BOROUGH OF POOLE
BROADSTONE, MERLEY AND BEARWOOD AREA COMMITTEE
31 OCTOBER 2007
The Meeting commenced at 7.00pm and concluded at 9.05pm
Members of the Committee present:
CouncillorBrooke (Chairman)
CouncillorsBrown, Mrs Long, Maiden, Martin and Mason
Members of the public in attendance: 30
BMB11.07APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mason.
BMB12.07DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillors Brooke and Mrs Long declared personal interests in Item BMB16.07 as Members of the Transportation Advisory Group.
Councillor Maiden declared a personal interest in Item BMB15.07 as a Member of the Polling Places and Polling Districts Working Group.
BMB13.07MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 July 2007 were submitted for approval.
M.BMB9.07 (viii), Safer Neighbourhoods – second paragraph, delete “Police community support” and replace with “Beat”. Delete “Kelly” and replace with “Karen”. Delete “second” and replace with “only”.
M.BMB10.07, Open Forum, second paragraph, delete “national” and replace with “natural”.
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 July 2007, as amended, be approved and signed as a true record.
MATTERS ARISING
(i)Telecommunications Masts Roll-out Procedures
The Chairman stated that, as referred to at the last Meeting, this matter was due to be considered by the Service Provision Scrutiny and Audit Committee at its meeting on 13 September 2007. However, at this Meeting it was decided that this would be better dealt with by one of the Council’s Overview Groups and was now being taken forward on this basis.
(ii)Mobile Library
Councillor Brown advised that the new mobile library service was currently calling at Dukes Drive, Barons Road and the Bearwood Community Centre and he would shortly be meeting with the Service Providers regarding the future provision of the service.
(iii)Chemist – Bearwood
Councillor Brown advised that currently, this was not now being progressed by the Lloyds Pharmacy Group and whilst nothing would be decided in the short term, there were other possibilities being looked at.
(iv)REMPLOY
Councillor Brooke advised the Committee that a further Motion was presented to last night’s full Council regarding Remploy. He stated that Remploy management had now agreed to close less factory outlets, however, 15 factories were still “in threat” one of which was Poole, therefore, support was still required in order to secure the retention of this valuable asset.
(v)Play facilities, Bearwood
In relation to the issue raised at the last meeting by Mrs Taylor regarding a petition she had submitted to full Council some six years ago regarding the provision of play facilities in Bearwood, Councillor Brown advised that the Planning Obligations Sub-Group at its meeting tomorrow would be considering the possible allocation of £10,000 towards play facilities in Charter Road.
(vi)Footpath No. 5
Councillor Brooke advised that there were some minor issues still unresolved and it was hoped that these could be addressed in the not too distant future. He added that an additional works application was also expected from the Golf Club.
(vii)Broadstone Hotel
Councillor Brooke advised that the Planning Committee at its meeting on 18th October 2007 approved this application. He advised that the restoration / refurbishment of the pub side would commence shortly and added that the name of the establishment would be in keeping and keep links to the old railway. It was also anticipated that improvements to Station Approach could also be achieved via the Planning Obligations Funding available from this development, to include a raised walkway.
Councillor Brooke stated that as Mr Gibbons was not present this evening, he would reply to him direct regarding his concerns regarding weeds which was raised at the last meeting of this Committee.
In conclusion, Councillor Brooke advised residents that a briefing paper had been circulated which explained the distribution of the Council’s “Poole News” publication which had been raised at the last meeting.
BMB14.07BUDGET AND COUNCIL TAX 2008/9
The Chairman welcomed Councillor Leverett, Leader of the Council, to the Meeting and invited him to give his presentation.
Councillor Leverett explained that, as part of the Council’s consultation process on the Budget and Council Tax setting, he was attending each Area Committee to explain how the budget was formulated and to make residents aware of the pressures which would be faced by the Council next year.
He explained that this year’s Comprehensive Spending Review would affect all residents and the Local Government Association had intimated that this year’s settlement would be the worst for 10 years. The Council had, at the present time, to second guess how much money it would receive as the final decision on the Settlement would not be known for at least another month. He stated that good foundations had been laid for the future but currently only 27% of Poole’s net budget was funded by Government compared to the National average of 52%. This was grossly unfair and that was the reason why the Council had been fighting for fairer funding. Furthermore, other factors had to be taken account of, such as:-
- the demographic impact and above inflation costs affecting Social Services
- Landfill and LATS penalties impacting on waste
- National Concessionary Fares Scheme
- Business as usual, e.g., Equal Pay, Annual Pay Award etc.
