Minutes of January Meeting – Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs District Residents Association

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Minutes of the monthly meeting held on Wednesday 11th January 2017 at 7.30 pm.

Present Roger Allen (RA)              Vice Chair

Terry Stewart (TS)                           President

May Haines (MH)                     Ward Councillor, Deputy Leader Conservative Group

Mohan Iyengar (MI)                  Ward Councillor, Conservative

10 Wardens and Members

Welcome and Apologies

Bob Reid Chair, Carol Parkin Secretary and minute secretary, Mike Parkin membership secretary, Paul FernleyTreasurer, John Gunton magazine editor,
ChrisStracey, Tracy Holmes, Martin Heath Julie Reid.

Roger Allen opened the meeting at 7.30 as Chair and Minute Secretary combined.

Minutes of the meeting 14th Dec 2016

The Chair explained that the Secretary Carol Parkin was unwell and hadn’t been able to write up the minutes as normal. Bob Reid had prepared the shortened version that was presented to members for approval. Terry Stewart proposed their adoption which received unanimous support.

Matters arising
Parking issues were to the fore and in effectthe discussions moved straight onto item 4 on the January agenda.

Item 4: On Road parking charges, latest update, raising parking charges
MH didn’t have the information as what the rise in parking charges would be but confirmed that BOP will be conducting a benchmarking exercise with other authorities.
TS said it was unfortunate that the detail was only notified three days before and that all traders were objecting. TS went on to say that town centres are facing big challenges with business retail shops closing and more charity shops opening. We have a marketing team to promote the town centre and raising car park charges is counterproductive to their work.
MI said that the decline of Poole town centre goes back many years with contributory factors being high rents and the rail line which crosses the pedestrian thoroughfare. He pointed out that BOP is investing £3.5 million and Legal & General’s contribution brings the total investment up to £10 million. This represents a huge investment and BOP has to balance the books.
StanAlfert (SA) asked if the new charges would be higher than Bournemouth. MH replied that the benchmark exercise would determine this. She went on to say that BOP would be funding the repairs to address the structural problems of the car park over WH Smith. SA expressed concern that if parking fees are raised to high there could be an actual loss of revenue as well as a negative impact on the businesses.
TS identified that parking fees in district car parks are doubling. TS said that he would conduct a research study and produce a matrix of current car parking fees against proposed increases.
MH and MI made the case strongly that BOP is facing a funding crisis. RA suggested that BOP could put forward a matrix for increases in community charge against services that would be saved etc. and then go out for a referendum. MH said that research shows the likely result would be a no to any increases above the cap and that the cost of a referendum at £120.000 is not affordable.

Item 5: Planning

Unfortunately our Planning Officer Tracy Holmes was out of commission after a riding accident, notwithstanding she kindly emailed a list of planning applications for discussion. RA read through the list many of which were new applications and some refusals. Please see Tracy’s Planning List which is a separate document attached.
The discussion centred on The HMO saga on Pinewood Road. The HMO is now closed. The owners have dropped plans to build a nursing home changing back to a block of flats and that application has now been changed to a bigger block of flats.
MH confirmed that she is monitoring the situation.
SA has concerns over the seemingly never ending situation at 4 Bracken Hill with applications for a larger house being refused and then going to appeal again and so on. The residents of Bracken Hill, some of which are members would like to see the RA backing a continual refusal of these out of character house designs.

Paul Fernley will be asked to check our memberships along Bracken Hill.
John Sprackling (JS) referred to the application at 8 Martello South where the
Planning Committee overturned an officer recommendation. JS and TS separately said that the committee overturns officer recommendations for refusal quite often and in so doing totally ignores the BOP Core Strategy. JS agreed that he would review the history of officer recommendations being overturned by committee. SA said that this part of the world appeared to overturn more decisions than was the norm.

Items 6 & 7 Plans for the Civic Centre reception and the closure of public toilets
These two items were discussed at the same time as the public and the press have linked the cost of remodelling the reception with the savings to be gained by closing public toilets.
MH opened the discussion by saying that there is no statutory requirement for BOP to provide public toilets at all. Her view is that the Civic Centre reception and cash office are very dated. There are issues around client confidentiality which would be improved if there were private interview facilities. And that advances in technology mean that a cash machine could be installed to receive payments and for those troubled by using such a machine help and support would be on hand. The saving from installing a cash machine would be in staff costs, and that redundancy costs had been factored into the calculations. The cost of for the work would be £216,000 of which £150,000 would come from existing budgets. The cost of maintaining the toilets earmarked for closure would be £72,000 and it wouldn’t stop there. The toilets in question are old and out of date and would in reality require capital investment to keep them going as well as scheduled maintenance. MH referred to the “Pay Back” of the costs for the reception project which would come in over a number of years.
RA asked if the project had actually been approved in principle, how the socalled “Pay Back” works as there isn’t actually an income stream being invested in and just because there is spare money in a budget shouldn’t mean it has to be spent on a project given the dire financial situation. MH replied that the pay back would be a result of savings on staff wages, and held to her position on the need for remodelling the reception justified the spend from existing budgets.
SA said that if the pay back was being calculated over a number of years and the building did become redundant in the relatively near future then the figures cannot be justified. The membership generally remained very circumspect over the perceived pay back. Roy Pointer confirmed his doubts over the pay back notion too and asked MH through the chair why they were intending to spend this money given the challenging financial situation if as the plan for conurbation develops the Civic Centre might well cease to be. MH stuck to her position that the reception is outdated and the work is essential.
In simple terms the general view at the meeting was that it’s not whether in an ideal world the changes that MH envisages should be carried out. Rather that the project should be delayed in the face of the move to form a conurbation which our council has now voted for. Following what had become an impasse between our Ward Councillor and the members.
Stan Alfet proposed a resolution as follows.
Discretionary expense that is not essential in the light of forthcoming prospects for change should be deferred for two years until we know more about future arrangements concerning the conurbation to bring Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch together and how this may affect Poole Civic Centre.
The proposal was seconded by Roy Pointer and carried with a unanimous vote in support.
It was agreed that TS would distribute the details of our resolution the following day.
SA asked for our disappointment over the closure of the public toilets to be
recorded. SA asked why BOP couldn’t look at the continental model for public toilets where prefabricated toilet pods are placed into public areas with a charge levied for use. RP mentioned that Wessex water have toilet schemes. RA said that in some areas toilet blocks have been sold for development as bars or cafes on the agreement that the operators will provide a public toilet.
MI said that he would he would follow up with BOP to explore business and
commercial opportunities with council WC’s. MH said that vandals inhibit
development of public toilets. SA said we should explore commercial options and not let vandals win the day.

