated as an HMO.  Cllr Haines said that as soon as she knew that the application for an HMO had been withdrawn, she asked the Enforcement Officers to pursue this as the use as an HMO should cease.  In the Light of what Christine Norman reported, Cllr Haines will follow this up.

John Sprackling asked if Chris Stracey could ask the ABI to check the insurance for this building.  Christine Norman also asked if there could be a check on whether the correct Council Tax for this building was paid.  JS said that this was being investigated.  Roger Alan asked if there is a safety issue here. Roy Pointer suggested a Freedom of Information Request to check the history of this Application. There was more discussion on why the Council has not enforced that the operation of 14 Pinewood Road as an HMO should cease as to operate it as an HMO is, allegedly, illegal.  Once again Cllr. Haines said that she would follow this up.

Martello Lodge, Martello Park.  Change of height – grant with conditions.

24 Ormonde Road.  Loft Conversion to First Floor Flat – grant with conditions.

38A The Avenue.  Demolish existing dwelling and erect five houses –  Appeal has been allowed.

5 Ormonde Road.  CLOPUD application to confirm works were lawfully commenced – appeal allowed.

4 Brackenhill.  Demolish existing dwelling and erect two houses –  Appeal dismissed.

46/48 Tower Road.  Erection of 28 retirement properties not yet decided.  McCarthy Stone have now put in formal planning for the retirement flats

BR feels that there are adequate parking spaces for these flats, despite concerns.

Land by 8 Martello Road South

Erection of a block of flats –  granted

1 Beaumont Road –  A resident pointed out that despite the efforts of Alex Roden, she has just had the result of the Judicial Review, and it had gone against her.

 

RESIDENTS’ PARKING SCHEME

RA summarised the latest discussions on this for Cllr Haines, who was not present at our last meeting.  After a meeting between RA, BR and Steve Dean of Poole Council the Association was told that a Residents’ Parking Scheme is not Government Policy, not local policy and there is no funding available to re-introduce it.  As things, have moved on since the scheme was introduced and two of the ‘problem’ roads opted not to join it, the roads have now become a car park for LV Insurance as parking at their site is no longer sufficient.  RA asked Cllr Haines if Cllrs have the option of a ‘Notice of Motion’.  Cllr. Haines replied that there is no option with that name, but there are similar options available.  As the Association, has done all that it can on this question, RA asked if there were something that could be done by our elected Councillors.  May replied that there was, and the options had all been explored by Cllr Iyengar and we are still on ‘a merry go round’.  She went on to say that there was going to be a review of all parking in Poole and wondered if this question could be raised then.   It appears that all possible has been done by both our Association and the Councillors.

Neil Denning said that a parking review of our area was promised by the Councillors in 2014 but this was never carried out.  There is a question of congestion, emergency vehicle access, obstruction, and Mr. Denning thinks that it must be possible for something to be done to alleviate this – yellow lines?  White lines?  Cllr. Haines said that she would refer the problem to Cllr Iyengar again.

Chris Stracy pointed out that there are similar problems in Whitecliffe and he feels the main reason for these problems is just that there are too many cars.  MP asks why can the Council not alleviate the problem by painting parking bays on these roads.

 

ACCOUNTS TO DATE

At the end of October, the Accounts showed £31,918.  BR pointed out that this figure includes most of the revenue from advertising in the latest magazine, but not the cost of printing.  Copies of the accounts were available at the meeting.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

George Perrins of Canford Cliffs Land Society (CCLS) had asked BR if the Association would consider increasing the amount of the donation by the Assn. to CCLS for the lights in Canford Cliffs Village this Christmas, as the lights are going to be vastly improved and will therefore cost CCLS more than in previous years i.e. £8,000 rather than £5,000.  The Treasurer had informed BR that £750 was the Assn’s usual donation and he had already budgeted that amount for this year.  There was a lot of discussion on this; the main objection being that the Traders in Haven Road should increase their donations, if in fact they donate at all.

SA (Stan Alfert) proposed that a donation of £750 be given and this was seconded by Roy Pointer.

TH (Tracy Holmes) proposed that a donation of £1,000 be given. This was seconded by CP (Carol Parkin).

There was more discussion.

SA pointed out once again that he had proposed a motion and this had still not been done.

There was still more discussion on the rules of the Assn.

BR said that he would put the rules of the Assn. about spending money on the Agenda for our next meeting, and if any member is unhappy with the way things are dealt with now, they can come along to the meeting.

It was eventually decided to hold a vote of the members present as to whether the Assn. donated £750 or £1000 to CCLS to help with the cost of the Christmas Lights in Canford Cliffs Village.

BR asked for a show of hands to vote for donating £750.  13 members were in favour of this and 1 member voted against.

BR then asked for a show of hands to vote for increasing the donation to £1,000.

6 members were in favour.

It was therefore agreed that an amount of £750 would be donated to CCLS.

John Sprackling asked Cllr Haines when the Council were going to introduce a charge £300 for memorial benches, and when was this approved.  Cllr. Haines was unable to answer this question and she said that she would find out.

BR informed the meeting that the Council had discovered that the foundations to the promenade are not adequate for their plans to build more beach huts by building a second storey to the existing beach huts.  This will be discussed more fully at our next meeting.

JS said that the Association usually sent three representatives to the meeting of Residents Associations, Commerce and Industry.  Cllr. Haines said that this would be on December 2, 2016, and

that the invitations had not yet gone out and maybe BR could decide who would attend then.

 

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be held on December 14.  Mulled wine and mince pies will be available after the meeting.

The meeting closed at 9.00pm.

Agenda of Monthly Meeting October 2016

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Agenda

For monthly meeting 12th October 2016 at 7.30p.m. in the Lounge, rear of St. Aldhelm’s Parish Church (access via Lindsay Road)

 

  1. Welcome and Apologies.
  2. Minutes of meeting 14th September 2016.
  3. Matters arising.
  4. Update on the Licencing Hearing for Beach Volleyball event.
  5. On Road Parking Charges, latest update.
  6. Planning issues.
  7. Resident Parking Scheme.
  8. Accounts
  9. O.B
  10. The next meeting will be on the 12th October 2016

Protected +70 Ft Monterey Pine Trees Bessborough, Bodley & Beaumont Roads

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RING BARKING

PROTECTED +70 ft MONTEREY PINE TREES Bessborough, Bodley & Beaumont Roads

 

I wanted to stop the felling of trees at 1 Beaumont Road through the High Court.   Since my action, six trees were killed by ring barking on Easter Monday and will be felled from tomorrow onwards.   I will continue to try to protect the remaining trees and seek replanting with like for like trees.

