BOROUGH OF POOLE
HAMWORTHY EAST AND WEST AND POOLE TOWN AREA COMMITTEE
26 NOVEMBER 2014
The Meeting commenced at 7.00pm and concluded at 8.12pm.
Present
Councillor Chandler (Chairman)
Councillors Howell, Mrs Parkinson, White and Mrs C Wilson
Also in attendance
Gemma Wilton, Recreation Development Officer
Members of the Public in attendance: 40
HEW20.14 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Evans and Wilkins.
HEW21.14 DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST(S)
There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest.
HEW22.14 MINUTES
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting of the Hamworthy East and West and Poole Town Area Committee held on 17 September 2014, having been previously circulated, be taken as read and confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the following amendment to Item 4 – High Street Level Crossing:
On page 4, the first bullet point was Minuted under HEW14.14 as: “A Member suggested that painting lines and arrows on the High Street would not work as people would ignore them. Based on evidence from elsewhere, however, ‘Keep Left’ signs were more likely to work”.
Delete the second sentence and instead insert as follows: “Based on evidence from elsewhere, however, it would be more effective to place ‘Keep Left’ signs at the bottom of either side of the Footbridge ”.
Matters Arising
The Democratic Support Officer read out the following questions raised at the last Meeting of the Area Committee and the responses from Council officers accordingly:
1. Archery Enclosure at Hamworthy Outdoor Education Centre (HOEC)
A resident was concerned about orange wire mesh at HOEC which not only prevented members of the public getting access at the point, but also created an enclosure where archery took place. This was an issue regarding public safety.
Response from Jan Hill, Culture and Community:
“Many sports played on public open space carry risks and these need careful management by appropriately qualified activity leaders. Harbour Challenge are experienced operators who manage public safety during archery sessions, which are very popular with local schools and groups, by occasionally marking out a small area within their designated activity zone to ensure the safety of other park users.The Council is satisfied that archery and other land or water based activities, are run in accordance with the safety standards of the Adventurous Activities Licencing Authority (AALA) and that Harbour Challenge follow good safety management practices”.
2. DDA Compliance of the Community Toilet Scheme in Hamworthy
A resident was adamant that the implementation of the Community Toilet Scheme in Hamworthy was not DDA compliant and that she had this confirmed by a disability rights campaign group. In that respect, the Council had failed to provide a duty of care to disabled people.
Response from Ian Poultney, Environmental and Consumer Protection Services:
“I can confirm that the same process was followed at Hamworthy as with all the other toilet closures. An EQIA was completed ahead of making proposals to elected Members (at EOS) and was reviewed prior to the actual closing of the facility once participating community providers had been identified”.
Response from Tim Martin, Head of Democratic and Legal Services:
“I suggest that it is explained that an EQIA was carried out on the scheme itself and full consideration was given to the like provision of disabled toilets under the community toilet scheme as it is being implemented. Therefore, the Council does not consider that there has been any breach in its legal duty under the Equalities Act legislation”.
3. Turlin Moor bird screen site
A resident commented that while out walking on the nature reserve at Turlin Moor recently, he noticed a bulldozer digging up large amounts of earth. He understood the work was instigated by the Council and wanted to know why there had been no consultation with local residents? Surely it undermined the Council’s commitment to biodiversity?
Response from Shaun Robson, Head of Environmental and Consumer Protection Services:
“The recent work carried out at Turlin Moor nature reserve was part of annual planned maintenance work to maintain the site for nature and to encourage access by the public to watch wildlife. There has been no change to the nature reserve and earth has not been moved.
The bird screen at the site has been virtually redundant for many years. The view that it once had across the bay had gone due to a growth of the reed bed in front of it.
Although some bird life would have been visible in the reed bed it was minimal and the original purpose of the screen was to enable a view of the bird life in the bay (waders and wildfowl in big numbers). The work was therefore carried out to recreate this view and in doing so it will hopefully enable more people to connect with nature and get further enjoyment from this nature reserve.
The work was done after the reed bed birds, such as Reed Warbler, had finished nesting and therefore the work had no detrimental effect on any of the bird species present in the area at the time. The works were small scale and plenty of suitable habitat remains in the vicinity.
Lytchett Bay is very rich in its bird life and we are fortunate to have such a site so proximate to Poole. Work needs to be undertaken to maintain biodiversity and access and the Council takes all works on this and other reserves seriously. We would not undertake anything that would damage bio-diversity or alter public access without consultation”.
4. Question from Ann Smeaton, Friends of Hamworthy Park, emailed to the Borough of Poole in anticipation of Meeting of the Area Committee
“At the Friends of Hamworthy Park meeting held on 21 October 2014, the matter of the lack of the promised bridge from Harbour Reach into the Park was raised.
It is understood that it was necessary for the tender process to be repeated following the realisation that DB Shenker was the leaseholder of the rail track in this vicinity. This process should now be complete.
Please could an update on the situation be presented at the Area Committee of 26 November 2014”?
Response from John Rice, Transportation
“The project is proceeding as outlined in the report to the committee in July. The tender documents for the Hamworthy Park Rail Crossing have been issued and the closing date for tenders to be submitted to the Council is 28 November. We have received a few questions from some of the tenderers seeking clarification of various details, which is normal for a project of this nature. We will assess tenders (price/quality submissions plus any alternatives) and subject to price make a recommendation to accept a tender before Christmas. There isn’t really anything else we can say at this stage”.
