BOROUGH OF POOLE

LOCAL ECONOMY OVERVIEW GROUP

22 NOVEMBER 2006

The Meeting commenced at 7.00pm and concluded at 11.00pm.

Members present:

Councillor Rampton (Chairman)

Councillor Mrs Dion (Vice-Chairman)

Councillors Adams, Allen (substituting for Councillor Knight), Brooke, Clements, MrsHives, Parker, Pethen and Wilson (substituting for Councillor Mason).

Also attending at the invitation of the Chairman:-

Councillors Collier, Sorton and Trent.

Members of the public present: 9

1.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gregory, Knight and Mason (with the above substitutions).

2.DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillors Mrs Hives, Pethen and Trent declared personal interests in M.7 - Interim South East Dorset Heathland Mitigation Strategy as they live within 400 m of heathland.

Councillors Brooke and Mrs Hives declared a personal interest in M.8 - Bournemouth Airport Master Plan as they live within a direct line of a flight path.

Councillor Allen declared a personal interest in M.7 - Interim South East Dorset Heathland Mitigation Strategy as a member of the Police Authority.

3.POOLE HARBOUR AQUATIC MANAGEMENT PLAN

The Chairman stated that at the last meeting of this Overview Group the Poole Harbour Management Plan was endorsed subject to a number of areas of concern being reported back to this meeting.

At the last meeting, a Member drew attention to evidence from local residents that commercial bait digging had been taking place in Holes Bay. It was alleged that gangs had arrived in vans with bait being stacked in trays before loading into the vans. There was anecdotal evidence that the bait had been exported to Portugal. In addition to the flouting of parking controls, against which some action had been taken, local residents report an adverse impact on bird life in the area.

In view of these concerns, it was being proposed that the following addition be made to the third paragraph under the heading “Bait Digging” at Section 8.2.6:-

“There is evidence that commercial bait-digging may be having such an impact in some parts of the Harbour, including Holes Bay. Where this occurs, the Council will investigate the possibility of introducing a bye-law to prevent this from occurring.”

Further concern had also been expressed at the last meeting regarding the beach replenishment and maintenance of the shoreline at Hamworthy Park. The issue being raised here was that regeneration would lead to a greater use of Hamworthy Park and this view links to the view of some respondents that there should be more extensive beach replenishment than hitherto. There were concerns at debris at the strand line and that sand flies were not conducive to public use.

The maintenance of the integrity of the SPA was a prerequisite and the Council could not be seen to endorse an approach that did not secure it. However, in order to address the concerns expressed, some acknowledgement in chapter 14 would be helpful to refer to the pressure on harbourside parks. Therefore, it was proposed to insert the following in chapter 14:-

“Hamworthy Park will fulfil a wider recreational role as the regeneration in Poole Town Centre develops. The need to maintain the promenade and provide for a measure of beach replenishment above the strand line will be considered, consistent with the maintenance of the integrity of the SPA.”

In conclusion, at the previous meeting of this Overview Group, concern was also expressed in relation to defending the shoreline, this principally related to the Hamworthy Park promenade and the Member concerned now accepted that this was a matter for the Council.

A Member stated that at the last meeting, he had raised concerns regarding waste being disposed of into the Harbour. David Ralph, Head of Strategic Planning Services, stated that he had not yet been able to investigate this but he would endeavour to supply a reply to the Councillor direct.

Recommended that the Poole Harbour Aquatic Management Plan, as amended, be presented to Cabinet for approval.

FOR – Councillors Adams, Mrs Dion, Mrs Hives, Parker, Pethen and Rampton.

AGAINST – Councillors Allen, Clements and Wilson

ABSTENTION – Councillor Brooke

4.MOTIONS

David Ralph, Head of Strategic Planning Services, presented a Report on “Meeting the Challenge of Sustainable Development” which formed the basis of the response to the motions referred to this Overview Group by Council at its meeting on 26September2006.

Members were advised that planning shaped the places where people live and work and the country we lived in. Good planning ensured that we got the right development, in the right place and at the right time. It also made a positive difference to people’s lives and helped to deliver homes, jobs and better opportunities for all, whilst protecting and enhancing the natural and historic environment, and conserving the countryside and open spaces that were vital resources for everyone. Good planning was a positive and pro-active process, operating in the public interest through a system of plan preparation and control over the development and use of land. Sustainable development was the core principle underpinning planning. At the heart of sustainable development was the simple idea of ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for future generations.