If you would like to support me, then please email:

alex.roden@albertesharp.com

 

Alex Roden 23 Bessborough Road

 

Summary of Events

  • Single dwelling at 1 Beaumont Road occupies a corner plot bordering Bodley, Bessborough and Beaumont Roads. Plot is unique as it has 22 trees on site and is surrounded by 18 mostly 70ft Monterey pines protected under TPO 1966.
  • Appeal made to Planning Inspector by property owners to fell three Monterey pines (middle of row of 9)

on 1 Beaumont Road bordering Bessborough Road was dismissed on 1 August 2011 due to the pines providing “high public amenity value to this residential part of Canford Cliffs” and removal “would leave a significant gap in the belt of pines and significantly reduce its landscape impact.”.

  • On 6 March 2015 landowners applied to Poole Council for demolition of existing single dwelling and

erection of three new dwellings.

  • Arboricultural Impact Assessment report by AJ Scott submitted on 24 March 2015 cites conflicting numbers of trees to be felled on different pages and schedules. Tree protection plan by AJ Scott submitted 24 March 2015 grades all 22 trees on 1 Beaumont Road to have life expectancy of less than

10 years.

  • Poole Council’s Russ Fisher on 1 May 2015 describes arboricultural report as “wholly inadequate”, “with glaring errors in both assessment and categorisation of trees”, “not fit for purpose, as defined by BS5837:2012 and should therefore be disregarded”.
  • Poole Council refuses planning 1 June 2015 for different reasons, the first reason being that it “would

be harmful to the immediate and future health of protected trees”.

  • Landowners appeal to Planning Inspector. On 11 February 2016 appeal is allowed and planning permission is granted subject to conditions, including “arboricultural method statement prepared by an arboricultural consultant …providing comprehensive details of construction works in relation to trees shall be submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Local Planning Authority, and implemented prior to the commencement of all demolition and development. All works shall be subsequently carried out in strict accordance with the approved details. In particular, the method statement must provide the following: ….9c a schedule of tree works conforming to BSe998:2010, Tree Work – Recommendations.” To date none of the conditions have been met.
  • Alex Roden commissions new tree report by Arboricultural Association approved Consultant. 17 March

2016 expert Mark Carter confirms criticism by Poole Council of tree report.

  • On 22 March 2016 Weightmans solicitors sends notice to landowners, developer Fortitudo, Poole

Council and Secretary of State that Alex Roden is challenging the Appeal decision in High Court.

  • On Good Friday morning, 25 March 2016, Richard Carr representing Fortitudo visited Alex Roden at her home three times confirming he did not need to fell the trees and he was “happy to enter into an agreement that in perpetuity we will not make application for any of the trees to be removed”, he requested Alex Roden to withdraw the judicial review.
  • On Easter Monday morning 28 March 2016 Richard Carr and two men with chain saws accessed 1

Beaumont Road and ringbarked 4 Monterey pines in a row including the 3 subject to the unsuccessful appeal in 2011, 1 Beech tree and a holly, without consent of landowners.

  • Police and Poole Council were notified that day.
  • Arboricultural expert has confirmed that the ringbarked trees will now die within 12-18 months’ time.
  • Weightmans 1 April 2015 writes to Poole Council informing that under “1990 Act and Regulation 13 of the 2012 Regulations it is an offence to wilfully damage a tree” “unless the work is necessary to implement a planning permission.”
  • Poole Council’s response 5 April 2016 was that “whilst the necessary pre-commencement conditions have not been complied with that does not prevent the felling of trees prior to the Commencement of Development.” “Whilst it is not accepted that ‘ring-barking’ was a necessary pre-requisite to the implementation of the planning permission given the authority in any event to fell these trees it would not be in the public interest to investigate that action when, in any event, the trees are to be felled.”
  • Weightmans on 6 April 2016 disagrees with Poole Council and its suggestion that “no offence has been

committed”, and “considers that the Council would be making an error of law if this is its interpretation

of the Regulation 14 exemption based on these facts”.

  • Awaiting decision from Judge whether case should go to full hearing of High Court Planning Court, decision expected early May 2016. Full hearing would be approx. six months later.

Agenda for Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & District Residents’ Association – Feb 2016

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BRANKSOME PARK, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (Founded 1958)

@ THE COMMITTEE ROOM (formerly known as THE LOUNGE), REAR OF BRANKSOME ST ALDHELMS PARISH CENTRE

(ACCESS VIA LINDSAY ROAD) WEDNESDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2016 @ 7.30 pm AGENDA

7.30 pm.  
1. Apologies/Accuracy of Minutes (13 January 2016)  
2. Matters arising (Not covered under “Review”)  
Poole Pottery/Old Orchard/Quay Thistle Hotel etc sites – update John Sprackling
Planning Enforcement, TPOs/Tree replacements – update ditto
Community Working Group ditto
Council Budget Monitoring report (2015/16) & 2016/17 Budget William Mutlow
Public Rights of Way Richard Dimbleby etc
Pinecliff Gardens (Sunken garden) Wayne Hancock
Community Engagement Terry Stewart
Sustaining Poole’s Seafront (Formerly Seafront Beaches Master Plan DPD) ditto
Succession planning John Sprackling
Uniting the Conurbation (UTC) John Sprackling
Refreshing the Core Strategy and Review of Community Infrastructure Terry Stewart
Levy (CIL)  
Improving Association’s communications Michael Parkin
Leaning garden wall at (?)25 The Avenue Roy Pointer
Branksome Park & plot sizes Tracy Holmes
Projection equipment for Canford Cliffs Village Hall Roy Pointer
Proposal to introduce on-street charges on roads adjacent to beaches John Sprackling
8.00 pm.  
3. New Housing Development Keith Alcroft
4. Accounts to date John Sprackling
5. Date of next meeting John Sprackling

 

8.30 pm.

  1. Any other business

Any other business should be advised to the Chairman at the meeting. Items raised during the evening may be put on the Agenda for the following month.

Date of next meeting : Wednesday 10 March 2016 at 7.30pm – The Committee Room, Rear of Branksome St Aldhelms Parish Centre (Access via Lindsay Road

Dates for your diary:

24 Feb 16 Cancelled – Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill Area Committee

Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter of Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & Sandbanks for February 2016

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Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter

Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & Sandbanks
Newsletter Editor - Pat Halliday tel. 01202 700911
Distribution Manager - Peter Waldron tel. 01202 708495

Watch Annual General Meeting – Saturday 13th February

Canford Cliffs Village Hall, Ravine Road BH3 7HT 10.30am – 12noon

All residents in our Watch area are invited to this popular FREE annual Neighbourhood Watch event.

The guest speaker will be the Police & Crime Commissioner for Dorset, Martyn Underhill. Our local Neighbourhood Policing Team will attend, but this is always subject to other priorities. You are invited to stay on afterwards to meet the speaker, talk with the Police officers about local safety and security matters and speak to active members of Neighbourhood Watch. This is an opportunity to meet like minded residents over a free glass of wine or soft drink & nibbles and speak to your Neighbourhood Watch Area Co-ordinators and other active Watch members.

