Minutes - Canford Heath East and West, Creekmoor and Oakdale Area Committee - 8 November 2006

AGENDA ITEM 3

BOROUGH OF POOLE

CANFORD HEATH EAST AND WEST, CREEKMOOR AND OAKDALE AREA COMMITTEE

HELD ON 8 NOVEMBER 2006

AT HAYMOOR MIDDLE SCHOOL, ASHDOWN CLOSE, POOLE

The Meeting commenced at 7pm and concluded at 8:50pm.

Present:

Councillor Matthews (Chairman) Councillors Mrs Butt, Curtis, Montrose, Mrs Moore and Rampton

Also present for Item 5: Councillor Leverett, Leader of the Council

Officers in attendance

Richard Nicholson, Technical Development Team Leader, Leisure Services Pam Papani, Principal Democratic Support Officer, Democratic Services

Members of the public present: 23

1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Adams, Allen, Burden and Gillard.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillors Mrs Butt and Rampton declared personal interests in Item 9 – Wavell Avenue, Parking on Highway Verge because they had been lobbied about this matter.

3. MINUTES

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 19 July 2006 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

4. PRESENTATION OF COMMUNITY AWARD TO ANDY PEDRICK

Councillor Mrs Butt, Mayor, congratulated Andy Pedrick and presented to him a Silver Community Champion Award certificate and badge. The citation read “for his voluntary community work, serving as Chairman of the Creekmoor Community Association and Committee Member of the Creekmoor Youth Club Management

33 Board. His tireless work to provide youth facilities in the locality has been very much appreciated by young people, the wider community and by the Town of Poole”.

5. BUDGET, COUNCIL TAX SETTING AND CONSULTATION 2007/08

Councillor Leverett, Leader of the Council, gave a presentation on the Budget setting and consultation 2007/08.

Particular reference was made to aspects of the Budget including:

 Listening to the wishes of the community  Delivery of better services in response  Delivery of lower Council Tax rises  Creation of a sustainable Town for the 21st Century  Improved financial control  The current financial position  The funding gap and plans to address it  Current position – o Revenue o Capital o Reserves  Future Outlook o Budget pressures o Major projects  Financial Position  Financial Outlook  Future Plans

At the conclusion of the presentation, Councillor Leverett invited questions from the floor:-

(a) Mr Corby asked whether or not the difference in the amount per head made available by Central Government to Poole and Bournemouth was a hidden agenda for combining the two authorities.

Councillor Leverett said no. If Poole and Bournemouth were to merge the level of funding would probably be split. Poole would not go up, Bournemouth would come down.

(b) Mr Trimmer asked whether the local MPs were being supportive in the fight to get increased Government funding.

Councillor Leverett replied that they were.

(c) Mr Pedrick asked whether the local MPs had made representations to the Government on behalf of Poole. Councillor Leverett said that they had and he would continue to push for an increase in funding. He was concerned that whatever system the Government brought in, there would be more resources going north. He was very sceptical. Poole would

34 probably end up paying more (Lyons report). He would continue to fight for a fair deal for Poole.

(d) Mr Goodhall asked how Poole compared with Weymouth. Councillor Leverett said that Weymouth was a District Council and Poole a Unitary Authority so he could not make a comparison. The lions share of the money would go to the Dorset County Council.

(e) Mr Parker asked how members of the public could help. Councillor Leverett said that individuals could write to the National Press (he had done so on many occasions) stating that Poole is badly treated. Letters could also be sent to the Local Government Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer or the Prime Minister.

There being no further questions, the Chairman thanked Councillor Leverett for the presentation and invited him to stay for the remainder of the meeting. Councillor Leverett left to attend another engagement.

6. IMPROVEMENTS TO ST GEORGE’S FIELD PLAY AREA, OAKDALE

Richard Nicholson presented the report by the Head of Leisure Services which proposed improvements to the play facilities using monies generated by developer funding. The play area was located on the western boundary with new houses in Worgret Road and Staple Close Lane.

The scheme, which complied with the Borough of Poole Open Spaces Strategy Policies PO20 and PO27, proposed the addition of a piece of multi-play equipment for 9 to 14 year olds, together with safety surfacing, and alteration to the fence line of the play area to restrict the amount of space for ball games. A hedge would be planted along the rear boundary wall to help stop rebound games against the wall. In addition, a goal or similar piece of equipment with rebound facility would be installed outside the play area, towards the centre of the field, where it would not cause a problem to residents living in adjoining properties. The existing kick about goal would be retained.

The report concluded that the proposals should improve the play area, give ball players better facilities away from the play area and thereby reduce the level of noise and disturbance to local residents.