Planning should facilitate and promote sustainable and inclusive patterns of developments by:-

  • making suitable land available in line with economic, social and environmental objectives to improve people’s quality of life;
  • contributing to sustainable economic development;
  • protecting and enhancing the natural and historic environment, the quality and character of the countryside, and existing communities;
  • ensuring high quality development which is of a good and inclusive design, and the efficient use of resources;
  • ensuring that development supports existing communities and contributes to the creation of safe, sustainable, liveable and mixed communities with good access to jobs and key services for all members of the community.

Good design ensured attractive, usable, durable and adaptable places and was a key element in achieving sustainable development. PPS1 called for high quality design to create places that supported the effective use of resources.

When considering a new development, it was important to think of the impact it would have on the environment, including the local community. A sustainability check list can be an effective tool for raising awareness and increasing the attention given to an array of measures relating to energy and resource efficiency and sound sustainability principles. Such a check list would help both developers and officers to take all relevant sustainability aspects into account, to make the planning applications work more smoothly and to provide a lot of the information needed to judge and understand energy efficiency, stand alone and integrated renewable energy proposals. This could also complement design and access standards in promoting more sustainable and sensitive development.

Members were advised that an Officer Working Group was currently looking at the role of design and access statements and this work would focus on the key guidance needed to be given to developers on the matters they needed to include within their design and access statements. Whilst the motivation for these was to demonstrate how development took account of its surrounding environment, consideration of extending its remit to including a more comprehensive look at sustainable development principles would be explored. This could provide a good opportunity to set out issues relating to sustainable energy. Members were then provided with a copy of an example check list. This was a check list for sustainable design that could be applied to all developments.

Further detailed information was then provided to Members on:-

  • Sustainable Economic Development;
  • Renewable Energy;
  • The role of Building Regulations.

In conclusion, Members were advised that there was clearly considerable scope for the Council to address the Sustainable Development Agenda. Planning Policy and Building Regulations influenced our impact on the environment whilst Planning Controls were crucial in ensuring that the Council’s policies and standards were implemented where development was concerned. However, Members were informed that it was not only Planning and Building Control that would influence Sustainable Development. The management of the Council’s assets, its procurement strategy, its response to issues of affordable heating for its residents and new schools and other buildings would all have an environmental impact and it would require a strategic approach across the Council in order to fully address this issue.

With regard to the proposed recommendation that this Overview Group supports the need to produce a Supplementary Planning Document on Renewable Energy at “an appropriate time in the future”, a Member stated that he could not support this as he felt this needed to be dealt with, with more urgency.

The Chairman stated that, whilst he appreciated the comment being made, currently, resources could not be taken away from the work being undertaken on the “Core Strategy”.

In relation to this issue, it was proposed and seconded that the words “an appropriate time in the future” be replaced with “the earliest opportunity”. On being put to the vote, this was CARRIED.

With regard to the Officer Group that had been established who were preparing a Sustainability Checklist, it was proposed and seconded that, once the Officer Group had prepared this Checklist, a Member Group be given the opportunity to consider the final questions. On being put to the vote, this was CARRIED.

In response to a question raised regarding the “set-up” of the Officer Group referred to in the Report, the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Areas (including Leisure and Recreation), advised that this was an Officer based Board that extended invitations to Cabinet Members. He added that this Board also followed the priorities set down by the Leader of the Council.

In response to a request from a Member that he be provided with copies of the Minutes of this Group, the Officer undertook to provide these direct to the Member.

A Member stated that he felt it was crucial for sustainability issues to be at the heart of all of the regeneration work being undertaken by the Council and he felt that there was a need for a more corporate approach regarding this.

In response to a question raised regarding the issuing of Supplementary Planning Guidance, David Ralph, Head of Strategic Planning Services, clarified the situation by advising that a Supplementary Planning Document now had to be produced first that was supplementary to the “Core Strategy”.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Overview Group, congratulated the Officers on the work that had been undertaken since the Motions were presented to Council.

