Winchester City Borough Council North Whiteley Development Forum Meeting

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Bentote be appointed Vice-Chairperson for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

Apologies for the meeting were noted as above.

(Note. Due to technical reasons, Councillor M Evans and Councillor Bodger were only able to attend part of this meeting)

Following discussion, it was noted that there was a mixture of views from members as to whether future meetings should be held virtually or in person.

RESOLVED:

 That the dates and times of future meetings of the forum be noted.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 February 2021 be approved and adopted.

Whiteley Town Councillor, Hazel Croft Phillips addressed the forum. She requested an update regarding the installation of facilities to support local wildlife such as bird boxes, bat boxes and hedgehog corridors. She also referred to the City Council’s declaration of a climate emergency and asked for details of actions that developers within the North Whiteley development were taking to achieve relevant carbon emissions reductions.

Mrs Pinnock advised that both points would be responded to as part of the agenda item: “Updates on the physical development of the MDA”

Members discussed the revised Terms of Reference, and the following points were noted.

• It was requested that a discussion be held regarding future democratic structures at a subsequent meeting.

• That the number of deputy members to the various constituent councils that make up the forum be reviewed.

• That the Terms of Reference be reviewed annually at the first meeting of the forum for each municipal year.

RESOLVED:

That the revised Terms of Reference be noted.

Lisa Cook, Local Bus Manager, Hampshire County Council (HCC) updated the forum regarding the bus service in North Whiteley. She advised members of the service enhancements planned for the number 28 service due in Autumn 2021 and of wider developments as part of the recently launched national bus strategy.

Members asked several questions and made comments regarding the hours of operation, the role of the travel coordinator, bus provision for secondary school children living in the North Whiteley development, the proposed route and whether the commencement of the enhanced service could be aligned to the opening of Cornerstones Primary School.

These points were responded to by Lisa Cook and Martin Goff (Head of Transport and Admissions, Hampshire County Council). Lisa Cook also advised that she would confirm the commencement date for the enhanced service and would also provide the proposed route map.

The forum was then addressed by the following speakers:

Jeff Davis, Tetra Tech

Hilary Oliver, Implementation Officer, Winchester City Council

Mr Davis shared the latest drone footage of the development which

had been recorded in May 2021 and was available on the council’s website here. He also provided the forum with a detailed update and presentation concerning a range of issues, the slides of which were also available on the council's website here. Items discussed included progress with: Bluebell Way, Whiteley Way North, Whitley Way South, Cornerstone Primary School, Botley Road cycleway and open space provision.

The Forum received and noted the report of the Implementation Officer which provided an update on progress on several issues. These included several matters from the previous meeting relating to generator noise, the footpath joining the existing Whiteley development to the Primary School, the vegetation on Bluebell Way, the status of housing applications, the progress of allotments 1 and 3, the temporary community centre, the telecoms mast application, and the travel welcome pack.

Regarding the earlier question from Whiteley Town Councillor, Hazel Croft Phillips concerning bio-diversity issues, Ms Oliver referred members to appendix 3 of her report which contained further information on progress with on-site bio-diversity measures. Mr Davis also agreed to provide an addendum to his report regarding progress on these matters and following further questions agreed to discuss these matters with individual developers and report back.

Members asked several questions and made comments regarding; the height of the proposed telecommunications mast, the reusing of displaced topsoil, the availability of school spaces for children moving into the development area and the progress of affordable housing matched against demand.

Mr Clarke, Primary School Headteacher responded to questions regarding the availability of school places and updated the forum on the ongoing dialogue with Hampshire County Council. Ms Oliver advised that she would circulate the planning application reference number regarding the Telecommunications mast and the numbers of affordable housing units delivered as part of the S106 agreement and any provided outside of that agreement. 

The Chairperson advised that an update would be provided at the next meeting of the Forum regarding potential future governance and/or parishing options for the development area. This would include the anticipated timescales and next steps.

Martin Goff, Head of Transport and Admissions, Hampshire County Council (HCC) provided the forum with a detailed presentation concerning school admissions and future provision, the slides of which were also available on the council's website here. The presentation covered the key areas of;

• school places for new developments.
• In-year admissions on North Whiteley.
• Future school provision for Whiteley and North Whiteley.

Members asked several questions and made comments regarding current issues accommodating in-year admissions of children living in North Whiteley within Cornerstones Primary school, the option of utilising mixed age group classes and the impact on Swanmore college to proposals relating to a change of catchment. Mr Goff responded to these points.

Sara Tiller Managing Director, NHS Hampshire, Southampton, and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) updated the forum regarding primary medical services to the North Whiteley community. She specifically referred to the Whiteley surgery practice boundary being extended and the planning application for the surgery car park extension where a bat survey was being undertaken. Ms Tiller also answered several questions from forum members regarding the future provision of medical services in the community,

Members put forward the following items for future agenda items:

• Future health plans
• Future governance/parishing options
• School admissions update
• S106 compliance and timetable

It was also suggested that wherever possible, that external guests should be asked to contribute at the beginning of the meeting.