Blandford + Meeting
Thursday 19th March 2015 at 2:30pm
The Council Chamber, Blandford Town Council
Notes of the meeting
- Apologies
Cllr B Brannigan–BlandfordForumTown Council
Julie Wigg–DT11 Forum Community Partnership
Cllr H White–BlandfordForumTown Council
Cllr E Butler–BlandfordForumTown Council
Cllr J Stayt – Blandford St Mary Parish Council
Cllr C Tompsett –Bryanston Parish Council (Attendance at the Local Plan Hearing)
Attendees
Cllr S Loch –BlandfordForumTown Council (Chairman of Blandford +)
Cllr R Carter–BlandfordForumTown Council
Leani Haim–BlandfordForumTown Council
Cllr M Albery–Blandford St Mary Parish Council
Cllr B Church – Bryanston Parish Council
Mr N Nicol–DT11 Forum Community Partnership
Mr D Addison–Resident
- Minutes from the previous meeting
The minutes were accepted. Mr Nicol enquired what actions the Heritage Group were currently carrying out. Cllr Loch confirmed that Mr and Mrs Imber are carrying out a review of listings. The UNESCO Heritage Group would assist the Neighbourhood Plan investigation. Action plans would be resent to members.
ACTION: ATC
3. Update on
3.1Local Plan Hearing
Cllr Loch confirmed that it had seemed that the Inspector is helping NDDC to alter their Local Plan so that it is not unsound. The Inspector confirmed that he would visit the sites, and had already visited the sites in Blandford Forum. The group was able to put their case forward and will be contacting NDDC to meet in the near future to discuss matters that could affect Neighbourhood Plan Policies.
ACTION: ATC
Mr Gale also spoke at the Local Plan Hearing and is pursuing an objection to the Lower Bryanston Farm site. Cllr Church would seek an update on this.
ACTION: CLLR CHURCH
3.2Community Consultation Events
Blandford Forum – 28th Feb – 10am – 2pm
A successful event where approximately 150 people attended.
Bryanston – 1st March 12pm – 2pm
A successful event where approximately 15 people attended.
Blandford St Mary – 5th March 6pm – 8pm
A successful event where approximately 60 attended.
Neighbourhood Plan maps were requested from NDDC, but it was confirmed that the group had already received maps. It was agreed that it would be enquired whether a limit on support has now been introduced.
ACTION: ATC
3.3Outcome of survey
It was agreed that the Chairman would write thank you letters specifically to members of the public who assisted and a broad welcome letter in the Forum Focus and to go in parish and town newsletters and websites to all of those who attended and helped and to state where we are going from here.
ACTION: CLLR LOCH
The results have been published on the website, and Nicci Brown has been sent a copy as she intends to carry out an editorial in the Forum Focus May edition.
Pimperne residents have been in contact, and there are some objections to the proposed growth strategy. To date residents have been advised to contact their parish council.
ACTION: CLLR LOCH
Visitors to the town, from other surrounding parishes, also expressed their upset of not being able to comment, but it was explained that it is likely that only residents will be able to vote on the content of the plan.
The survey results were discussed.
3.4English Heritage Study review
It was confirmed that Cllr Loch would receive help from the UNESCO Heritage bid and Cllr Church would continue with design work for Blandford Forum and Blandford St Mary.
3.5Retail review
Cllr Butler and ATC have started work on this due to Cllr White’s leave, however illness has prohibited the work to progress as far as was hoped. Cllr Butler is looking at Primary and Secondary shopping frontages and whether these need to be amended as well as what the existing town centre uses are and whether these need to be amended. The ATC is looking at whether the existing mix is right and what other retail outlets the group should be encouraging to come. Once this work has been done it is anticipated that this group will meet with Clemdell Ltd, a local developer, landowner and landlord who has an interest in town centre regeneration and took part in the Local Plan Hearing on this basis.
3.6Community Facilities review
Mr Addison confirmed that he is undertaking work on this matter.
3.7Local Green Space Review
Mr Addison confirmed that he is undertaking work on this matter.
4. To review the proposed meeting dates as per the Project Milestones Plan
This matter was postponed to await the outcome of the proposed meeting with NDDC, but members were warned that an extraordinary meeting may have to take place later in the year to approve the Pre-submission Plan.
- Grant update
The grant has been spent as per the grant agreement. Other expenditure incurred will be divided into appropriate amounts as per the MoU. Parish Councils should expect an invoice in due course.
ACTION: ATC
Expression of interest for the next round of funding has been submitted by DT11 and a grant will be applied for to cover costs as follows:
Professional Fees
Consultancy support to provide training for the steering group in the structure, writing and presentation of the plan.
Consultancy at 10 days at £650 per day including travel - £6500
Project costs
Room hire – 6 events (held in 3 parishes) - £300
Publicity Costs – Forum Focus x 2 - £300 BVM leaflet stuffing - £200 = £500
Printing costs – Posters, flyers, display and other materials - £500
Total - £7800
- Publicity
A local resident from Blandford St Mary has offered to promote future surveys or events for the Blandford + group. It was agreed that the Chairman would get in touch.
ACTION: CLLR LOCH
Sarah Pickering, North Dorset Community Advisor, has suggested that a Blandford + representative provides a brief overview of Blandford +, what the neighbourhood plan is, how it involves the community etc. mostly to raise awareness of what it is and why it’s important. It would only be a mention under the ‘news from the floor’ section, which gives organisations five minutes to promote a project etc. as no one from DT11 can attend the lunch, she had thought it might be a good opportunity to show the community how they are involved in the planning process. The event is taking place on Monday 23rd March 2015 - 9.30am to 1.30pm at Tarrant Hinton Village Hall, Gunville Rd, Blandford Forum DT11 8JA.Booking is essential as numbers are limited.Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please note there will be a £4 charge towards lunch, payable on the day unless you inform us prior to the event that you do not require lunch. It was agreed that Mr Nicol would attend if he could.
ACTION: ATC & MR NICHOL
The Blandford + website is up and running and members are requested to publish the link as far and wide as possible and submit any changes they consider necessary.
ACTION: ALL
- Points from the floor
7.1 Cycling – A request for a cycling plan for the local area has been submitted to the Town Council and it was suggested that this could be a project for the Town Team or Blandford +. The Town Team considers that this is a project for Blandford +. It was advised that short term a policy to encourage cycling, as per the group’s vision, can be written, but that a longer term in details plan could only be looked at after the plan has been written. Since then DCC has shared some information on cycling routes in the local area and the information will be circulated to all member. Cllr Carter confirmed that he would look into this matter.
ACTION: ATC & CLLR CARTER
- Summary – date of the next meeting
The following dates were booked in and would be reviewed as necessary
- Thursday 30th April at 2:30pm
- Thursday 14th May at 11:00am
- June dates for consultations on Draft Plan to be brought back to the next meeting
- Thursday 25th June at 2:30pm
ACTION: ATC
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