Eastleigh Borough Council Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Local Area Committee Meeting

Councillor Couldrey declared a personal interest in agenda item 6, Finance Report, as a trustee of Fair Oak Community Library and a Parish Councillor for Fair Oak and Horton Heath.

Councillor Broomfield declared a personal interest in agenda item 6, Finance Report, as a trustee of Fair Oak Community Library.

Councillor Marsh declared a personal interest in agenda item 6, Finance Report, as a Fair Oak and Horton Heath Parish Councillor.

RESOLVED -

That the Minutes of the meeting(s) held on 23 November 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Three year 6 pupils from St James’ CE Primary School addressed the Committee on the impacts of the flooding in Fair Oak in July 2021 on residents, emergency services and wildlife.  They also asked the Committee to ensure that ditches and culverts were cleared and properly maintained.  The children asked the Committee what they were doing about flooding.

The Chair thanked the pupils for their contribution and informed them that Councillor Broomfield was part a of a group looking at flooding and was working closely with the Council and other agencies.

This item was heard after agenda item 8.

The Chair expressed her sadness on the passing of Angela Roling who was a Councillor for Bishopstoke between 2002 to 2018. Prior to this she was a Councillor for Eastleigh West from 1998 and was an Honorary Alderman.  The Chair extended her condolences to her family.

The Chair thanked the Chief Executive for responding to her letter highlighting the problems that were being experienced around asset transfers.  The Chair appreciated the issues currently being faced by the Borough Council but highlighted that she would be watching the deadlines outlined closely.

Item 6 (Finance Report) was heard after items 8 on the agenda.

The Committee received a report by the Local Area Manager (Agenda Item 6) relating to expenditure from the Committee’s developer contributions.

RESOLVED –

That the Committee approved the following recommendation:

(1)  £64,911 is allocated from developer contributions for Fair Oak Community Library building improvements; and

(2)  £8,500 is allocated from developer contributions to Fair Oak and Horton Heath Parish Council for the wildlife pond upgrade and extension in Knowle Park and additional pond in Twynham’s Field.

[NOTES: (A) Councillor Parker-Jones expressed concerns about the level of funding that had been provided in the last 2 years and wanted to understand the Parish Council’s intentions going forward and their long term plan for the building; (B) Councillors Couldrey and Marsh spoke in support of the library highlighting the poor state of the building when it was transferred from Hampshire County Council, the Community benefits of the library for elderly people and children and the future plans to redesign the space to make it more versatile as a Community space (C) Councillors Couldrey and Marsh agreed and acknowledged that the level of expenditure required by the Library was high (in excess of £55k from Eastleigh Borough Council and £13k from Hampshire County Council.]

The Committee received a report by the Local Area Manager (Agenda Item 7) relating to the Local Area Action Plan for the Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Area.

RESOLVED –

That the Committee approved the following recommendation:

That the Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath (BIFFOH) Local Area Action Plan (LAAP) 2023/24 shown in Appendix 1 is approved for adoption and publication.

This item was heard before agenda items 5, 6, and 7.

Councillor Tidridge moved the following motion:

That this Committee asks Eastleigh Borough Council to investigate the costs to commission a user survey in the Itchen on the stretch between the lock at Bishopstoke and the first railway bridge to the north, using a methodology congruent with gathering evidence for designation as a bathing water. This will need to be between 15th May and 30th September and will need to include consultation with landowner(s).  This could be done by working with social media groups including Hampshire Open Water Swimmers and Friends of the Itchen Navigation.

The objective is to establish what level of leisure bathing takes place on the river.  This should then be communicated to both Southern Water and DEFRA. Although the Itchen is subject to strict statutory protection, there has been considerable concern about pollution being released into the river.

If this section can be designated as a bathing water, the Environment Agency will develop a bathing water profile and put plans on place to monitor and protect the bathing water.

If the survey results do not lead to designation, it will still be valuable to highlight to Southern Water and other local stakeholders that the river is used for bathing and therefore public health should be considered as well as the environmental impact whenever sewerage or other pollutants enter the river upstream of Bishopstoke.

Councillor Marsh proposed that in addition to exploring the costs of the survey a group is formed of local Councillors and stakeholders to work together to protect the river and all those that use it.  This group should be formed regardless of whether a survey was carried out of not.  Councillor Tidridge accepted this amendment.

RESOLVED –

That the motion, as amended by Councillor Marsh, be approved.

[NOTE: A number of local stakeholders spoke on the Motion.]

Councillor Tidridge moved the following motion:

That this Committee submits a response to the public consultation on Stoke Park Farm as a Local Area Committee (LAC). This should be delegated to members of the Committee and brought to the 8 March BIFOHH LAC meeting for approval.

RESOLVED –

That the motion be approved.

The Legal Services Manager reported:

(a)  that the following appeals had been dismissed:

11 Whalesmead Close, Bishopstoke, SO50 8HE

Appeal against the Council’s refusal to grant permission for a 3 bedroom, chalet bungalow detached family dwelling located on the gardens of and adjacent to 11 Whalesmead Close with the associated garden amenity and parking facilities (F/22/92335).

4 Roker Way, Fair Oak, SO50 7LD

Appeal against the Council’s refusal of planning permission for a change of use to private garden and erection of a 1.8m boundary fence (F/22/92301).

RESOLVED -

That the report be noted.