Item 8: Beach Road car park
RP said that the date for submissions had been extended and he is crafting a
response accordingly. It was felt that the RA should be seen to be active where such a large project is being considered.
Item 9: Accounts
Copies of the 2016 accounts had been circulated. RA said that a late payment for advertising was now in which would bring the magazine within budget. The overall position remained much the same. It was mentioned that Sundries and Meeting costs were well over budget but other headings were either spot on or under.
It was suggested that the budget for 2017 should be reviewed to take account of the reality of sundries and that the budget needs to include likely costs for ad hoc meetings required during the progress of our various campaigns. RA said he would liaise with the Treasurer in this regard. RA thanked the Treasurer for his work.

AOB
TS referred to the report that made the claim that there had been a powerful
response to the consultation regarding the merger of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch and asked MH if a response of 3% could be considered as such. MH responded that the data against norms suggest the response was good and there was little adverse comment. RP by 31.01.17 all nine Dorset Councils will have voted on their various plans for amalgamations.
Mike Wrigley asked a question of MH as to where he can find information on
regeneration projects.
Before closing the meeting RA thanked our Ward Councillors for attending and paid particular tribute to May Haines who had come under fire somewhat but had held her ground and made many valuable points. RA said that we all very much appreciate her hard work and dedication as a councillor.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm

Roger Allen
BPCCRA Vice Chair
13th January 2017

Agenda for Monthly Meeting 11 Jan 17

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Agenda

For Monthly Meeting 11 January 2017 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 14 December 2016.
  3. Matters arising.
  4. On Road Parking Charges, latest update. Raising parking charges.
  5. Planning issues.
  6. Proposed Plans for the Civic Centre Reception.
  7. Closing Public Toilets.
  8. Beach Road Car Park.
  10. O.B

The next meeting will be on the 5th February 2017

Agenda of Cabinet Meeting – BOROUGH OF POOLE

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 BOROUGH OF POOLE

CABINET

NOTICE OF MEETING

 

A Meeting of the Cabinet will be held on 10 January 2017 at 7:00pm in the Committee Suite, Civic Centre, Poole, Dorset

 

To Members of the Cabinet:

 

Councillor Mrs Janet Walton (Chairman) (Leader of the Council)

Councillor Mrs May Haines (Vice Chairman) (Deputy Leader of the Council)

Councillors: Drew Mellor, Mohan Iyengar, Ian Potter, John Rampton, Mrs Karen Rampton and Mike White

 

AGENDA

 

  1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

To receive any apologies for absence.

  1. DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST(S)

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest(s) of Members and/or Officers in matters appearing on the Agenda.

  1. DECISIONS OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

DECISION REQUIRED

To confirm that the Decisions of the previous Meeting held on 6 December 2016, (previously circulated to all Members), are a correct record.

 

STRATEGIC ISSUES

  1. EXPLORING OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN BOURNEMOUTH, POOLE AND DORSET

DECISIONS REQUIRED

That Cabinet recommends to Council as follows:

  1. That there has been a powerful public response acknowledging a compelling case to change local government structures in Dorset.
  2. That a submission should be made to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government requesting that the existing nine county, district, and unitary Councils should be replaced by two new unitary Councils.
  • That based upon the weight of public opinion and the financial and other analytical evidence, the two new unitary Councils should be based upon the following local authority boundaries:

Unitary A – Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole plus the services currently provided by Dorset County Council in this area.

Unitary B – East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, plus the services currently provided by Dorset County Council in this area

  1. That the Chief Executive be authorised after consultation with the Leader to agree the wording of the submission to the Secretary of State demonstrating our ambition for local government transformation and drawing on the evidence that has been presented to Councils to be made along with any other Council that has agreed to support the same option for reorganisation.
  1. v) That the Chief Executive be authorised after consultation with the Leader to work with other Councils that support the same option for reorganisation to develop and implement appropriate plans and allocate appropriate resources to progress local government change in Dorset and that a report on next steps be presented in due course.

REPORT ENCLOSED

REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 05/01/17 WILL FOLLOW

  1. CAR PARKING TARIFF – REPORT OF THE HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

DECISIONS REQUIRED

That Cabinet approve:

  • The new parking charges as shown in Appendix A.

REPORT ENCLOSED

  1. COUNCIL TAX BASE SETTING REPORT – REPORT OF THE HEAD OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

DECISIONS REQUIRED

The Cabinet be asked to approve:

  • The report of the Head of Financial Services for the calculation of the Borough’s tax base for the year 2017/2018;
  • That pursuant to the Head of Financial Services’ report, and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated as the Council Tax Base for the Borough of Poole for the year 2017/2018 shall be 56,366;
  • This decision will be acted upon on the day following cabinet. It is not subject to call in with the exception of process.

REPORT ENCLOSED

  1. TRANSFER OF LAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT: REPORT OF THE HEADS OF FINANCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES

DECISIONS REQUIRED

Cabinet recommends to Council that:

  • The site of the Bourne Valley Community Centre and surplus adjoining land is utilised for the purpose of affordable housing.
  • That the Corporate Property Officer and Head of Housing and Community Services agree the allocation of the site to a preferred Registered Provider (RP) Sovereign Housing Association for the feasibility and design work in order to assess its development potential and subject to satisfactory feasibility and design work to submit a planning application.
  • That the requirement to submit a Planning Application be delegated to the Head of Housing and Community Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing.
  • That authority is delegated to the Corporate Property Officer in consultation with the Head of Legal, Democratic and Strategy Services and the Head of Financial Services to negotiate the legal and financial documentation required transferring the site.
  • That the existing community centre building is immediately demolished pending disposal.

REPORT ENCLOSED

  1. TOWN CENTRE – COMMERCIALISATION OF ASSETS

DECISIONS REQUIRED

That Cabinet endorse the view of the Regeneration Working Party and expand the project brief to include additional land and property outside of the ownership and / or control of the council and then:-

  • Approve that the Strategic Director for Place and the Head of Financial Services, in consultation with the Head of Legal and Democratic and Strategy Services, proceed to put in place a revised contract for the provision of advice that will support the Borough in concluding an options appraisal, masterplanning and market sounding exercise with indicative costs and recommendations on suitable delivery models.
  • Set aside a further £50,000 from the capital contingency fund, which is in addition to the £100,000 already earmarked for this purpose following the Decision made by Cabinet on 22nd March 2016.
  • Recognise that these funds will take the process to a stage where Cabinet and Council can decide whether to proceed to procure a joint venture or other strategic partner or partners and that further funds will be required to conclude the procurement process.