Please arrive in good time to be seated and ready for a prompt start at 10.30am

Admission FREE— Everyone welcome

New Year message from Neighbourhood Watch

The mid-Winter festivities are over, and we have welcomed the New Year. The evenings are still long and dark and whilst it is cold and very damp outside this can be the time to check when the annual service is due for the house alarm, and when insurance policies are due for renewal. More importantly, you should also review insurance policies annually. Check that values are up to date. Remove any items sold or thrown away and add any new valuables whether

Christmas gifts or purchases over recent months. Record serial numbers and take photographs (with a ruler or tape measure in the frame) and attach to the receipt. Keep these in a safe, fireproof box or metal filing cabinet.

Dorset Fire & Rescue Service offer free home safety checks. They fit smoke alarms and give free home safety advice. See their website for eligibility and book your appointment online www.dorsetfire.gov.uk or phone 0800 038 2323 for details (free of charge on mobiles & landlines).

Throughout the year Dorset Police hold free bike tagging sessions at local venues. See the Dorset Police website for dates when this is available or contact our Neighbourhood Policing officers for details.

Wishing you a very safe and happy New Year.

 

Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT)

PS 1317 Ray Willmore

PC 2431 Sian Coombs, PC 2685 Aimee Garner

PCSO 5680 Linda Wilson, PCSO 6939 Chris Hardy

Follow them on TWITTER @SandbanksPolice

NPT Contact Details

Police non-emergency telephone number 101

E-mail: pp&c.snt@dorset.pnn.police.uk

Dorset Police website www.dorset.police.uk

Danger to life or crime in progress 999

How to contact Dorset Police

If your call is an emergency, i.e. a threat to life, or if a crime is in progress, always call 999 – don’t tweet or send a Facebook update. PHONE!!

For all routine or non- emergency matters, send an email to: enquires@dorset.pnn.police.uk or call 101

Crime in our area

During December, there were no house burglaries in our Watch area, but thefts of high value bicycles stored in sheds and garages have increased across Poole. Thefts from motor vehicles have also in-creased. Leave nothing on display, remove all valu-ables and always lock the vehicle even if it is parked off the road in a garage or on the drive.

See full crime figures online at www.police.uk

Dorset Alert – community messaging

Register with ‘Dorset Alert’ to receive regular infor-mation and updates from Dorset Police on criminal activity in your area. For more information contact the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) details above or log on to www.dorsetalert.co.uk

Watch Information Centre

Meet a member of Neighbourhood Watch at the Canford Cliffs Library on the first Friday of every month 10.30am-12noon. Speak to them about any issues or concerns about local safety.

A Police officer always attends and you can ask for advice on home security.

There is a small stock of safety & security items.

Flashing armbands for pedestrians and cyclists are free of charge. They help you to be seen in dark morning and evenings. Also suitable for children and dog walkers wearing dark clothing.

Recently car a registration plate was stolen from a vehicle in Penn Hill. Car registration number plate security screw kits are available for £1.50 from the Information Centre.

Pick-up free Watch window stickers.

Click Here to Download the Newsletter

NWNL-1601

Minutes of Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & District Residents’ Association – Jan 2016

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MINUTES OF BRANKSOME PARK, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 13 JAN 2016

AT 7.30PM IN CHOIR VESTRY, ST. ALDHELM’S CHURCH

PRESENT:       John Sprackling (JS)                 Chairman

 

Keith Alcroft (KA)                      Planning Officer

 

10 Members/Wardens

 

1. APOLOGIES AND ACCURACY OF MINUTES ACTION  
JS welcomed those present.    
Apologies: Cllrs May Haines & Mohan Iyengar, John Gunton, Carol & Mike Parkin,    
Stan Alfert, Martin Heath & Tracy Holmes.    
Accuracy: JS said that he would sign the Minutes as a true and accurate record of JS  
the meeting held on 09 DECEMBER 2015  
2. MATTERS ARISING    
Poole Pottery/Old Orchard/Quay Thistle Hotel sites update: JS reported.. JS  

 

  1. Quayside (former Dolphin Quays) development – No new developments
  2. Former Poole Pottery & Swan Inn site – ditto
  3. Quay Thistle Hotel site – ditto
  4. Old Orchard House – ditto
  5. Land at West Quay Road – ditto

 

Planning Enforcement, TPOs/Tree replacements – update:

JS

Victoria Education Centre (Landscaping to the new entrance) – No new developments

Martello Corner, Martello Road (also known as 83 Canford Cliffs Road) – (Change of use of residential garage to dentists surgery} – Appeal lodged 14/07/15. Site visit took place on 11 January 2016.

 

Community Working Group (CWG): The Minutes of the CWG meeting held on 25 WH    
November 2015 will be distributed with the Minutes of this meeting. The next      
meeting will be the AGM on 23 March 2016      
Council Budget Monitoring report (2015/16) – JS said that the Council Budget WM    
Monitoring report (1 April 2015 to 31 December 2015), Medium Term Financial Plan      
report and the report on the Council Tax for recommendation to Council is due to be      
presented at the next Cabinet meeting on 09 February 2016.      
William Mutlow expressed concern that the there was never any mention of the      
Council’s contribution to the Local Government Pension Scheme which currently runs      
at 13.6% of the Council’s payroll bill, whereas within the EU, the figure is 10%.      
Roy Pointer expressed the view that there must come a time when Local      
Government Pension Scheme will become unsustainable and employees will have to      
join a defined contribution scheme which now applies to most employees in the      
Private Sector.      
Public Rights of Way RD    
Buccleuch Road to Lakeside Road – No new developments.    
Karol Gorny reported that he is in touch with Rights of Way officer about establishing      
another Right of Way within the area covered by the Association. He is currently      
 

 

 

 

 

Pinecliff Gardens (Sunken garden): No new developments.

 ACTION  
Community Engagement: JS said he and other Residents’ Association WH  
JS  
representatives will be attending a Meeting with representatives from Residents’  
Association and Commerce and Industry on 15 January 2016 about next years      
Budget.      
The Minutes of last month’s ‘pilot’ Community Themed meeting will be distributed      
with the Minutes of this meeting.      
Sustaining Poole’s Seafront Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)      
(Formerly Seafront Beaches Master Plan SPD): The Sustaining Poole’s Seafront      
SPD was adopted by the Full Council its meeting on 15 December 2015..      
The final adopted version of the SPD has yet to be posted on the BoP website.      
JS said that the Cabinet Forward Plan shows that a report on the proposals for the      
Beach Road car park is due to be presented at the Cabinet meeting on 12 April      
2016..      
Tony Beale said that he had visited the archive section of the Waterfront Museum but JS/TB  
had struggled to find any useful information about the dedication of the land for the      
Beach Road car park. JS said that he would provide names and contact details of      
persons who may be able to assist with his enquiries.      
Roy Pointer said that he would contact the Meyrick Estates which were very helpful      
when he was dealing with the Navitas Bay issue.      
RP was concerned about the lack of signage directing visitors to the Beach Road car      
park – the Association had raised this with the Council on many occasions in the      
past.      
Tony Beale added that this has been closed for public use since before Christmas      
and is, currently, closed.      
JS reported that he had met Mr Montgomery of Tanner & Tilley earlier in the week      
and was told that new plans have been drawn up for a much reduced version of the      
Sports Stadium at Sandbanks and these are likely to be submitted shortly.      
JS added that one of contacts wrote to him last week “I spent quite a long time      
studying the two versions of the SPD and it looked rather to me like the 2013 version      
would have meant Mr Mitchell had no chance of getting permission, whereas the      
2015 version gives him every chance of getting permission.”      
Succession planning: JS said that the Association’s Advertising Manager had been JS  
in touch earlier in the week to say that it was necessary for her to step down as,      
owing to domestic circumstances, she would, no longer, able to fulfil this role. Roger      
Allen, the former Association’s Advertising Manager, has kindly agreed to take her      
place, at least, for the next two editions. JS advised those present that some of the      
Executive were due to meet, informally, with Roger Allen the next day for a coffee at      
Compton Acres and JS would be raising the subject of his successor then.      
Chairman’s note. At the informal Executive meeting, it was suggested that in order to      
reduce the burden of the next Chairman, meetings should, in future, be held on a two      
monthly basis.      
Keith Alcroft, the Association’s Planning Officer, announced his wish to stand down at      
the Association’s AGM on 23 April 2016. So, the Association will be looking for      
nominations for the following officers at the forthcoming AGM      

