Eastleigh Borough Council Cabinet Meeting

There were no declarations of interest in relation to items of business on the agenda.

RESOLVED -

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 July 2023 be agreed as a correct record.

There was no public participation on this occasion.

The Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Local Area Committee made the following recommendations relating to the Stoke Park Farm Consultation Response at their meeting on 12 July 2023 (Paper 5).

1)  Approved the progression of proposals for Stoke Park Farm, outlined in paragraph 9 of this report, which provided additional amenities and greater public access whilst promoting, protecting, restoring and enhancing the natural environment;

2)  Supported the creation of a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace scheme on part of the site, subject to planning permission, with a target that the SANG should be operational in Spring 2024;

3)  Supported the Council entering into a 25 year agreement with the Newt Conservation Partnership to create habitat and ponds for great-crested newts, subject to planning permission and subject to feedback from the Local Area Committee;

4)  Recommended that the level of vehicle movements does not exceed the actual vehicle movements of the sites used as a dairy farm immediately before it ceased operating as a dairy farm prior to acquisition by the Council;

5)  Requested for further protection of the site, and clarification of the management plans for the whole site;

6)  Reminded Cabinet that Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Local Area Committee passed a motion on 9 March 2022 that Stoke Park Farm should become a local Nature Reserve, and suggested to Cabinet that this should be achieved within the next 10 years;

7)  Recommended that the car parking spaces available should be reduced, or to explore whether existing car parking owned by Bishopstoke Parish council could be used instead;

8)  Recommended that there should be a retention of the barn like structure to support the nesting swallows; and

9)  Asked that Cabinet take account of the comprehensive feedback from Bishopstoke and Fair Oak Parish Councils.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet note the recommendations.

Issue

On 6 July, Cabinet considered a report on the outcome of a consultation on future uses for land owned at Stoke Park Farm. This was also considered by the Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Local Area Committee (BiFOHH) on 12 July 2023 with a request that any comments and considerations should be fed back to Cabinet. (Paper 6)

Consideration

Cabinet is asked to consider the report from 6 July 2023 with reference to the tabled feedback to the BiFOHH meeting and determine next steps as appropriate.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet considered the feedback from the Bishopstoke, Fair Oak and Horton Heath Local Area Committee meeting on 12 July which considered the attached report on the Stoke Park Farm consultation response as follows:

(1)  Approved the progression of proposals for Stoke Park Farm, outlined in paragraph 9 of this report, which provide additional amenities and greater public access whilst promoting, protecting, restoring and enhancing the natural environment;

(2)  Make a commitment that future uses will not lead to traffic movements in excess of those that could already be generated from the site prior to the Council acquiring the land.

(3)  Supported the creation of a Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace scheme on part of the site subject to planning permission and feedback from the Local Area Committee with a target that the SANG should be operational in Spring 2024.

(4)  Supported the Council entering into a 25-year agreement with the Newt Conservation Partnership to create habitat and ponds for great-crested newts subject to planning permission subject to feedback from the Local Area Committee.

(5)  Request a report back as part of the phased progression on proposals at Stoke Park Farm,

i)  on the potential to further reduce car parking on the site, exploring the potential to use parking provision on land outside the site boundary;

ii)  on the potential to retain a barn or equivalent structure on the site to support nesting swallows; and

iii)  any long-term potential for designating any of the site as a Local Nature Reserve;

(6)  Confirm the original assurance given by the Council on the purchase of the site not to promote housing development on the site, or a permanent café;

(7)  Engage and keep updated Bishopstoke Parish Council and Fair Oak & Horton Heath Parish Council on management plans for the site; and

(8)  Agree that the long-term objective is the transfer of the non-commercial parts of Stoke Park Farm to the Local Area Committee as part of its devolution programme subject to the competence and capacity of the Local Area Committee, in line with existing policy, to manage the site.

Issue

The principle of a private heat network was approved at Cabinet in May 2022 (Green Energy Development Projects), subject to due diligence. The installation of a Private Heat Network addresses the new corporate objective of protecting our environment whilst futureproofing the energy infrastructure required in support of planned housing growth and employment space. Specifically, the Council’s Climate and Environmental Emergency Action Plan states that the Council will remove the dependency of the Council on energy from the use of fossil fuels. (Paper 7)

Consideration

Approval is sought for a revised total of £2.821M capital funding for a Council owned Private Heating Network. The proposal will enable the supply of heat and hot water to the homes, community facilities and commercial units within the first residential parcel of the One Horton Heath development. The project will be funded by borrowing repaid by income through a charge to users of the network.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet:

(1)  approved a revised budget for development of the Heat Network for the Lower Acre at a cost of £2.821M, financed by borrowing funded by ongoing revenue income. This will enable the construction, installation, and ongoing management of a Private Heating Network on land owned by the Council at One Horton Heath. This recommendation supersedes the scheme approved by Cabinet in May 2022 and decisions on funding future phases of the heat network .

(2)  noted the further work on network charging to be brought back to Cabinet before the network is operational.

Issue

Eastleigh Business Improvement District (BID) is an independent, not-for profit business-led initiative, which was democratically elected in 2014, when local businesses in Eastleigh town centre voted in favour of the development and establishment of a BID. There are over 330 BIDs across the country currently and this figure is increasing annually. The BID is funded through a levy collected from businesses within a defined area. With the money collected the BID delivers additional services to the businesses within the BID area, making improvements to the town centre, benefiting those who pay into it as well as residents and visitors who live and visit Eastleigh. (Paper 8)

Consideration

Eastleigh Business Improvement District (BID) has played an active role in Eastleigh town centre, investing over £1 million into cleanliness & safety, events and promotion, parking and accessibility and business support for BID members, since it was established in 2014.

The draft Eastleigh BID Business Plan 2024 – 2029 (summary in Appendix A), developed by the BID in consultation with the BID members (including the Council), goes to a ballot of local businesses in October 2023 to decide whether Eastleigh BID should continue. The Council intends to vote in favour and continue to support the BID to maintain their status as an independent, not-for-profit business during their third term.

RESOLVED –

(1)  Cabinet continues to support the Eastleigh Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) proposal for 2024 - 2029 as set out in Appendix A;

(2)  in supporting the BID proposal, Cabinet agreed that the Council will vote ‘YES’ in the BID ballot in respect of each of the Council’s 27 eligible rateable hereditaments in the BID area as listed in Appendix B;

(3)  in the event of a successful BID ballot vote, Cabinet delegated to the Service Director for Planning and Environment, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Economy, the power to approve and sign an updated Operating Agreement with Eastleigh Town Centre BID Company; and

(4)  Cabinet approved continuation of the Service Level Agreement between the Council and the BID, including the annual payment of £16,000 to the BID to work with the Council to develop projects that will benefit business within the BID area, including regular reporting.

Issue

The Council’s approach to active travel will support the key objectives of shaping places, protecting our environment and enabling a healthier Eastleigh set out in the Corporate Plan 2023-2026. By increasing the levels of walking and cycling in the Borough and reducing the reliance on the private car it is also possible to reduce congestion and improve air quality. (Paper 9)

Consideration

The strategy highlights the key issues for walking a cycling and expresses the Council’s ambitions for promoting and supporting walking and cycling and demonstrates how these aims will be achieved.

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet approved the Eastleigh Walking and Cycling Strategy 2023- 2030 for adoption.