REPORT ENCLOSED

  1. FREE EARLY EDUCATION AND CHILDCARE SUFFICIENCY: REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF PEOPLE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE)

DECISIONS REQUIRED

That Cabinet note the Review and approve the new priorities within the Annual Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2016-17.

REPORT ENCLOSED

  1. UPDATE OF THE SUPPORTING SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT STRATEGY 2015-2018

DECISIONS REQUIRED

That Cabinet:

  • approve and endorse Poole’s drive to continue to secure sustained improvement in educational outcomes for learners at Poole schools.
  • Note the updated Strategy for Supporting School Improvement (Appendix A).
  • Note the letter to the Leader of the Council from the Regional Director of Ofsted recognising the success of the partnership between the Council, Poole Schools Association and Poole Schools Teaching Alliance as being instrumental in the improved attainment levels of Poole pupils in 2016 (Appendix B)
  • Approve the continued employment of two Specialist Posts, as outlined in Sections 4.6 and 4.7 until August 2017 in order to enable the delivery of the Strategy for Supporting School Improvement

REPORT ENCLOSED

  1. EMPLOYMENT OF TEMPORARY SPECIALIST STAFF IN ADULT SOCIAL CARE SERVICES AND COMMISSIONING AND IMPROVEMENT – PEOPLE SERVICES

DECISION REQUIRED

Cabinet is recommended to approve the retention of three adult social care posts which are necessary to maintain safe and efficient operational and commissioning practice within adult social care. They are:

  • An interim Service Manager for adult safeguarding and statutory mental health
  • A specialist solicitor to advise on Continuing Healthcare, the Mental Health Act (1983) and Mental Capacity Act (2005) on an continuing basis.
  • A specialist interim Contracts Manager

REPORT ENCLOSED

  1. EMPLOYMENT OF SPECIALIST EXPERTISE TO SECURE REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS IN CHILDREN’S SOCIAL CARE SERVICES

DECISIONS REQUIRED

Cabinet is recommended to –

  • Approve the continued employment of a specialist Children’s Social Care Service Manager until 31 March 2017 (see Section 4 of the Report)
  • Approve continued employment of an ICT Specialist Programmer until 30 June 2017 (see Section 5 of the Report)
  • Approve continued employment of a specialist Senior Commissioning Manager until March 2017 (see Section 6 of the Report)

REPORT ENCLOSED

  1. PUBLIC TOILETS REVIEW – REPORT OF THE HEAD OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER PROTECTION

DECISION REQUIRED

  • That Cabinet approve the closure of a further eight public toilets (see appendix 1). To be closed as soon as practical arrangements can be made.
  • That Cabinet approve the continued support of the Community Toilet Scheme (CTS) to encourage participants in those areas of highest footfall and to maintain the current participants (see appendix 2).
  1. CABINET FORWARD PLAN

To consider an extract of the Cabinet Forward Plan.

REPORT ENCLOSED

MEMBERS’ ISSUES 

None received.

 

Tim Martin

LLB Solicitor

Head of Legal, Democratic and Strategy Services

30 December 2016

 

Contact Officer

Pauline Gill, Democratic Services Manager

Tel: 01202 633043

Email:p.gill@poole.gov.uk

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.

Branksome Park Canford Cliffs & District Residents’ Association Minutes October

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Branksome Park Canford Cliffs & District Residents’ Association

Agenda

For monthly meeting 9th November 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 12 October 2016.
3 Matters arising.
4 On Road Parking Charges, latest update.
5 The new Magazine.
6 Planning issues.
7 Resident Parking Scheme.
8 Accounts
9 A.O.B
The next meeting will be on the 14th December 2016
Pines And Chines
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Minutes of monthly meeting held Wednesday October 12, 2016 at 19.30

PRESENT Bob Reid Chairman

Roger Allen Vice Chairman

Carol Parkin Secretary/Minutes Secretary

Mike Parkin Membership Secretary

Terry Stewart President

Tracy Holmes Planning Officer

Approximately 30 wardens and members.

APOLOGIES Cllr May Haines, Cllr Mohan Iyengar,

Stan Alfert, Chris Stracey, Neil Denning, Dawn Goodson.

Peter and Patricia Osborne, Judy and Alan White, Mary Parsons

Sarah Holt, Irene Ashton, Paul Fearnley, John Gunton.
The Chairman extended a welcome to those present.

MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 2016 MEETING
The minutes of the meeting held in September were accepted as a correct record.

MATTERS ARISING
BR gave an update on the licence for the beach volley ball event, which he said should have been ‘Beach sports’ event. On the previous minutes.
He went on to say that the minutes of the Licensing Committee have now been posted on-line.
The Licensing Committee have passed this, but have changed the ending time from 1.00am to 11.00pm.

John Sprackling said that he had asked Frank Wenzel why the report marked ‘confidential’ was not on the website, and why it was marked ‘confidential’. He has now asked the Committee clerk why the report is marked ‘confidential’ and he is still awaiting a reply. JS feels that the Council keep too many things close to their chest.

ON ROAD PARKING METERS
Our Steering Group is still following this very closely. Roy Pointer reported that they are still waiting for the Council to come back with a revision to their answer to our freedom of information request.

PLANNING ISSUES
14 Pinewood Road. The Association sent in an objection to this planning application to change the building into a House of Multiple Occupancy. This is already being run as an HMO even though planning has not been granted. The Chairman said that he had had a meeting with Stephen Thorne Head of Planning and Regeneration and was told that a decision would be made in a week. Cllr MH red-carded this application but will not be able to speak at the meeting as she is out of the country. She has delegated a substitute. Irene Ashton of the Association who lives behind the proposed HMO will also speak if possible. There was some discussion amongst the members about this Application; mainly on the length of time this has been able to operate as an HMO without Planning Approval, and therefore criticism of the Planning Department. Mr. Stuart Sherring asked ‘what is the future intention’, as there are several Planning Applications to be considered.
The Chairman answered that Stephen Thorne’s position is that every Planning Application has to be considered, however inappropriate it might be. Therefore if this Application is refused the owners will then proceed with the other application. RA suggested a straight forward letter and question to the Council – ‘Who would be liable if there were an accident or a fire?’ TS suggested a formal letter copied to our Councillors setting out the facts. BR said that that was why he had the meeting with Stephen Thorne, but he hadn’t asked a question about liability. BR said that he would do another letter. Martin Heath pointed out that the eight week statutory period can be extended and that BR should also ask what reason it was extended in this case.