 

Chairman

Vice-Chairman – Roger Allen has indicated that he might be willing to take on this role

Planning Officer

Thecatalyst for my departure has been the comments from some quarters over my

 

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

handling of the 12A Western Ave application. It is to be hoped that those who have

 ACTION
had the most to say about this will now come forward to take over the Chairmanship    
and the role of Planning Officer.    
UNITING THE BOURNEMOUTH, CHRISTCHURCH AND POOLE CONURBATION    
(UTC) – JS said that he received a note that day from John Probert, the Secretary of    
the UTC Steering Committee and he would include an extract from this in the    
Minutes (see below)    
JS said that at last month’s ‘pilot’ Community Themed meeting, he had suggested    
that the Councils should engage the services of an independent consultant to review    
the proposals and William Mutlow suggested that a suitable candidate might be Prof    
Gerry Stoker of Southampton University who spoke at the UTC AGM in April 2015    
Extract from note from John Probert, the Secretary of the UTC Steering Committee    
“…It now seems that Dr. Steph Lyons is preparing the case for an unelected    
combined authority (a.k.a. Combined Economic Development Authority) – albeit    
headed by an elected mayor* – for all of geographical Dorset, which is one of just    
three options for public consultation. * In a subsequent note John Probert says “An    
elected mayor and a combined authority are “negotiable” when negotiating for    
devolved powers.“    
However, I don’t understand why a unitary authority for the urban area of S E Dorset    
should not itself be responsible for Economic Development.    
Why add a new and costly layer of bureaucracy when one of the aims is to save    
costs and streamline the structure of our local government?    
If it is said that rural Dorset is not big enough to handle economic development    
matters on its own (implying of course that the urban authority will subsidise the rural    
area) the better way forward is surely to create a Combined Economic Development    
Authority for Dorset and Wiltshire. Why isn’t the Dorset Leaders’ Growth Board    
exploring such a fourth option for the forthcoming public consultation?”    
Refreshing the Core Strategy and review of Community Infrastructure Levy: TS
(CIL) – Roy Pointer asked if the Branksome Park Conservation Area Appraisal and    
Management Plan still carried any weight, particularly, in relation to the ¾ rule.    
JS said that Terry Stewart is in touch with Steve Dring, Planning Policy &    
Implementation Manager, to request that the ¾ rule is included in the revised Core    
Strategy. Nick Perrins is due to re-commence employment with Poole’s Planning &    
Regeneration Dept next month.    
William Mutlow asked if it might be possible to know the amount of Affordable    
Housing contributions currently held by the Council. He thought that this might be a    
significant sum accumulated over a number of years. JS said that, at the previous    
day’s Cabinet meeting, the Council had authorised a grant of £603,000 for the 100%    
Affordable Housing Scheme at Holes Bay Road.    
Improving Association’s communications – No new developments. MP
Leaning garden wall at (?)25 The Avenue – Cllr MH May says that “the leaning wall MH
in The Avenue should hopefully be addressed by now as officers were going out to    
visit before Christmas.” Roy Pointer will check.    
Branksome Park & plot size: As this involves an important point of principle, with TH
the consent of the Executive, Tracy Holmes engaged the services of Boyle &    
Summers Ltd, Architecture and Masterplanning Consultants of Southampton to act    
on her behalf and the Association in opposing the 12A Western Ave application and    
the Association has agreed to cover the firm’s bill totalling £2180.    
Projection equipment for Canford Cliffs Village Hall – RP is liaising with Martin ACTION

 

Since this is where the major talks are given they were less concerned about  
portability since we have the fall back option for local talks using other screens.  
Further advice is being sought on the best projector and PC for purchase by the  
Association. This equipment would be needed to be able to give good projection  
using the large screen in the village hall of course.  
3 NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT –  
JS reported that the application re Ormonde Nursing Home, 12 Pinewood Road KA
(Alterations, extensions and conversion of the building to six flats with associated  
parking and landscaping) was due to be determined at the Planning Committee  
meeting the following day – officer’s recommendation is to Grant.  
Chairman’s note: This was granted by the Committee with one Member voting  
against.  

 

Other current planning issues

4 Brackenhill (Demolish existing house and garage and construct 2 No. detached houses) – Application registered on 14 December 2015. Local concerns and Cllr MH is in touch with neighbours and reports that “it is in hand for the moment”.

Burnage Court, 6 Martello Park (Outline planning application for the demolition of the existing flatted building and the erection of a new apartment building containing 13 flats in total with associated access, cycle and bin stores) – Application validated on 28 September 2015. Letter of objection lodged on 20 October 2015.

Salterns Harbourside Hotel, 38 Salterns Way (Demolition of the existing buildings and the erection of 2 multi-storey mixed use developments containing 73 residential units, a 60 bedroom hotel as well as restaurants, offices and marina service facilities) – Controversial application.

 

  1. ACCOUNTS TO DATE – JS reported that the total Association funds as at 31 December 2015 amounted to £31,362.51. Paul Fearnley plans to get the accounts off to Schofield’s shortly.

 

6 ANY OTHER BUSINESS  
Proposal to introduce on-street charges on roads adjacent to beaches – Cllr MH JS
asked JS to mention that a proposal to introduce on-street charges on roads adjacent  
to beaches is going to the Transportation Advisory Group meeting next Thursday  
(12/01/16). The committee are asked to recommend going out to consultation on this.  
This will cover roads in Sandbanks and Canford Cliffs village.  
Chairman’s note: This proposal was well aired land rejected less the two years ago  
at the Call-in Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 27 February 2014 -Minutes  
available via http://ha2.boroughofpoole.com/akspoole/users/public/admin/kab12.pl?  
cmte=CIC&meet=15&arc=71  
Embankment fall at Branksome Dene Chine – Ray Wylde asked about this and JS No
said that he would include an extract from a note received from the Council on this further
subject. action

 

“The work has been agreed and formally licensed to be carried out in accordance with our design approval. The cost of the project is all at the property owners expense apart from some of my time as a supervising engineer. Interestingly the sandy gravel fill material is coming straight from major excavation works at Christchurch hospital. It is ideal for use on this site as it is naturally well graded for compaction and has good drainage properties.