It was vital to recognise that financial stability was an important element of maintaining and improving service performance and that Council tax needed to be set at a reasonable level in terms of both the level of services received by residents and the amount of tax Council taxpayers were asked to pay. The Medium Term Financial Plan indicated Council tax rises of 5% may be necessary without greater increases in Government funding. He then outlined the Medium Term Financial Plan 2008/9 and the increased budget demand for:-
- Social Services - £627,000
- Concessionary Fares (current year and inflation) - £497,000
- Waste £248,000
Total £1.372Million
Increased income would achieve £1,390M offset against major growth items in 2008/09 in respect of :-
(a) * Pay and prices
(b) * Elderly (Social Services)
(c)* Waste
These factors gave a revised additional budget requirement of £6,216,000 in 2008/09 with a funding gap of £2,478,000. He advised that there would be similar demands in future years and uncertainties such as:-
(d)Equal Pay per annum
(e)National Concessionary Fares Scheme
(f)Special Needs Children – DSG
He finally outlined the ambitious programme of the Council to deliver major projects such as:-
(g)Full Sail Ahead
(h)Schools for the Future
(i)Fourways
(j)Town Centre North
(k)ICT
(l)Maintenance (“Pride in Poole”)
(m)Transport
(n)Affordable Housing
(o)MRF & Hatchpond
The Chairman thanked Councillor Leverett for his Presentation and then asked if any members of the public present had any questions and the Leader answered general questions and further explained his presentation in response to points raised by those present at the Meeting.
The Chairman thanked everyone present for their input.
BMB15.07REVIEW OF POLLING PLACES, POLLING DISTRICTS AND ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS
The Chairman invited Mr Paul Morris, Returning Officer and Registration Services Manager for the Borough of Poole to address the Meeting.
Mr Morris explained that the Council was obliged to undertake a review of its Polling Places, Polling Districts and Access Arrangements under the Electoral Administration Act 2006. Such a review had to take place every four years. He reminded the Meeting that the Borough’s 16 Ward Boundaries could not be changed by such a Review and the process for the Review was to consult Ward Councillors, interested Groups, Political Parties, Disability Access Groups and to report the Review’s findings to Council for decision. To this end, a cross party Working Party of Elected Members had been established and each Area Committee was being consulted.
Mr Morris drew the Meeting’s attention to a form placed on the seats of members of the public which they could return, expressing their views on polling areas. This form was also available on the Borough of Poole’s website. All views were to be considered and collated for a decision to be made by Council on 18 December 2007 for any new polling districts to be effective from 1 January 2008.
As part of the Disability Discrimination Act, last year the Borough of Poole had commissioned a survey to ensure that all of its polling stations were 100% compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act. Any proposed changes would also be subject to scrutiny.
Alan Pickering, Electoral Services assistant via a Powerpoint Presentation highlighted the polling stations for both Broadstone and Merley and Bearwood. He added that at the last Election, 25% had voted by post in Broadstone (compared with an average of 22%) and 18% voted by post in Merley and Bearwood (compared to an average of 22%).
Alan Pickering, Electoral Services assistant emphasised the need for comments from residents on these issues which would then be taken into account by the cross party Working Party.
The Chairman, on behalf of the Meeting, thanked Mr Morris and Mr Pickering for their presentation and urged any interested members of the public to make representations.
BMB16.07TRANSPORTATION ISSUES
(i)Corfe Hills School – crossing facility
Graham Spicer, Transportation Services, presented a Report on the provision of a formal pedestrian crossing facility in Higher Blandford Road outside Corfe Hills School.
Members were advised that the need for a pedestrian crossing facility outside Corfe Hills School featured high on the Council’s priority assessment list for crossing facilities. During school terms there were larger numbers of school children crossing Higher Blandford Road, in the vicinity of the school, as well as pedestrians crossing the road whilst walking between footpaths FP4 and FP5.
From the two possible options for a formal crossing facility (zebra crossing/pelican crossing) it was considered that a zebra crossing was more appropriate and Members were given the reasons for this.
In addition, it would also be necessary to construct some new lengths of footpath where currently none existed. The crossing together with the footpath works were estimated to cost £27,500 for which there was sufficient provision within the capital programme.
In conclusion, Members were advised that consultation had taken place with the school and they were very supportive of the proposal for a formal pedestrian crossing at this location. However, the school governors had stated that they would prefer to see a signalised crossing rather than a zebra crossing. However, such a crossing would be far more expensive and, if considered, would alter the priority of this crossing such that other requests would then be higher on the priority list.
RECOMMENDED that this Area Committee supports and approves the suggested improvements as detailed in the Report.
For: Unanimous
(ii)Merley Lane accessibility improvements
Graham Spicer, Transportation Services presented a Report on proposals for localised improvements on Merley Lane, between Merley Gardens and Oakley Straight, for the benefit of both road users and pedestrians.