8 Martello Road South
Martin Heath has requested that this Application be red carded. He would like to question whether flats can be approved at this address as it is an area of low housing density.

22 Balcombe Road or 2 Burton Road
‘Erect Two Storey Dwelling in the Grounds’
JS told the meeting that there was already Planning Permission to convert this large house into two, and the owner has now asked for permission to retain this as one house and build a further house to be built in the garden. This is in the Conservation Area and it infringes the criteria of low density housing. Tracy Holmes said that the Planning Department are looking at this favourably as it will have no impact on the character of the area.

1 Beaumont Road
This is where trees were ring barked. John Sprackling reported that 12 people went to the Judicial Review in London to support Alex Roden. Alex did a splendid job of representing herself in front of the judge.
This was a review of the Planning Inspector’s decision to allow three houses when the local council had refused it. Even though the tree report was flawed, the Inspector allowed it. There will be a written judgement in a few weeks.
The Application is now for three houses; one house facing one road and two facing the other road.
JS said that the Canford Cliffs Land Society (CCLS) hope that the decision is to hand before the eight weeks period for the Planning Application.

14 Chester Road
This Application has been turned down. This is now being appealed.

5-7 Chaddesley Glen
The Application for two apartment buildings has now been approved.

4 Brackenhill
There are several applications. The first was for two dwellings. This was turned down.
There was then an application for one dwelling which was approved.
There is now another application for two dwellings.

29 Brudenell Avenue
The Application is to demolish the existing dwelling and erect two new ones. This application has only just come in.

66 Lillyput Road
The application for twenty apartments has been granted.

6 Tower Road
The application to convert the gatehouse to separate accommodation has been refused.

46-48 Tower Road
McCarthy Stone have had pre-consultations about their plans for this address and subsequently a display at the front of St. Aldhem’s Church. BR left a copy of McCarthy Stone’s poster for members at the meeting to see if they wished. This plan is for 28 retirement flats and the design looks as if it will be sympathetic to neighbouring properties.

RESIDENTS’ PARKING SCHEME
BR and RA had a meeting with Steve Dean from the Council to see what exactly the Council intends to do about extending the residents’ parking scheme down Chester Road, Eaton Road and Ormonde Road.
Mr. Dean gave the facts so far. When this scheme was first set up the residents were asked if they wanted to join it. At that time those in those in Chester, Ormonde and EatonRoads didn’t. Some four years later a further review showed that those in Ormonde Road did wish to join, but the others still did not. At the current time the Council has no plans to have residents’ parking schemes anywhere.
The current problem is that employees of LV use these roads for parking as their own car park is not sufficient. BR suggested using the Beach Road car park and providing a Park and Ride scheme.
Mr. Dean is going to look at this suggestion.
RA said that we have a situation now where the Council will not indulge in something costly if it doesn’t fit in with current policies, and extending the Residents’ Parking Scheme does not.
The CEO at LV has submitted a letter saying that his workers are doing nothing illegal by parking on these roads which do not have residents parking, and the demonstrations against them are therefore illegal.
BR suggested that the residents of Chester Road approach their Councillors, as we in the Association have done all that we can. Mr. Dean will write to LV suggesting that they consider using the Beach Road car park for a Park and Ride scheme.
In reply to a comment from Mike Wrigley RR read out the results of a Transportation Advisory Group report from 2003 to determine residents’ wishes to extend the scheme.
In Ormonde Road there were 11 responses, in Eaton Road there were 7 and in Chester Road there were 18. In Ormonde Road 9 of the responses were ‘yes’ and 2 were ‘no’, in Eaton Road three responses were ‘yes’ and 4 were ‘no’ and in Chester Road, 3 responses were ‘yes’ and 15 were ‘no’.
It was pointed out that traffic on the road and employees at LV had increased dramatically since then. RA re-iterated that the facts are that the policies of the Council that were in place when Zone K was created no longer exist, and the only recourse left is to approach the Ward Councillors to ask them if they would table a notice of motion in the council chamber to re-instate this policy. This of course would have to be supported by the rest of the Councillors.
After more comments from the residents of Chester Road, RA said that the Association has spent a lot of time on this question, we have had meetings and established the simple facts that the policy the residents would like to still be in place is no longer there and he feels that the Association can do no more on this.

ACCOUNTS TO DATE
The current balance is £30,201. Copies are available should anyone wish to see the details.
In this amount is the expenditure on the Magazine which was £2,449 which was for this colour edition.
RA reported that there was an additional £1500 of advertising in this Autumn Magazine, and he hopes to maintain this in the Spring edition. He passed around a copy of the magazine and pointed out that he and John Gunton had negotiated a price for the printing of this colour edition at no extra cost to that we paid previously for the black and white edition.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS
TS reported on the Community Working Group (CWG). Wearing his CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) hat TS asked a number of questions. He said that as a borough we are facing a serious housing problem. The borough needs to build a further 14000 homes, and in TS’s opinion there is just not the room. In order to meet this requirement of 14000 homes the Council

Wish to build higher in the centre of Poole to create a greater density of homes and build a further 5000 homes on our green belt. Government policy is not to build on the green belt and if the Council wishes to do so they must show exceptional circumstances why this policy must be breached.

He feels that the Council’s Core Strategy which says buildings in the centre of Poole along the river should be no higher than six storeys is being ignored. It appears that the Core Strategy is being pushed aside.

There are intentions to build a town of 2500 home at Canford Magna. This would be a breach of the Green Belt conditions.

JS commented that the LPA (Local Planning Authority) have had very little time in which to produce these plans, and if we don’t produce a plan that is acceptable to the Planning Inspectorate Poole will have no say in what is built here. TS agrees with this but says that there must be the support of the local people that the green belt is built on. BR said that Stephen Thorne had told him that the Council had to look at where they could possibly build something, and when Canford Magna Golf Club closed and land is available for building, the Council have to look at this and show the Government that this has been considered. There could then be many reasons that building does not take place here and if it does not, the green belt here is even more protected as it would not be considered for building again.
RA feels that the design of the building is of extreme importance, whether it is 4, 6 or 8 storeys high.
A borough can either be expanding or contracting. Poole must remain attractive to new ventures by expanding, not trying to stop things. TS pointed out that CPRE is not trying to stop things, but modify them to fit in with local and Government policy.
BR pointed out that the number of new homes has been forced onto Poole Council and they must show where it is possible to build. If the green belt is not to be touched, there appears to be only one other place, and buildings must be higher. Roy Pointer said that brownfield sites must be considered as presently they are not. TS feels that the problems with housing all across the country is partly caused by developers refusing to build on brownfield sites.
William Mutlow pointed out that Poole has no register of the number of sites that have planning permission in perpetuity that are sitting empty. RA asked that William e mail him examples of these as he does not believe planning permission can be given ‘in perpetuity’ but expire in three years.