 

At present the slope is initially being filled to provide a high level work platform to enable the stabilisation and reinstatement of the owners garden behind the piled wall

Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & District Residents’ Association Agenda for January 2016

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BRANKSOME PARK, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (Founded 1958)

At THE COMMITTEE ROOM (formerly known as THE LOUNGE), REAR OF BRANKSOME ST ALDHELMS PARISH CENTRE (ACCESS VIA LINDSAY ROAD)

WEDNESDAY 13 JANUARY 2016 @ 7.30 pm

AGENDA

7.30pm.

1.Apologies/Accuracy of Minutes (11 November 2015)

2.Matters arising (Not covered under “Review”)

Poole Pottery/Old Orchard/Quay Thistle Hotel etc sites – update

John Sprackling

Planning Enforcement, TPOs/Tree replacements – update

ditto

Community Working Group

ditto

Council Budget Monitoring report (2015/16) & 2016/17 Budget

William Mutlow

Public Rights of Way

Richard Dimbleby etc

Pinecliff Gardens (Sunken garden)

Wayne Hancock

Community Engagement

Terry Stewart

Sustaining Poole’s Seafront (Formerly Seafront Beaches Master Plan DPD)

ditto

Succession planning

John Sprackling

Uniting the Conurbation (UTC)

John Sprackling

Refreshing the Core Strategy and Review of Community Infrastructure

Terry Stewart

Levy (CIL)

Improving Association’s communications

Michael Parkin

Leaning garden wall at (?)25 The Avenue

Cllr May Haines

Branksome Park & plot sizes

Tracy Holmes

Projection equipment for Canford Cliffs Village Hall

Roy Pointer

8.00 pm.

3.

New Housing Development

Keith Alcroft

4.

Accounts to date

John Sprackling

5.

Date of next meeting

John Sprackling

8.30 pm.

6. Any other business

Any other business should be advised to the Chairman at the meeting. Items raised during the evening may be put on the Agenda for the following month.

Date of next meeting: Wednesday 10 February 2016 at 7.30pm – The Committee Room, Rear of Branksome St Aldhelms Parish Centre (Access via Lindsay Road

Dates for your diary:

24 Feb 16 Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill Area Committee Venue – TBC

Minutes Of The Branksome, Canford Cliffs & District Residents Association December 2015

Posted on by
MINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

MINUTES OF BRANKSOME PARK, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY 09 DEC 2015

AT 7.30PM IN CHOIR VESTRY, ST. ALDHELM’S CHURCH

PRESENT:

John Sprackling (JS)

Chairman

Michael Parkin (MP)

Membership Secretary

Keith Alcroft (KA)

Planning Officer

Carol Parkin (CP)

Secretary/Minutes Secretary

John Gunton (JG)

Magazine Editor

Cllr Mrs May Haines (MH)

Canford Cliffs Ward Councillor

10 Members/Wardens

1. APOLOGIES AND ACCURACY OF MINUTES

JS welcomed those present, particularly, Cllr Mrs May Haines

Apologies: Terry Stewart, William Mutlow, Wayne Hancock & Martin Heath

Accuracy: JS said that he would sign the Minutes as a true and accurate record of the meeting held on 11 NOVEMBER 2015

JS

2. MATTERS ARISING

Poole Pottery/Old Orchard/Quay Thistle Hotel sites update: JS reported..

JS

1.Quayside (former Dolphin Quays) development – No new developments

2.Former Poole Pottery & Swan Inn site – ditto

3.Quay Thistle Hotel site – ditto

4.Old Orchard House – ditto

5.Land at West Quay Road – ditto

Planning Enforcement, TPOs/Tree replacements – update:

JS

Victoria Education Centre (Landscaping to the new entrance) – No new developments

Martello Corner, Martello Road (also known as 83 Canford Cliffs Road) – (Change of

use of residential garage to dentists surgery} – Appeal lodged 14/07/15. Date of site

visit not yet announced.

16 Western Avenue (Erection of Single Storey Garden Room) – Application granted

by Planning Committee at it’s meeting on 03 December 2015.

Community Working Group (CWG): The Minutes of the CWG meeting held on 25

WH

November 2015 are not yet available and the next meeting will be the AGM on 23

March 2016

Council Budget Monitoring report (2015/16) – In the absence of William Mutlow,

WM

JS reported that the Council Budget Monitoring report (1 April 2015 to 30 September

2015) presented at the Cabinet meeting yesterday shows an end of year surplus of

£0.7m.

WM has sent JS the following note about the Council Budget Monitoring report (1 April

2015 to 30 September 2015)

A number of budgets within Children’s Social Care Services have continued to

overspend with significant mitigation provided from savings in other budgets across

the People Theme. The small surplus delivered overall is from reduced demand within

key budgets in the Place Theme, across Business Improvement activity and from the

receipt of Community Infrastructure Levy to support financing the Twin Sails Bridge.

The improved forecast outturn includes a saving within central financing of £0.5m over

the second quarter and a further growth of £0.3m in Children’s Social Care, to give an

annual forecast overspend for this Service of £1m for the year. The increased ACTION pressure is largely offset by savings within Education Services after allowing for two

additional resources agreed by Cabinet in September.

A number of budgets within Adult Social Care (ASC) have moved favourably over the quarter with a net movement of £1.3m, giving a total for the year of £1.6m. The favourable movement includes retention of unspent grant of £0.6m from the postponement to 2020 of the implementation of the Care Act Part 2, reduced budget pressures and additional income of £0.7m.

The net favourable movement in ASC budget variances has been offset by the need to take account of the increased cost of £1.4m from a revised Ordinary Resident claim from Dorset County Council (DCC). The Council’s final accounts for 2014/15 and the June 2015 Council Budget Monitoring report for 2015/16 were prepared on the basis of an agreement with officers from DCC. in July 2015. A creditor of £0.4m was set up for an agreed back-pay element. Poole had begun making payments directly to care providers for the accepted clients from the start of the financial year in good faith that a back pay element was close to agreement. However in October, DCC confirmed that they were not going to abide by the agreement reached in July. A fresh claim was submitted including that Poole should accept funding responsibility for further clients and from an earlier point in time. This higher claim was for £1.8m.

The Council is not accepting the additional £1.4m is now due to DCC, with officers continuing to negotiate a fair settlement and we are required to set aside a provision to reflect the potential liability until the matter is resolved.