HEW23.14 POOLE CYCLE SPEEDWAY CLUB IMPROVEMENTS
The Recreation Development Officer introduced the Report to explain the proposal to allocate funding for essential works required at Poole Cycle Speedway Club (PCSC). The Officer invited Graham Sutton, Chairman of PCSC, to speak on its behalf.
The key issues were highlighted as follows:
· Member support was sought for the allocation of £10,350 from the Casual Play and Amenity Open Space, Poole Town Ward Planning Obligations Fund to help cover the cost of essential improvements for the Club track and facilities as per 3.8 in the Report.
· The total cost of the improvements was estimated to be £21,850. PCSC would contribute £11,500 and the Council was requested to fund the shortfall.
· The Club has existed for 40 years and among its funding sources to date were the Borough of Poole, Sport England and the National Lottery. It was one of 4 national facilities of its kind and classified by British Cycling as Grade A1.
· The sport and the Club were popular with children and young people of both genders. Events were held there regularly, which parents and adults attended as spectators.
· A crucial factor underlying the request for Borough funding was because PCSC had successfully bid to stage the World Team Cup in August 2015. The track and facilities needed improvement to ensure that the Club would be permitted to host the Event.
The following issues were raised:
· With regard to the proposal to upgrade to LED lighting, a resident referred to a suggestion by another Local Authority that it was not necessarily reliable. This could therefore create a possible danger to contestants.
The Officer pledged to seek further expert advice in response to this concern.
· A Member enquired with regard to parking availability at the Club?
Graham Sutton responded that agreement had been reached with the Council in order to ensure that sufficient parking space was available to the Club.
· A Member wondered if the Council could market the Event effectively?
Graham Sutton responded that any promotional campaign could emphasise the Club’s long experience of staging cycling events and its good working relationship with the Council.
· A resident queried whether the Club would be required to pay back the funding?
The Officer explained that the funding was a grant and therefore not repayable.
· What was the seating capacity at the PCSC?
Graham Sutton answered that it that it was around 500 – 600.
RECOMMENDED that Planning Obligations (Recreational Contributions) Sub Group
Approve the allocation of a budget of £10,350 from the Casual Play and Amenity Open Space, Poole Town Ward Planning Obligations Fund to support the Project.
Voting: For – Unanimous
HEW24.14 OPEN FORUM
The Chairman invited Bill Constance from Poole Quays Forum (PQF) to provide an Update. Copies of its Report were made available at the Meeting.
The key issues were highlighted as follows:
· The area covered by the PQF was as indicated within the red line and included the major regeneration sites within Poole Town and Hamworthy East.
· The PQF had been in existence for 2 years and held a mailing list of over 170 contacts of local residents, Councillors and local businesses, which included Lush, Sunseeker and RNLI.
· In order to become a member of the PQF, applicants were required to live or work within the area indicated by the red line.
· The PQF’s Draft Plan involved 6 themes: Open Space and Public Realm, Access and Movement, Poole Quay, Hamworthy Centre, Poole High Street and Implementation and Partnership Working.
· PQF aimed to make the Poole Quays area more attractive to investment and business; to enhance it as a pleasant location to live in, work in and to visit.
· The next step was to communicate the Draft Plan to as many people as possible. To this effect, the PQF would hold an exhibition at a shop in Poole High Street in February. Before then, the PQF would hold its next meeting at St James Church Hall, Poole on the 21 January 2015.
The following issues were raised:
· A resident raised the following concerns concerning the PQF: Firstly, none of the present community groups were approached when it was set up. Secondly, the red line in the Report appeared to be about twice the area size compared to what it was at the outset. There needed to be other such forums in the Borough rather than one that covered such a large area..
In response to the first point, Bill Constance commented that Hamworthy groups were approached when the PQF started. With regard to the second point, while appreciating that there may have been some early confusion, he was adamant that the red line had not changed since the outset and was as agreed with the Borough of Poole.
· A Member commented that the work PQF had been doing was pioneering and there was a proper mechanism in place in the Council to help if other groups wished to set up similar forums.
RESOLVED that the presentation be noted.
Other issues were raised as follows:
· A resident was concerned about the safety of the pavement where road-works were taking place at the old Pilkington factory site.
A Member responded that she had discussed this issue with Planning Officers who intended to carry out a site inspection and would raise such concerns with the developers.
· A resident queried the costings for works scheduled for the public toilets adjacent to the Co-op in Blandford Road, Hamworthy and suggested that they could have been done for less.
A Member agreed that the figures appeared high but suggested that the facts would need to be carefully checked before reaching such a conclusion.
· A resident commented that he had tried to obtain precise information regarding the proposed Hamworthy Footbridge for the last 6 years. He was now seeking details regarding the forthcoming construction of the Bridge.
The Chairman explained that the processes relating to the Hamworthy Footbridge would be subject to scrutiny at the next Meeting of the Council Efficiency and Effectiveness Overview and Scrutiny Committee in January, a meeting held in public.
· A resident was concerned that because there was no actual open space at Harbour Reach, it was difficult for adults to know on which patches of ground their children could play, particularly as some were secured with combination padlocks.