Roy Pointer told the meeting that we are now owners of a projection screen. CP asked if we had insurance for this and Roy said that it was ’work in progress’.

Wayne Hancock asked if the Association could contribute a small sum – say £100 – towards an evening out to which Wayne would like to treat his volunteers at Pinecliff Gardens, to thank them for all their hard work over the years. The garden was recently awarded ‘Outstanding’ by the RHS.

RA said that this needed to be discussed by the committee even though a majority of the committee members present at the meeting agreed. RA asked WH how many volunteers he had.

He replied that it would be about 10 or 12, and RA asked if the names of the volunteers could be given to the committee.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The next meeting will be on Wednesday November 9, 2016, at 7.30pm in the lounge at St. Aldhem’s Parish Centre.

The meeting closed at 8.45pm.

To learn more about the Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs and District Residents Association please see the pines and chines site http://www.pinesandchines.co.uk

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

Branksome Park Canford Cliffs & District Residents’ Association Minutes September

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Minutes of the monthly meeting held on Wednesday 14th September 2016 at 19.30

Present Bob Reid (BR) Chairman
Terry Stewart (TS) President

Tracy Holmes(TH) Planning Officer for Branksome Park
Cllr Mohan Iyengar(MI) Ward Counsillor
18 wardens and members.

Welcome and Apologies
Roger Vice-Chairman, and Zofia Allen, Carol (CP)and Mike Parkin Secretary and Membership Secretary, John Gunton magazine editor, Paul Fearnley Treasurer, and members Vivienne Evans, Dawn Goodson, Christine Norman, John Cribb and Sarah Holt.
Cllr May Haines (MH) Ward Councillor

BR thanked Julie Reid for helping to make notes for the minutes of the meeting, in the absence of CP
2 Minutes of meeting 13th July 2016
These had been circulated and a few were available at meeting for new members or reference.
3 Matters arising
William Mutlow (WM) pointed out that his comments had not been included in the minutes regarding Julian Osgathorpe as the Executive Director for Corporate Services for Bournemouth Borough Council and the Borough of Pooel.
Submitted by John Sprackling (JS) with reference to item 7. We are still waiting to learn the official outcome of the Licensing Sub Committee on 26 July 2016.

MI Agreed they should be online by now and explained that the confidential element would probably be due to requirements of the Legal Department.
BR pointed out that Martin Heath (MRH) has had a letter confirming that the Licence was granted with an end time of 11pm rather than 1am and restrictions on noise levels. Copies of the letter were available.
BR pointed out that the membership forms, separate from the magazine are already available and comply with ICO data protection requirements. BR also announced that following from the June meeting when questions were asked about the four empty shops in Canford Cliffs. There has been a development in that Mandy Payne, Economic Development Officer at Borough of Poole came to a meeting with JS, BR and George Perrins of the Land Society and discussed ways in which the appearance of the shops could be improved

Various options were discussed and it is hoped some progress can be made. She hopes to set up a Traders Collective.
MI filled us in with the information that he has been talking to Mandy about this and she has great experience in the field business promotion professionally, He did advise caution as the four shops pay full business rates and there will be legal restrictions on what can be done. The shops are family owned and their accountant baulked at spending £2000 on improving them.
On completing the matters arising TS proposed accepting the minutes and JS seconded.
4 On Road Parking Charges, Update after the Cabinet meeting.
BR informed that the Steering Group had been meeting regularly and is awaiting to hear when the Poole Cabinet will next consider the proposal. Cllr May Haines had indicated that it probably would not be at its October meeting.
We are carrying out preliminary work for a Judicial Review if necessary should the decision be to go ahead with the meters. And have started preliminary enquiries on legal advice to that end. Any such action would be referred to members for approval.
Roy Pointer(RP) reminded members that we have issued a newsletter, on our strategy and objections copies of which are available on the website. Following a number of unsatisfactory responses to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, RP had referred them to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for review. The latter had instructed Poole Council to provide better answers by 12th October. This £1/2 million project is claimed to ease congestion in Sandbanks area and to contribute to the 25 year Seafront Development Plan the only part of has been approved are some new beach huts.
RP explained that the public meeting in March and Poole Committee meetings had been filmed for a TV programme called “Parking Wars” to be screened on Tuesday next.
MI said that he could not add to what Janet Walton or MH have said and he said that Council would keep this proposal alive as it is their duty to consider all proposals that could raise money.
Martin Heath (MRH) said that Cabinet have never discussed congestion in detail and the project was simply about making money.
A member pointed out that the only congestion is on Sandbanks and most of the roads earmarked for meters are not congested
RP confirmed that when asked, the Council, admitted they had not recorded any complaints about congestion or the lack of parking.
A member said that living in Bingham Avenue for 15 years parking congestion had never reached their road.
Several members pointed out that you cannot legally use parking charges on roads simply to bring in funds.
Several other members spoke against the proposed scheme but no one spoke in favour.
A member said that the congestion at Sandbanks became worse after the Council took away the feeder lane to the car park.
He had also talked to the senior transport officer who told him that ‘people needed to change their attitude to the car and make more use the buses’ but all agreed that a family going to the beach would not do that, the buses are very infrequent and the “equipment” needed for a family day at the beach made the bus impractical.
5 Neighbourhood Watch
BR announced that Neighbourhood Watch had a coffee morning at Sandbanks Hotel last Friday 9th September and Pat Halliday invited us to take a table to promote what we do. BR, RP, JS attended and as a result we found some new residents who have now joined up. And we explained to others how we are opposing the parking scheme and other areas we help with. We work closely with N. W. as some of our concerns overlap e.g. Party Houses
BR also pointed that their Newsletter is available and has dates for future events.