Taking into account the above issues, the net forecast pressure across the People Theme is £0.6m. Work is ongoing to establish the extent to which there will continue to be a pressure over the period of the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

Other services and central items are forecasting combined net savings of £1.3 million to offset additional costs within the People Theme and deliver the surplus overall. The most significant savings are within Transportation Services (£0.5m), across Business Improvement Services (£0.3m) and growing Community Infrastructure Levy receipts supporting financing of the Twin Sails Bridge to replace payments previously charged to the General Fund (£0.5m).

The current Capital programme is £26m with expenditure in the half year at £10.9m, representing 42% of annual spend. This reflects the profile of individual project expenditure within the overall programme.

The Forecast revenue variance movements June to September 2015 greater than £100,000.

£292k increase for Children – Looked After: Pressures continue to grow for placements of Children.

£145k saving in Children – Education Staff Costs: Vacancies in the Capital Team and other service areas.

£111k saving in Children – Education – Other Savings: Education Services Grant retained due to schools not converting to academy status (£75k) saving plus other net saving (£36k).

£579k saving in ASC – Care Act (Parts 1 & 2) Implementation: Further savings following Government announcement of implementation delay to 2020 of Part 2 and the grant can be retained to support budget pressures.

£359k saving in ASC – Residential Care & Community Based Services: Main items: “Reduced over spending on Learning Disabilities from potential service users not taking up care, plus existing clients moving to more cost-effectivepackages (209k saving) Clients aged 18-24 leaving care (£106k saving).”

£171k saving in ASC – Other Income: Client contributions from fairer charges (£77k) plus other income (£94k)

£165k saving in ASC – Ordinary Resident Claims (excluding Dorset): Ordinary resident claims settled without back-pay and with lower on-going

costs than provided.

£1,362k increase in ASC – Ordinary Resident Claim Dorset: Increase in

Dorset claim from position agreed in July 2015. Correspondence in October

MINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

confirmed Dorset are pursuing a higher claim to include additional clients and

ACTION

for 6 full years of historic costs.

£250k saving in ECPS – Waste Disposal: Sustained reduced tonnage over the first

half year expected to continue.

£216k increase for ECPS – Street Scene: Additional drainage works and carriageway

& footway repairs.

£702k saving in Prudential Borrowing

£1,200k increase for Poole Bridge Funding Contribution: Community Infrastructure

Levy receipts applied to replace the forward funding previously used for the Twin Sails

Bridge. This has allowed the General Fund to be compensated for previous Minimum

Revenue Provisions (MRP) made.

Earmarked reserves at the 1 April 2015 was £24.2m, with £3.6m programmed to

support the 2015/16 Budget. Details of forecast movements greater than £100,000

since June 2015 totalling £885k:

Grant Related £248K saving

Reserves Supporting the MTFP £255K saving

Culture and Community £191k saving

Corporate Maintenance £158k saving

Corporate Re-organisation Fund £143k saving

Schools Dedicated Schools Grant £328k increase

NHS Partnership in ASC £188k increase

Carbon Management Programme £89k increase

Street Scene £57k increase

Preventing Homelessness £0 change

Reserves to support the 2015/16 budget £0 change

ICT reserve virement to capital £250k increase

ASC reserve virement to capital £0 change

Public Rights of Way

RD

Buccleuch Road to Lakeside Road – No new developments.

Pinecliff Gardens (Sunken garden): No new developments.

WH

Community Engagement: At its meeting on 15 December, the Council is being

TS

asked to adopt the revised Statement of Community Involvement, with the provision

that notification to neighbours by letter remain unchanged and that minor changes be

delegated to the Head of Planning and Regeneration including Building Consultancy

Services in consultation and the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for this area.

JS reported that he had attended a ‘pilot’ Community Themed meeting at the Civic

Centre this morning which was attended a wide group of residents representatives

from throughout the Borough. Notes of the meeting will be circulated as soon as these

are available.

Agenda items included the following presentation by Cllrs Mrs Walton and Mrs Haines

Combined Authority Business Case for new Unitary Authority

Current position on Council budget for 2016/17

Proposal for change to waste collection

Sustaining Poole’s Seafront Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

TS

(Formerly Seafront Beaches Master Plan SPD): The Sustaining Poole’s Seafront

SPD was recommended for adoption by the Full Council at the Cabinet meeting on 08

December 2015.. This includes the following proposals for Branksome & Branksome

Dene beaches…

6.5 Branksome Beach – A Window on the Beaches

The height of the cliff and spread of vegetation combine with the curve of the cliffs to present an opportunity for panoramic views from a new café/restaurant projecting from Western Road car park. Subject to full technical reports and identified SNCI

mitigation, this new Sky Café could be a truly iconic addition. Whether a destination

or a family café, an elegant architectural and engineering solution would be

ACTION

restaurantMINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

required.

Redevelopment of the existing library site for flatted development with provision of

new community facilities could be proposed.

Cllr MH said that there would need to be a replacement facility before there could be a

decision to demolish Canford Cliffs library.

6.6 Branksome Dene Beach – The Watersports Beach

Change here could include a new and larger community and leisure venue in an

elevated position with an enlarged terrace and a handful of rooms for hire. It could

include new changing space, toilets and showers. A kiosk could be located on a deck

that projects over the sand in a similar style to the decks at Shore Beach and Canford

Cliffs. Identified parts of the woodland of the Chine shall be managed and reinforced

to retain or create ecological habitats. Furthermore the woodland could be accessed

via a new rope zip wire? adventure activity feature, and watersports should be

supported here (subject to approval of environmental reports and mitigation) with

improved facilities and access.

The beach area is the preferred location for a watersports hub to be built. Storage

space for small craft and changing facilities for users could combine with training and

teaching areas, as currently exists for the Branksome Chine Surf Life Saving Club. It

is possible that it could be managed by a commercial operator.

Additional 8 beach huts could be constructed, of which all could be capable of

overnight accommodation.

Tony Beale asked if, when the area of the Branksome Beach car park and the chine

was ceded to the council, there were any covenants put on this at that time. JS said

that this needed to be looked into.

Succession planning: No new developments.

JS

Uniting the Conurbation (Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch) – the Council

JS

exploring options for the future of local government in Poole, Bournemouth and

Dorset

Option 1 – A Pan-Dorset Unitary Council including all nine councils in

Dorset

This option is a single unitary council to provide local government services for the

whole Dorset county area as well as Poole and Bournemouth. This would bring

together the current two unitary councils with the County Council and District

Councils, creating a single tier authority.

A unitary Council for this area would be the third largest local authority in England,

smaller than Birmingham and Leeds, larger than Sheffield.

Option 2 – A Unitary Council for South East Dorset This proposal is to create a

new unitary Council to provide local government services for Poole, Bournemouth,

Christchurch and East Dorset to come into effect in April 2019.

This would bring together the services of five Councils for the South East Dorset area

i.e. the two unitary Councils (Poole and Bournemouth), the two District Councils

(Christchurch and East Dorset) and the relevant part of Dorset County Council.

