Eastleigh Borough Council Eastleigh Local Area Committee 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 15 November 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

An email was read out from Councillor Tidridge requesting information on when work was scheduled to be completed for the new car park spaces on the land previously occupied by the public toilets at The Hub. She also queried if a paved link to the main road to the west of where the block was planned was set to be reinstated.

Councillor Tidridge cited problems with the current site, including that pedestrian access to The Hub from the bus stop and pavement used to be possible using the paved path to the west of the toilet block, but now it was a ‘muddy gap in the hedge’.  She stated that the carpark was frequently overused, especially when events take place and that having a few more spaces available might help to address the issue and reduce the risk of damaging fly parking. She also stated the site was an eyesore.

Councillor Tidridge expressed her disappointment that users of The Hub still did not have acceptable toilet provisions with just two toilets being available to users when the centre was open. She stated the toilets used to be a useful provision for residents of Bishopstoke and Fair Oak who walked to Eastleigh via the Itchen Way.

It was agreed that the Local Area Manager would provide a written response to Councillor Tidridge’s concerns.

The Chair gave the following report:

Pirelli Park

The Chair was pleased to report that the Climbing Frame was now open following a redesign and manufacture of the netting. He hoped this would reduce the risk of vandalism in future, and was now working with the play equipment provider to agree a redesigned solution for the swings. The Chair hoped to have an update very soon.

Freespace Skate Park

The tender process for the design and build of Freespace Skatepark had recently concluded, following the vandalism two years ago. The Chair was pleased to say that they had now received a £67,500 award from the Veolia Environmental Trust to add to the original £150,000 project budget. They would shortly be consulting user groups on the emerging designs, and more details would follow soon.

Summer events

The Chair was also pleased that despite the current financial pressures, they had been able to secure funding for regular events, which were free to all and provided important opportunities to come together in the face of the cost of living. In particular Eastleigh Unwrapped on 10 June 2023 and the Mela on the 23 July 2023.

Romsey Close/Toynbee Road Retirement Home

There had been several notable developments in and around the town centre in recent months. Along with local residents and fellow councillors, the Chair received an invitation to an online consultation about a proposed development of an 84 bed retirement home by Churchills. For more information and to have a say, the link is here: www.consultwithyou.co.uk/churchill/eastleigh

The Principal Planning Officer gave a short presentation on guidelines that had to be taken into account when determining planning applications; in particular the issues that could, and could not, be taken into account.  This was set against the broader policy framework.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Head of Planning and Economy (Agenda item 7) concerning the erection of a two and three-storey block of 7no. two-bedroom flats with associated parking, landscaping and detached bin and cycle storage, following demolition of existing dwelling and garage. (Ref: F/21/91985).

The Committee was updated that:

·  Condition 1 - Additional drawing, ‘20-37-07 Rev B’.

·  Urban Design & Landscape – Formal comments still to be received but informally there is no objection.

·  Natural England – Objection on grounds of impact upon New Forest SAC, SPA and Ramsar site.

RESOLVED -

That permission be GRANTED subject to securing of contributions towards the Council’s New Forest Mitigation Strategy.

(Note: One person spoke in objection to the development on behalf of Hamberley Care Home citing concerns, that included but were not limited to, the detail of the scheme, the proximity to the care home, overlooking of windows into the gardens, and residents concerned about overlooking of the building.

The applicants spoke in support of the scheme, citing reasons including that it was a sensitive development that aimed to minimise its impact on neighbours, the area already had changes and lack of light and overlooking from the care home itself, sustainability of the development and the encouragement of use of public transport, and sensitive landscaping of the garden and boundary.)

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Head of Planning and Economy (Agenda item 8) concerning the conversion of former nightclub to form 4no. commercial units at ground floor and 11no. one-bedroom, 5no. two bedroom and 2no. three-bedroom residential flats above with associated external works. (Ref: F/22/92939)

The Committee was updated that:

·  Natural England – Objected on grounds of impact upon New Forest SAC, SPA and Ramsar site.

RESOLVED -

That permission be GRANTED subject to:

1.  Completion of S106 agreement towards: Community Infrastructure; Public Open Space and Play Provision; Public Art; and Affordable Housing; and

2.  Securing contributions towards the New Forest mitigation scheme.

Consideration was given to a report of the Local Area Manager (Agenda item 9) that contained recommendations for expenditure from the Committee’s capital and revenue budget.

RESOLVED -

That the following recommendations were approved:

(1)  £1,145,031.41 was allocated for Home Wood public access from developers’ contributions;

(2)  £67,500 was allocated to the Freespace Skate Park Project from a Veolia Environmental Trust Grant;

(3)  £12,218.07 was allocated for the Fleming Park Paddling Pool, Play Area and Skate Park from developers’ contributions;

(4)  £4,000 was allocated for a one-way system at Falkland Road Car Park from developers’ contributions;

(5)  £6,000 was allocated for planters for Archers Road and Newtown Area from revenue budget;

(6)  £1,861 was allocated from the protection of greenspace at Suffolk Close from developers’ contributions;

(7)  £1,747 was allocated for a replacement pond dipping platform at North End Nature Park from developers’ contributions; and

(8)  £1,258 was allocated for fencing and gate repairs at Boyatt Wood Countryside Area from the revenue budget.

Consideration was given to a report of the Local Area Manager (Agenda item 10).

RESOLVED –

That the Eastleigh Local Area Committee approved:

(1)  The all-day parking tariff at the Mitchell Road Multi Storey Car Park (MSCP) is reduced from £8.50 to £5;

(2)  The 5-hour parking tariff is deleted; and

(3)  The annual season ticket/contract parking rate is increased from £1,233.33 to £1,300 per annum (equal to the £5 per day rate).

The Legal Services Manager reported:

(a)  that the following appeal had been dismissed:-

28 Allbrook Knoll, Eastleigh, SO50 4RX

Appeal against the Council’s refusal of the erection of an external lift and dormer to the rear.

RESOLVED -

That the report be noted.

RESOLVED -

(1)  That, in pursuance of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they are likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act; and

(2)  That, in pursuance of the public interest test, the public interest in disclosing the information contained in the following item of business was outweighed by the public interest in maintaining the exemption.