6 New Council Options
BR said that the consultation for the amalgamation/reorganisation of councils started at the end of August and he outlined some of the options currently proposed and that there are “roadshow” drop in sessions, and the next one is outside Budgens in Broadstone on Friday. Also that the questionnaire and more information is online at BOP website.
Several members pointed out that the survey is available in local libraries and that only 20,000 have been posted out to individual homes.
BR pointed out that some of the cards giving the options were available provided by MH on Monday.
While the objective is to reduce costs and save money it was noted that over 70% of the budget is spent on child, and elderly services so savings by reducing some staff will not make a huge saving.
MRH said the financial basis on which the reorganisation is based has many flaws and does not show how the savings will be made unless you read the Local Partnerships’ Financial Analysis report which is difficult to follow.
Several members pointed out that there is little information available on which we are meant to make a decision.
A member was concerned that the financial planning was not properly done and that the planning and information available is very poor.
MRH pointed out that the Financial Analysis report shows that new Town Councils for Christchurch and Weymouth were being considered, but none for Poole and Bournemouth. It appears that existing Town and Parish Councils across Dorset are to remain. A member observed that if ceremonial Mayors were to be retained, then it would be necessary to have Town Councils.
A member queried whether there would be extra funding from the Government, but
MRH said that this has happened with the creation of Combined Authorities with elected Mayors and extra responsibilities, but was not applicable to the proposed Local Authority mergers.
BR mentioned the ORS firm doing the consultation, and MH pointed out that it is more market research than consultation.
A member noted that there had already been a consultation on a Combined Authority for Dorset.
Suggestions were made to combine the whole area as a unitary council but BR explained, and MI confirmed that the whole area would be too big.
MH discussed the funding around having Mayors.
TS clarified that there are two totally different exercises here. One is the merging of the nine councils into two Unitary Authorities, one urban and one rural. Separate from that there is the Dorset Authority which is linked in with the LEP. The LEP is the source of funding from Government but the LEP was being run my commercial managers with little democratic input so now they have made the leaders of the nine councils on the board and they have two responsibilities, one is transport for the whole county, and two the economic development for the whole county.
RP informed the meeting that on Monday MH had suggested the plan was to reduce staffing and other costs and save millions but that is unlikely to save very much.
BR suggested that MH, who had offered to talk to our committee could perhaps talk to our members at a meeting.
MRH was concerned that the harmonisation of council taxes was based on the assumption that Poole’s council taxpayers would be paying annual increases of 3.99% for the next 20 years, doubted the calculations and suggested that Poole residents will be paying an extra 3.99% for the next 20 years.
WM had also said that it would fall to the Tax payers to make up any shortfall.
The general feeling expressed by several members was that we had insufficient evidence on which to make a judgement so the consultation is largely irrelevant.
John Sprackling (JS) suggested we may need a public meeting to be more informed.
7 Planning issues
Report from Tracy Holmes was read out by BR

1 Beaumont Road, Poole, BH13 7JJ
Application: Demolition of the existing building and construction of three detached houses with associated parking and access (revised scheme)
9 Elmstead Road
Application: demolish existing dwelling and erect two new dwellings. Grant subject to conditions
The Gatehouse, 6 Tower Road West, Poole, BH13 6LA
Application: Use of The Gatehouse as a self-contained and non-ancillary unit of accommodation
33 Cliff Drive, Poole
Planning Committee : Grant with conditions installation of flue stack
5-7 Chaddesley Glen

Application for flats ongoing
14 Chester Road
Application for side extension: Appeal lodged
30 Tower Road
Application for 12 flats: Ongoing
15 b Bury Rd
Tree work application: Hearing today
HMO at 14 Pinewood
Following from my correspondence with Stephen Thorne, he has made an appointment to see BR.
2 Martello Park the original approved plan has been modified to raise the height by what appears to be 1 metre. Looking into this.BR

8 Residents parking scheme
BR informed the meeting that Roger Allen had contacted Steve Dean (SD) regarding the parking problem at Ormonde, Chester roads and that area.
BR referred to SD’s reply, thanking Roger for his introduction and said that POB council would want a positive and constructive relationship with the Residents Association and that he would pass the email to our ward councillors and to the Portfolio Holder for Transportation Drew Mellor
BR read out the final line of the email “I’ll look into the background of the situation and get back to you.
Mike Wrigley (MW) introduced Himself and Fanchea Clarke who live in Chester Road heard about us from Neil Denning and told the meeting that the problem of parking in Chester Road has increased dramatically over the last 4 years.
He further told members that since Zone K was implemented there has been no survey of the present situation and when contacting the Council they feel fobbed off. Every 6 months it goes round in circles.
MI pointed out that he has met with Neil and Mike and filled in the background.
Originally Chester Road residents did not want to join the scheme and forest road had Yellow lines painted.
MW responded that time has moved on and LV employees, and the Nursing Home staff are causing congestion now.
MI explained that in the current climate this is a very minor issue which Officers are not likely to reconsider the original decision.
BR suggested LV run a Park and Ride from the underused Beach Road carpark.
Julie Reid explained that from her daily commute, the current LV park and ride goes through the narrow railway bridge and causes congestion to which MI said without it the on road parking would be much worse.
BR also added that since the item of parking had appeared on the Agenda there has been a huge number of emails regarding this and where yellow lines should and should not be.

9 Accounts
BR said the balance on the accounts is still healthy at £30457.78 and members could take a copy of the details if they wished.

AOB
JS had brought to the Chairman’s attention that at the March Cabinet Meeting it was announced that Members were keen to ensure that work was started on the process of developing a commercial approach to the use of Council Assets as soon as possible.
At last weeks Cabinet meeting, we learnt that (a) the tender process had now been concluded and the Project will be moving forward with Deloitte as the council advisors and (b) Officers have produced an issue log- which enables specific actions agreed by the group to be progressed and reported back to the Regeneration Working Group.
The tender document included the “Poole Town Centre” and Sustaining Poole’s Seafront Supplementary Planning Documents. Are we permitted to know what Council-owned assets in Canford Cliffs Ward appear on the Council’s issue log.
JS explained that not all the Council properties are listed in the issue log. The question is what Assets in the Canford Cliff Ward are included.
MRH was concerned that items that had been ruled out for development in the SPD might come back in for consideration.