A new unitary Council for South East Dorset would be bigger, for example, than

Bristol, Southampton, Reading or Brighton and Hove.

Given that the proposal affects the Dorset County Council area, it will be necessary to

consider the costs and benefits of a revised local government structure for the rest of

the County area comprising the four District Councils and Dorset County Council.

creation of a new unitary council for South East Dorset would need to be

The

MINUTES OF THE BRANKSOME, CANFORD CLIFFS & DISTRICT RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

ACTION

balanced by a new arrangement in the rest of Dorset. This could be retention of the

status quo or a new unitary council for the areas of Purbeck, North Dorset, West

Dorset and Weymouth& Portland Councils.

Option 3 – No change – Retain the existing local government structure The two

unitary councils in Poole and Bournemouth and the two tier structure in the Dorset

area with a County Council and six district councils would remain as they are.

Refreshing the Core Strategy and review of Community Infrastructure Levy:

TS

(CIL) – No new developments.

Improving Association’s communications – No new developments.

MP

Autumn 2015 ‘Pines & Chines’ magazine – Nothing to report

No

further

action

Leaning garden wall at (?)25 The Avenue – Cllr MH will follow up.

MH

Branksome Park & plot size: In the absence of Tracy Holmes, JS reported that KA

TH

had drafted a letter to go to the Planning Inspectorate refuting a number of assertions

made by Mr Horden in relation to the meeting between, himself, JS and Mr Horden in

April 2015.

Chairman’s note: I omitted to report that Terry Stewart has written a letter to Cllr Ian

Potter, the Portfolio Holder responsible for Planning & Regeneration, seeking the

requirement that all sites in the Branksome Park Conservation Area be a minimum of

0.3 hectares be reinstated in the Core Strategy.

3 NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT –

KA reported

16 Western Avenue (Erect a single storey garden room (Retrospective) – Application 

KA

granted by Planning Committee at its meeting on 03 December 2015.

66, 68 & 68A Lilliput Road (Outline planning application for the demolition of the

existing properties and the erection of two separate apartment buildings containing 20

flats in total with associated access, cycle and bin stores) – Application refused by

Planning Committee at its meeting on 03 December 2015.

Other current planning issues

Salterns Harbourside Hotel, 38 Salterns Way (Demolition of the existing buildings

and the erection of 2 multi-storey mixed use developments containing 73 residential

units, a 60 bedroom hotel as well as restaurants, offices and marina service facilities)

– Controversial application

Ormonde Nursing Home, 12 Pinewood Road (Outline application for alterations,

extensions and conversion of the building to six flats with associated parking and

landscaping) – The Association lodged a letter of objection to this application on 13

August 2015. Still a ‘current application’.

5.

ACCOUNTS TO DATE – JS reported that the total Association funds as at 30

JS

November 2015 amounted to £31,420.22

6

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Former Cllr Neil Sorton – JS said he was very sorry to inform those present that Neil

passed away on 06 December 2015. The funeral will be held at 1.30pm at Canford

All

Magna Church, Merley, BH21 3AF on 17 December 2015 followed by a private

cremation.

09

Projection equipment for Canford Cliffs Village Hall – RP reported that at the

RP

Neighbourhood Watch conference in the Canford Cliffs Village Hall, there was an embarrassing amount of trouble with the Power-point presentations. He suggested that maybe the Association could donate funds to be used for some equipment which could be used by all groups needing such equipment. JS suggested that RP liaise with Martin Heath who is a Trustee of Canford Cliffs Village Hall.

The meeting concluded at 8.00pm with Mulled wine and mince pies.

Date of next Meeting: Wednesday – 13 January 2016 – Committee Room (formerly Lounge), Rear of Branksome St Aldhelms Parish Centre (Access via Lindsay Road.

The meeting closed at 8.20pm..

ACTION

All

Notes from Poole Residents’ Themed Meeting Dec 2015

Posted on by

Notes from Poole Residents’ Themed Meeting
Wednesday 9th December 2015, Cattistock Suite, Civic Centre

Attendees:

Sue Bellamy (SB) Poole Quays Forum
Vickie Campbell (VC) Secretary, Canford Heath Neighbourhood Watch
David Gillard (DG) Society of Poole Men Christopher Jackson (CJ) Uniting the Conurbation Allen Lewis (AL) Resident, Broadstone
Monique Munroe (MM) Canford Heath Neighbourhood Watch / Ideas2Actions / Poole CVS Ken Sanson (KS) Chairman, Sandbanks Association
Bob Smith (BS) Bourne Valley Action Group
Jackie Smith (JaS) Bourne Valley Action Group
John Sprackling (JS) Chairman, Branksome Park & Canford Cliffs District Residents
Assoc.
Graham Tuffin (GT) Chairman, Talbot Village Residents Association

Cllr Janet Walton, Leader of the Council (JW)
Cllr May Haines, Deputy Leader of Council (MH) Cllr Karen Rampton
Cllr Drew Mellor
Cllr Mohan Iyengar

The meeting started at 10:38

1. Welcome and introductions

MH introduced the meeting, reminding attendees that the agenda had been circulated beforehand and that notes would be circulated afterwards.

All attendees introduced themselves.

2. Combined Authority

JW confirmed that:

2.1 The term ‘combined authority’ was used to describe a formal governance structure to strengthen councils’ collective approach to strategic decisions on transport, economic development and regeneration
2.2 Leaders of the 9 councils in Dorset had proposed so far to include only transport and economic development in the functions of a combined authority for the county
2.3 Borough of Poole (BoP) would retain its sovereignty and its own teams for economic development and transport
2.4 There would be a benefit in having a single point of contact between Dorset and central government on strategic matters.
2.5 The greater benefit would be in the ability to bid for larger opportunities and attract new sources of funding

Residents made the following observations:

2.6 There could be an advantage of a strategic view being taken across Dorset and from having a single point of contact for discussions across the councils rather than the many-to-many arrangement now.
2.7 The function would need to have a legal status and an overview/scrutiny mechanism in place.
2.8 The voting mechanism in the cross-county function needed to ensure equitable outcomes. (For instance, issues at a ward or district level should not be at risk of being voted down by members who were remote from the issue).
2.9 The central function had to be empowered to make decisions for the good of Dorset, recognising that each council would be inclined to argue for its own interests

2.10 Equally, a central function could be against the principle of ‘local solutions to local problems’. As such, its design was important to ensure it had residents’ support.
2.11 The new function would have a challenge to be effective with only a remit for transport and economic development when there would be dependencies to/from many other functions which remained under local control. (JW agreed that this was a risk to manage in the set-up of any function).
2.12 There was the possibility for all external contracting to be done pan-Dorset by the
new function, in the context of the business of a combined authority. (However, JW responded on this point that this wasn’t the current intention)
2.13 A combination with Bournemouth could be useful if such things as roads-planning and maintenance could be aligned
2.14 The proposed new function would be a combined administration across Dorset to serve strategic purposes

3. Business Case for Unitary Authority

JW confirmed that:

3.1 The discussions for a possible South-East Dorset single unitary authority were in response to central government’s wish for local authorities to become more ambitious and innovative. The discussions were also supported by the Local Government Association (LGA).
3.2 The intention was to explore the possibility of a single unitary authority for south-east Dorset.
The leaders and chief executives of those councils had met in October 2015, resulting in an agreement to explore three alternative ways forward, namely:
a. a Dorset-wide unitary authority covering the territory represented by the current 9 councils;
b. a south-east Dorset unitary authority covering the territories of Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and East Dorset councils; or
c. a continuation of the current arrangement of councils
3.3 Council’s approval would be sought in December 2015 to draw up business cases for these options.
3.4 Once business cases had been developed – over approximately 3-4 months – the discussion would come back into council to debate the way forward.
3.5 There was a strong feeling across the leader and cabinet to protect Poole’s identity and sovereignty, incl. heritage and mayoralty.