RECOMMENDED that

(i)Cabinet be requested to give the necessary approval to enable Officers to produce a Supplementary Planning Document on Renewable Energy at the earliest opportunity when the Planning Policy Framework has been established through the Poole’s Core Strategy;

(ii)Once the Officer Group has produced the document, approval be given to a Member Group being established to consider the questions contained within the Sustainability Checklist; and

(iii)Cabinet be advised of the Local Economy Overview Group’s recognition of the establishment of a Joint Member/Officer Working Group to develop the Council’s climate change and energy conservation work commencing with a seminar to address what the Council can do to reduce co2 emissions.

For – Unanimous

5.CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL PROGRAMME AND PROCESS

John Biggs, Planning Design and Control Services, presented a report which informed Members of the programme of work to produce character appraisals and management plans for all twenty-one Conservation Areas in the Borough within a five year period.

Members were advised that this Programme was being undertaken in response to the new heritage Best Value Performance Indicators which all Local Authorities’ Conservation Performance were now measured against. This criteria (BV219) has three parts:-

  • The total number of Conservation Areas in a Local Authority’s district. How many designations have been made? How does this compare to the national average?
  • The proportion of Conservation Areas with an up-to-date character appraisal. Are the Areas understood and their special interest defined and recorded?
  • The proportion with published management proposals. Is there an agreed, published framework for managing change?

Conservation Area appraisal work complements and strengthens recent guidance from English Heritage and the Planning Advisory Service on improving the quality and local distinctiveness of places.

Poole has twenty-one designated Conservation Areas ranging from the historic settlements of Old Town, Quay and Canford Magna to commercial centres like Ashley Cross, open spaces at Poole Park and Compton Acres, to attractive well-landscaped residential areas, such as Branksome Park, Evening Hill and Ashington. In every case they represent the familiar and cherished local scene that makes up Poole’s built and landscaped character. They are also the places that make Poole special and form a precious link with the history and development of the town. It is the particular qualities of Conservation Areas that identify Poole as different from other places. They form the essence of Pooleness and the parts of Poole that are loved and visited by residents and visitors alike.

Members were informed that the programme of Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans would produce the following outcomes:-

  • Protection for the best surviving built and landscape heritage of Poole;
  • A strategy for managing the pressure for development in sensitive and historic areas;
  • Strong policy guidance as part of the Local Development Framework supporting planning decisions and appeals in upholding the special qualities of Poole;
  • Physical evidence and a record of the link with Poole’s history;
  • Satisfying the requirements of BVPR219.

Further information was then provided to Members on:-

  • Policy of legal framework;
  • Conservation Area Practice in Poole;
  • Aims and Objectives of Conservation Area Appraisals;
  • Outcomes;
  • Programme of Work – Production Process;
  • Suggested Conservation Area Programme.

In conclusion, Members were advised that in the light of staff commitments required by this Programme of Work, it was considered that the estimated workload could be completed on target if the staff time could be made available to focus on this project as detailed in the Report. Members were provided with a copy of the Project Specification for Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Management Plans as an Appendix to the Report.

A Member commented that in relation to Conservation Areas and what was deemed to be “of value”, this was very much in the “eye of the beholder”. He added that whilst he commended the work that had been undertaken, he stressed the important need to look at other areas of the town which were also worthy of such merit and recognition.

A Member stated that he felt the consultation regarding conservation within the Old Town area of Poole should be wider than Ward Councillors and involve all Members.

A Member raised a slight concern at learning this evening of the proposed work planned for the Ridgeway and Tudor Road, Broadstone. He stated that he would have expected Ward Councillors to have been involved in the process earlier rather than later as they may have local knowledge that could aid the process.

RECOMMENDATION

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet be requested to support and endorse the proposed programme and process for producing Conservation Appraisals for the Borough’s Conservation Areas.

FOR – UNANIMOUS

(Councillor Mrs Dion was not present for the vote on this item).

6.BRANKSOME PARK CONSERVATION AREA,

CHARACTER APPRAISAL AND MANAGEMENT PLAN

Phil Smith, Planning Officer (Urban Design), presented a Report which informed Members of progress with the Branksome Park Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan and also set out the results of the Public Consultation on the draft document.

Members of Canford Cliffs Ward which contained Branksome Park Conservation Area and the adjoining Penn Hill Ward had been provided with a copy of the consultation document for their information at the time of the Public Consultation.

In addition, Ward Members were also involved with the Public Consultation process, with a number attending a public meeting. A presentation was also made to the Canford Cliffs & Penn Hill Area Committee.

Further detailed information was then provided to Members on the extent of the Public Consultation exercise that had been undertaken.