Terry Stewart (president) then briefed the members on The Draft Local Plan for Poole, put out for consultation. In this there has been an increase in the number of houses to be built, 11000 or 12000 houses and the whole conurbation would be 30000 houses which if you calculate is over 40000 cars in the borough. This seems over-development in an area bounded on the south and west by the sea and Bournemouth to the east, with protected heathland to the north.
So this will result in 12 stoery towers along the river. Higher density for many areas and encroaching onto Green Belt land such as at Canford Magna, and there is a campaign group to prevent this happening on green belt. TS thinks that 450 houses a year would be more realistic and not the 710 suggested by central government.
He went on to explain the problem of the brown field sites which developers find too uneconomic to build on so they lie derelict. He suggested the Developers have us “over a barrel” as there are over a million sites countrywide with planning permission but no developer will take them on.
We will circulate the details of the campaign to protect Poole’s green belt to those interested.

Meeting closed at 8.45, The next meeting will be on 12th October 2016

To learn more about the Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs and District Residents Association please see the pines and chines site http://www.pinesandchines.co.uk

Branksome Park, Canford Cliffs & District Residents’ Association Minutes Sept 2016

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Minutes of the monthly meeting held on Wednesday 14th September 2016 at 19.30

 

Present             Bob Reid (BR)                         Chairman

Terry Stewart (TS)                   President

Tracy Holmes(TH)                   Planning Officer for Branksome Park

 

Cllr Mohan Iyengar(MI)          Ward Counsellor

 

18 wardens and members.

 

Welcome and Apologies

Roger Vice-Chairman, and Zofia Allen, Carol (CP)and Mike Parkin Secretary and Membership Secretary, John Gunton magazine editor, Paul Fernley Treasurer, and members Vivienne Evans, Dawn Goodson, Christine Norman, John Cribb and Sarah Holt.

Cllr May Haines (MH) Ward Councillor

BR thanked Julie Reid for helping to make notes for the minutes of the meeting, in the absence of CP

 

2 Minutes of meeting 13th July 2016

These had been circulated and a few were available at meeting for new members or reference.

3 Matters arising

William Mutlow (WM) pointed out that his comments had not been included in the minutes regarding Julian Osgathorpe as the Executive Director for Corporate Services for Bournemouth Borough Council and the Borough of Pool.

 

Submitted by John Sprackling (JS) with reference to item 7. We are still waiting to learn the official outcome of the Licencing Sub Committee on26 July 2016.

MI Agreed they should be online by now and explained that the confidential element would probably be due to requirements of the Legal Department.

BR pointed out that Martin Heath (MRH) has had a letter confirming that the Licence was granted with an end time of 11pm rather than 1am and restrictions on noise levels. Copies of the letter were available.

 

BR pointed out that the membership forms, separate from the magazine are already available and comply with ICO data protection requirements.

 

BR also announced that following from the June meeting when questions were asked about the four empty shops in Canford Cliffs. There has been a development in that Mandy Payne, Economic Development Officer at Borough of Poole came to a meeting with JS, BR and George Perrins of the Land Society and discussed ways in which the appearance of the shops could be improved.

Various options were discussed and it is hoped some progress can be made.

She hopes to set up a Traders Collective.

MI filled us in with the information that he has been talking to Mandy about this and she has great experience in the field business promotion professionally, He did advise caution as the four shops pay full business rates and there will be legal restrictions on what can be done. The shops are family owned and their accountant baulked at spending £2000 on improving them.

 

On completing the matters arising TS proposed accepting the minutes and JS seconded.

 

4 On Road Parking Charges, Update after the Cabinet meeting.

BR informed that the Steering Group had been meeting regularly and is awaiting to hear when the Poole Cabinet will next consider the proposal. Cllr May Haines had indicated that it probably would not be at its October meeting.

We are carrying out preliminary work for a Judicial Review if necessary should the decision be to go ahead with the meters. And have started preliminary enquiries on legal advice to that end. Any such action would be referred to members for approval.

Roy Pointer(RP) reminded members that we have issued a newsletter, on our strategy and objections copies of which are available on the website. Following a number of unsatisfactory responses to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, RP had referred them to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for review. The latter had instructed Poole Council to provide better answers by 12th October. This £1/2 million project is claimed to ease congestion in Sandbanks area and to contribute to the 25 year Seafront Development Plan the only part of has been approved are some new beach huts.

RP explained that the public meeting in March and Poole Committee meetings had been filmed for a TV programme called “Parking Wars” to be screened on Tuesday next.

MI said that he could not add to what Janet Walton or MH have said and he said that Council would keep this proposal alive as it is their duty to consider all proposals that could raise money.

Martin Heath (MRH) said that Cabinet have never discussed congestion in detail and the project was simply about making money.

A member pointed out that the only congestion is on Sandbanks and most of the roads earmarked for meters are not congested

RP confirmed that when asked, the Council, admitted they had not recorded any complaints about congestion or the lack of parking.

A member said that living in Bingham Avenue for 15 years parking congestion had never reached their road.

Several members pointed out that you cannot legally use parking charges on roads simply to bring in funds.

Several other members spoke against the proposed scheme but no one spoke in favour.

A member said that the congestion at Sandbanks became worse after the Council took away the feeder lane to the car park.

He had also talked to the senior transport officer who told him that ‘people needed to change their attitude to the car and make more use the buses’ but all agreed that a family going to the beach would not do that, the buses are very infrequent and the “equipment” needed for a family day at the beach made the bus impractical.

5 Neighbourhood Watch  

 

BR announced that Neighbourhood Watch had a coffee morning at Sandbanks Hotel last Friday 9th September and Pat Halliday invited us to take a table to promote what we do. BR, RP, JS attended and as a result we found some new residents who have now joined up. And we explained to others how we are opposing the parking scheme and other areas we help with. We work closely with N. W. as some of our concerns overlap e.g. Party Houses

BR also pointed that their Newsletter is available and has dates for future events.

 

6 New Council Options

BR said that the consultation for the amalgamation/reorganisation of councils started at the end of August and he outlined some of the options currently proposed and that there are “roadshow” drop in sessions, and the next one is outside Budgens in Broadstone on Friday. Also that the questionnaire and more information is online at BOP website.

Several members pointed out that the survey is available in local libraries and that only 20,000 have been posted out to individual homes.

BR pointed out that some of the cards giving the options were available provided by MH on Monday.

While the objective is to reduce costs and save money it was noted that over 70% of the budget is spent on child, and elderly services so savings by reducing some staff will not make a huge saving.

MRH said the financial basis on which the reorganisation is based has many flaws and does not show how the savings will be made unless you read the Local Partnerships’ Financial Analysis report which is difficult to follow.

Several members pointed out that there is little information available on which we are meant to make a decision.

A member was concerned that the financial planning was not properly done and that the planning and information available is very poor.