The Committee were advised that the section of Merley Lane between Oakley Straight and Merley Gardens was narrow and unkerbed. There was no footpath on the south side but a footpath existed to the north separated from the road by a raised bank. For much of its length the footpath was screened from the road by hedging and therefore access to this path was difficult for pedestrians from the south. In addition, Merley Lane was also on a bus route and if a bus met another large vehicle in the narrow section of the road passing could be difficult.
There were currently two crossing points across the road, one being at the end of Merley Gardens, through a gap in the hedgerow and the second at Oakley Straight, this crossing was the preferred point for parents going to/from Merley First School. Visibility was an issue at both crossing points and relied on regular cutting back of bushes.
Members were provided with drawings which detailed the proposals for improvement. Localised widening of the carriageway was proposed to ensure opposing vehicles could pass each other. Some excavation of the grass bank would also be necessary and new kerbing would also be installed.
In order to improve accessibility for pedestrians an additional crossing point would be provided in the region of the grass bank. In addition, the existing crossing point would be made safer by removing a 15 metre length of hedgerow adjacent to them. It was also proposed to install a new street light and upgrade the existing illuminated give way sign at the junction of Oakley Straight with Merley Lane.
In conclusion, Members were advised that these works were estimated to cost £33,000 for which there was adequate funding within the 2007/08 Capital Programme.
Councillor Maiden commented that he did not feel that simply having one link here would be a great solution to the situation and questioned whether any consideration could be given to additional accesses. After discussing this, Members supported this suggestion.
RESOLVED that this Area Committee supports and approves the suggested improvements as detailed in the report and also request officers to look at the feasibility of additional accesses.
For: Unanimous
(iii)Bearwood Primary and Nursery School – 20mph zone
Graham Spicer, Transportation Services, presented a Report which proposed a 20mph zone for Bearwood Primary and Nursery School. The programme of 20mph zones outside schools was contained within the transportation capital programme. This programme of works aimed to improve the safety and environment outside schools and achieved targets set out in the Local Transport Plan.
At its meeting on 13th November 2003, the Transportation Advisory Group recommended approval of a study to implement a strategy for establishing 20mph speed limits outside schools. The result of the study was presented to the Transportation Advisory Group on 14th April 2005 where Members recommended approval of a list prioritising 20mph zones for all 42 schools in the Borough. Members were then provided with detailed information on the priority basis for the implementation of these zones. Further information was then provided to Members on the specific proposals for this 20mph zone.
In conclusion, Members were advised that these works were estimated to cost £15,000 for which there was adequate funding within the 2007/08 Capital Programme.
RESOLVED that this Area Committee supports and approves the suggested 20mph zone as detailed in the report.
For: Unanimous
(iv)Pinesprings road works
Graham Spicer, Transportation Services, advised that advance information signs concerning this scheme were erected yesterday.
The closure was for two days only (30/31 October 2007). Information signs would be provided at both West Way junction and Beechbank Avenue junction stating that access for residents and deliveries would be maintained to Kingcup, Stonecrop, Sundew, Dogwood and Cowslip Roads. Transportation Services would be writing to all the residents of Sorrell Gardens with a full explanation of how the works would be undertaken and the arrangements for access to their road. Members were then provided with full details regarding these arrangements.
RESOLVED that the update report be noted.
BMB17.07ITEMS RAISED BY COUNCILLORS AND/OR RESIDENTS
(i)Core Strategy – Site Specific Allocations
Councillor Brooke advised that the Site Specific Allocations Development Plan document would build upon the strategic needs set out in the Core Strategy by identifying where and how we can deliver the future requirements for the town.
He added that the consultation period on the “issues and options” had now expired and stated that these responses were now being collated in order to inform the “preferred options”. He advised the Committee that this document had not been circulated to elected Members for comment and he expressed his concern at this.
He advised residents that he would be ensuring that consultation on the preferred options (June/July 2008) came to this Area Committee.
RESOLVED that the update report be noted.
(ii)Dorset Heathland Development Plan Document
Councillor Brooke advised that, similar to the previous item, the Dorset Heathland Development Plan Document issues an options consultation period had now expired but he stressed his keenness to ensure that the consultation on the “preferred options” (January/February 2008) was presented to this Area Committee for full consideration.
Councillor Brooke then invited Mr Foster to address the Committee on this matter.
In relation to the Dorset Heathland Development Plan Document, Mr Foster presented the following proposal:-
“No action is taken from now (1st November 2007) which will prejudice the use of public open spaces and rights of way in Poole until the heathland review was completed, and take action to replace noticeboards and boundary posts which have been removed/stolen during the past year. Also, replace bench seats which have been removed/stolen.”