Richard Nicholson explained that a public consultation exercise would be carried out by Leisure Services using site notices, leaflets and displays of the scheme. Officers would be on site to talk to users in the near future.

Mrs Openshaw indicated that she lived in an adjoining property and was concerned about the behaviour and language of the teenagers using the play area for ball games and the problems that this caused. She stated that the Police had been out to disperse them and that small children no longer used the facilities. She welcomed the provision of a shrubbery to stop rebound games but was concerned that money would be wasted on more play equipment. As far as she was concerned, the youngsters had let themselves down.

35 Janet Widger stated that she lived on the development next to the Park. She said she had had a miserable summer because the side of her house was used as a rebound wall. The fence between her garden and the park was stepped and lower than the rest of the fencing on the boundary. The lads were really rude when they wanted their footballs back. She did not want to be intimidated or pressurised by these youngsters. There was a clear area on the field for football. However, it was alleged that the youngsters did not use this because of the dog fouling on the field. Mrs Widger said she did not want ball games in the play area or the installation of any play equipment that could be used to lessen her privacy. She said that she kept a diary to record the problems on the play area and that this summer had been worse than last. The kids lined up, looking into her house, invading her privacy. In her view the play area needed to be locked.

One resident was of the view that hedging provided a perfect hiding place and it would be difficult to see what was going on behind it.

Other residents considered that it would be preferable to put in only one new piece of equipment for small children and use the funds for landscaping and making a family area.

Councillor Montrose said that it was unfortunate that Ward Councillors Adams and Gillard could not be at the meeting to take part in the discussion. He was concerned about the reported antisocial behaviour and would look into this. He would talk to residents after the meeting and pass on their comments to the appropriate officers and Members.

Councillor Mrs Butt indicated that problems could be reduced with the right landscaping between the houses and play area and this needed to be looked at. More play equipment might not be necessary.

Councillor Rampton said that similar problems in Creekmoor had been resolved by involving the residents and Police. A sponge ball was used and this had helped. Councillor Mrs Butt said it was vital to get the youth on board. It would be worth getting the Mobile Youth Van to visit the area. She suggested comments be taken back to Leisure Services.

7. IMPROVEMENTS TO SANDBANKS RECREATION GROUND

Richard Nicholson presented the Report for information by the Head of Leisure Services setting out plans to improve the Sandbanks Recreation Ground, accompanied by a powerpoint presentation.

Historically, Sandbanks was a vibrant recreation facility which had suffered from unplanned, piecemeal development since the 1960s.

Atkins Limited had been awarded a contract to produce a visioning exercise for Sandbanks. The work was funded by Planning Obligations monies.

36 The design concept and master plan made recommendations to improve individual parts of the sites within the context of a wider cohesive vision for the site generally. These included –

 A water play feature and traditional play area  Using some existing dune/scrub vegetation areas for parking to compensate for the losses of parking spaces at the Pavilion end of the recreation ground  Enhancing the entrance to the beach by the toilets and beach station  Providing an entrance to the recreation ground and incorporating a new kiosk/café building  Remodelling the green space around the existing beach café  Utilising design themes for benches, surfacing, lighting, fencing etc to reflect the uniqueness of Sandbanks  Planting trees to create shade and formalising pedestrian routes  Improving and managing the nature conservation areas

Atkins Limited had also suggested -

 Restoration work to the Pavilion including restoring the flat roof  Restructuring the Banks Road frontage and site entrance  Allowing for dinghy launching into Poole Bay

Phase 1 of the improvements would include –

 Installing an equipped play area in the preferred location in the Visioning Exercise  Improving access by widening the entrance to the beach adjacent to the beach office and toilets  Creating the path network in the play area/putting green areas and  Commencement of the tree planting scheme

It was anticipated that Phase 1 would be funded from the Planning Obligations (Recreational Contributions) Sub-Group with an allocation of £400,000.

A wide public consultation exercise would be carried out using the Council’s website, site notices, leaflets and displays in local libraries and the Civic Centre.

In answer to questions by residents –

 The whole schemed would take about 5 years to complete  Joining the Promenade and Shaw Road was not part of the scheme but was a good idea to accommodate wheelchair users and cyclists. A path would need to be put in.  The reason for spending money in Canford Cliffs was that Planning Obligations money had to be spent in Canford Cliffs. There was half a million pounds in the pot which was not transferable. The only recreation ground in Canford Cliffs was Sandbanks.

37 8. TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMME 2006/7

The Committee considered the Report of the Acting Head of Transportation Services which proposed the implementation of two schemes as follows –

(a) Dorchester Road junctions with Rowland Avenue and Hennings Park Road – provision of yellow lines at an estimated cost of £1,000.