MRH pointed out that the Financial Analysis report shows that new Town Councils

for Christchurch and Weymouth were being considered, but none for Poole and

Bournemouth. It appears that existing Town and Parish Councils across Dorset are to

remain. A member observed that if ceremonial Mayors were to be retained, then it

would be necessary to have Town Councils.

A member queried whether there would be extra funding from the Government, but

MRH said that this has happened with the creation of Combined Authorities with

elected Mayors and extra responsibilities, but was not applicable to the proposed

Local Authority mergers.

BR mentioned the ORS firm doing the consultation, and MH pointed out that it is more market research than consultation.

A member noted that there had already been a consultation on a combined

authority for Dorset.

Suggestions were made to combine the whole area as a unitary council but BR explained, and MI confirmed that the whole area would be too big.

MH discussed the funding around having Mayors.

TS clarified that there are two totally different exercises here. One is the merging of the nine councils into two Unitary Authorities, one urban and one rural. Separate from that there is the Dorset Authority which is linked in with the LEP. The LEP is the source of funding from Government but the LEP was being run my commercial managers with little democratic input so now they have made the leaders of the nine councils on the board and they have two responsibilities, one is transport for the whole county, and two the economic development for the whole county.

RP informed the meeting that on Monday MH had suggested the plan was to reduce staffing and other costs and save millions but that is unlikely to save very much.

BR suggested that MH, who had offered to talk to our committee could perhaps talk to our members at a meeting.

MRH was concerned that the harmonisation of council taxes was based on the assumption that Poole’s council taxpayers would be paying annual increases of 3.99% for the next 20 years, doubted the calculations and suggested that Poole residents will be paying an extra 3.99% for the next 20 years.

WM had also said that it would fall to the Tax payers to make up any shortfall.

The general feeling expressed by several members was that we had insufficient evidence on which to make a judgement so the consultation is largely irrelevant.

John Sprackling (JS) suggested we may need a public meeting to be more informed.

 

 

7 Planning issues  

Report from Tracy Holmes was read out by BR
1 Beaumont Road, Poole, BH13 7JJ

Application: Demolition of the existing building and construction of three detached houses with associated parking and access (revised scheme)

 

9 Elmstead Road

Application: demolish existing dwelling and erect two new dwellings. Grant subject to conditions

 

The Gatehouse, 6 Tower Road West, Poole, BH13 6LA

Application: Use of The Gatehouse as a self-contained and non-ancillary unit of accommodation

 

33 Cliff Drive, Poole

Planning Committee : Grant with conditions installation of flue stack

 

5-7 Chaddesley Glen

Application for flats ongoing

 

14 Chester Road

Application for side extension: Appeal lodged

 

30 Tower Road

Application for 12 flats: Ongoing

 

15 b Bury Rd

Tree work application: Hearing today

 

HMO at 14 Pinewood

Following from my correspondence with Stephen Thorne, he has made an appointment to see BR.

 

2 Martello Park the original approved plan has been modified to raise the height by what appears to be 1 metre. Looking into this.BR

 

 

8 Residents parking scheme

 

BR informed the meeting that Roger Allen had contacted Stephen Dean (SD) regarding the parking problem at Ormonde, Chester roads and that area.

BR referred to SD’s reply, thanking Roger for his introduction and said that POB council would want a positive and constructive relationship with the Residents Association and that he would pass the email to our ward councillors and to the Portfolio Holder for Transportation Drew Mellor

BR read out the final line of the email “I’ll look into the background of the situation and get back to you.”

Mike Wriggley (MW) introduced Himself and Fanchea Clarke who live in Chester Road heard about us from Neil Denning and told the meeting that the problem of parking in Chester Road has increased dramatically over the last 4 years.

He further told members that since Zone K was implemented there has been no survey of the present situation and when contacting the Council they feel fobbed off. Every 6 months it goes round in circles.

MI pointed out that he has met with Neil and Mike and filled in the background.

Originally Chester Road residents did not want to join the scheme and forest road had Yellow lines painted.

MW responded that time has moved on and LV employees, and the Nursing Home staff are causing congestion now.

MI explained that in the current climate this is a very minor issue which Officers are not likely to reconsider the original decision.

BR suggested LV run a Park and Ride from the underused Beach Road carpark.

Julie Reid explained that from her daily commute, the current LV park and ride goes through the narrow railway bridge and causes congestion to which MI said without it the on road parking would be much worse.

BR also added that since the item of parking had appeared on the Agenda there has been a huge number of emails regarding this and where yellow lines should and should not be.

 

9 Accounts

BR said the balance on the accounts is still healthy at £30457.78 and members could take a copy of the details if they wished.

 

AOB

JS had brought to the Chairman’s attention that at the March Cabinet Meeting it was announced that Members were keen to ensure that work was started on the process of developing a commercial approach to the use of Council Assets as soon as possible.

At last weeks Cabinet meeting, we learnt that (a) the tender process had now been concluded and the Project will be moving forward with Deloitte as the council advisors and (b) Officers have produced an issue log- which enables specific actions agreed by the group to be progressed and reported back to the Regeneration Working Group.

The tender document included the “Poole Town Centre” and Sustaining Poole’s Seafront Supplementary Planning Documents. Are we permitted to know what Council-owned assets in Canford Cliffs Ward appear on the Council’s issue log.

JS explained that not all the Council properties are listed in the issue log. The question is what Assets in the Canford Cliff Ward are included.

MRH was concerned that items that had been ruled out for development in the SPD might come back in for consideration.

 

Terry Stewart (president) then briefed the members on The Draft Local Plan for Poole, put out for consultation. In this there has been an increase in the number of houses to be built, 11000 or 12000 houses and the whole conurbation would be 30000 houses which if you calculate is over 40000 cars in the borough. This seems over-development in an area bounded on the south and west by the sea and Bournemouth to the east, with protected heathland to the north.

So this will result in 12 story towers along the river. Higher density for many areas and encroaching onto Green Belt land such as at Canford Magna, and there is a campaign group to prevent this happening on green belt. TS thinks that 450 houses a year would be more realistic and not the 710 suggested by central government.

He went on to explain the problem of the brown field sites which developers find too uneconomic to build on so they lie derelict. He suggested the Developers have us “over a barrel” as there are over a million sites countrywide with planning permission but no developer will take them on.

We will circulate the details of the campaign to protect Poole’s green belt to those interested.

 

 

Meeting closed at 8.45, The next meeting will be on 12th October 2016