Residents made the following observations:

3.6 The 5 councils outside the south-east could in theory form their own unitary. (Though JW confirmed that the only idea so far in this regard had been raised by Dorset County Council for a Dorset-wide unitary).
3.7 External expertise should be used to look objectively across all options and to challenge robustly for efficiencies and benefits. (JW responded that this would happen and that the Local Government Association would support the development of business cases, but not their evaluation).
3.8 If council tax increases were capped by central government, the main benefits from any join- ups had to be from cost savings. (JW added that Borough of Poole had achieved £60m in efficiencies since 2010 and would be finding another £20 by 2020. But the emphasis would be on fostering economic growth and improving the value-for-money of services, not just cuts per se).
3.9 There was a wish to keep Poole’s identity. A unitary could have more influence with central government and would offer economies of scale. But the defence of Poole’s heritage would be important in fostering residents’ support. (JW concurred with this point).
3.10 It was important for councillors to know residents’ views. Would there be a referendum? (JW replied that public consultation – as well as face-to-face meetings – would include digital communication to reach people and canvass opinion. For example, the ‘Email Me’ newsletter now had 35,000 subscribers in the Borough. So while face-to-face would remain important, the intention was to use a range of options to reach across the community.

First of all it was important to develop the cost-benefit analyses for the options and then to identify the key questions for debate.
3.11 Support was expressed for the approach to develop business cases first. It was important to take the time to develop complete scenarios and describe their benefits to residents. This would be more meaningful than asking for public opinion before knowing the facts and evidence in those business cases.

4. Current position on Council budget for 2016/17

MH confirmed that:

4.1 Poole council had a challenge to reduce expenditure by £18-20 million over the next 4 years.
The target was deliberately quoted in a range rather than a point figure to give room to manoeuvre where new requirements from central government carried the risk of bringing further challenges.
4.2 At the start of the fiscal year beginning 1st April 2016, the forecast challenge was £5.8m for that year – taking a view of the central government funding settlement. At the time of the October’15 forecast, that gap had been revised down to £3.9m and most recently revised to
£1.6m.
4.3 The gap-reduction had been achieved by taking difficult decisions. The more straight-forward savings in support areas had been made – such as non-replacement of staff leaving, part- time working and rationalisation of services. (An example given was Streetscene – now a
one-stop-shop for street maintenance rather than the complex multi-team arrangement it replaced). Other changes included:
a. Adjustments to the green-bin collection and charges b. Reduced grants to voluntary organisations
c. Rationalised office space – such as the vacation of St John’s House and the incorporation of the transport team into Civic Centre
d. Reduction in the square-meterage of a workspace in the office
4.4 There was a £13.7m target for cost-reduction to 2020. As the opportunities in Poole-unitary became harder to find, there was a need to collaborate with partners outside Poole for further improvements – hence, the explorations into combined authority and ‘quads’.
4.5 Unless arrangements were to change, Poole Council remained legally responsible for the provision of council services to the Borough.
4.6 Two types of reserves were defined:
a. Earmarked (held for a specific purpose) reserves b. Unearmarked (general) reserves

Following a review, a request would be put to council in December 2015 for a further £1.5m to be taken from earmarked reserves to help support the MTFP over 3 years from 2016/17.

5. Proposal for change to waste collection

MH confirmed that:

5.1 Poole’s current practice of weekly black-bin collections was in a minority, as 70% of other councils across the UK collected bi-weekly.
5.2 A working group had explored waste-collection in depth over more than a year. In phase 1
they had examined whether food-waste could be a separate collection, taking the experiences from the Isle of Wight, but concluded this wasn’t yet viable for Poole. In phase 2, the examination was whether bi-weekly collections brought undesirable effects such as overflowing bins and vermin. The experience from other councils was that it did not.
5.3 The potential move to bi-weekly collection in Poole would, however, offer exceptions to residents with a demonstrably greater need for waste collection, such as larger families with young children and those with medical conditions.

Residents made the following observations:

5.4 Would there be staff reductions if collections were halved? (MH replied that some staff reductions were likely)
5.5 Poole and Bournemouth used different colour-schemes for bins. To align them could be an item for the ‘quads’ discussions.
5.6 Food waste could be recycled as fuel pellets. (MH replied that food waste was already recovered. A proportion of that waste was sent to New Earth Solutions where a mechanical recovery was done, allowing minimal divert to landfill).
5.7 The website www.weneedthat.com was mentioned as helpful in regard to recycling.

6. Questions and Answers / Open Forum

Residents made the following points

6.1 Other cost savings could be pursued such as outsourcing and pension management, dog- wardens and tree-wardens. (MH replied that some outsourcing had already been achieved, such as with Tricuro in adult social care, and that all options would be explored. For example, another potential opportunity was to take over the management of Bournemouth’s refuse site for a fee)
6.2 Residents could be asked to pay a little more council tax to protect services.
6.3 External expertise should be sought by the council to drive opportunities in commercialism. A resident felt that someone with the skills and appropriate incentive could bring more urgency and transparency to the commercial area. (MH suggested that more general details could be shared, but not items which were commercially sensitive – and this point was accepted).
6.4 The Transparency pages on the Borough of Poole website needed to be updated.
6.5 In response to a question on business rates and the Chancellor’s statement, MH reminded everyone that the current “50/50” scheme still left Poole only 25 pence in the Pound. The new statement that local councils could retain 100% of business rates from 2020 was promising but in her view was likely to come with extra responsibilities as a quid-pro-quo. Those responsibilities could become clearer in consultations with central government in 2016 but for now the mood was cautious.
6.6 In response to another question MH mentioned that the annual meeting on council budget would be held on 22nd January 2016 and that any anyone who wished to attend was asked to let her or Fiona Fryer (f.fryer@poole.gov.uk) know in advance.

7. Feedback
7.1 Forms were circulated, completed and returned by attendees.
7.2 In the spirit of respecting the confidentiality of peoples’ feedback, a general summary was that the meeting was well received and that the limited attendance allowed a high level of quality discussion. A challenge going forward would be to retain this value while reaching out to
larger groups.

The meeting closed at 12:20.