RESOLVED unanimously that this scheme to impose yellow lines be approved; and

(b) Canford Heath Parkway – Provision of Street light

It was noted that this had been requested by a Ward Councillor and the actual location was Verity Park/Haymoor Bottom area. This would cost in the region of £1,200.

RESOLVED unanimously that the provision of a street lamp in this location be approved.

9. WAVELL AVENUE - PARKING ON GRASS VERGE

The Report for information by the Acting Head of Transportation Services, indicated that concerns had been expressed about the condition of the highway verge between the carriageway and footway in front of Nos 51-65 Wavell Avenue.

Residents had, in the past, mentioned that the verge had been damaged by Statutory Undertakers but there had been no significant utility work carried out in the last six years. Evidence suggested that the current condition of the verge was primarily due to its use by residents for vehicular access to their properties or for parking.

The Report stated that any works to significantly improve the verge would need the current usage curtailed by stricter enforcement and/or the use of wooden stakes (dragon’s teeth) to physically stop misuse. Vehicular access to properties would need properly constructed surfacing across the verge and dropped kerbs at the road edge. Such work would normally be funded by residents requiring this facility. The overall cost would be around £15,000 depending on exact detail.

Creating a paved parking area would cost a similar amount and would have a limited benefit for a few residents.

Expenditure for either option could not be justified from the Highway Maintenance Budget because did not address priorities of improving road conditions Borough wide (as measured by Best Value Performance Indicators).

Recent inspections had indicated that although the current situation was not ideal, the verge was not significantly worse than others throughout the Borough and would not justify any immediate treatment.

38 Councillor Rampton indicated that he and Councillor Burden had conducted a small consultation exercise to ascertain whether the area should be used for parking or returned to a grass verge. The majority of residents consulted wanted to continue to park their vehicles. They had requested a level surface but the cost could not be justified. The Officers could see no reason to stop parking on the verge because to do so would exacerbate parking on the road which could obstruct access of emergency services. There would therefore be no changes imposed on the area.

A local resident, Mr Lynch, stated that this had never been a highway verge but a hardcore base that had become overgrown. He alleged that it had been disturbed by Contractors carrying out sewer work and the Council had not asked the Contractors to make good the damage.

Councillor Mrs Butt confirmed that the land was now classified as a highway verge but she and Councillor Rampton could investigate the matter.

Mr Lynch stated that the Council had removed part of the old tarmac and a lump of concrete. Councillor Mrs Butt asked him to give her details at the end of the Meeting.

In answer to a question by Mr Mason, Councillor Rampton emphasised that the Council was not giving approval for parking; it was just not going to enforce no parking on the verge.

10. TRAFFIC PANEL – DORCHESTER ROAD – REQUEST FOR YELLOW LINES AT JUNCTIONS WITH ROWLAND AVENUE AND HENNINGS PARK ROAD, OAKDALE

This Report for information by the Acting Head of Transportation set out the conclusion reached by the Traffic Panel at its Meeting on 13 September 2006 regarding the request for yellow lines at the junctions of Dorchester Road with Rowland Avenue and Hennings Park Road.

The Traffic Panel’s recommendation was that no waiting at any time restrictions should be imposed at Dorchester Road junctions with Rowland Avenue and Hennings Park Road as shown on drawing HT200/11.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

11. OPEN FORUM

Mr Hill asked what action was being taken to stop the unauthorised use by travellers of land at Warburton Road, Bader Road and Netherfield Drive.

Councillors Mrs Butt said that all Ward Councillors were working together to ensure this did not happen again.

Councillor Mrs Moore said that obstructions had been set in Warburton Road, together with a gate with locks set inside. The Police, Crime Prevention Officers and Ranger were working to help prevent re-occurrence of the unauthorised use.

39 Mr Gaulpin said that dumping was taking place in Darbys Lane North and Darbys Lane to Darbys Lodge. The content of debris was disgusting and included kitchen furniture. Rubbish was sitting in the hedges and looked dreadful. Councillor Mrs Moore undertook to investigate this matter. Mr Joy asked whether (a) the refuse tip could be open beyond 4.30 pm and (b) the layout could be revised to stop the queues to get in and out. Local businesses were being affected because of the queuing. He also said that there should be better site control to ensure that there was no unauthorised dumping of refuse. Mr Hill felt that fly tipping was taking place because people could not get to the tip. He referred to the tipping of top soil. He had to lift bags four feet to tip into the container. He felt this was too high and asked for a better solution ie a tipping bay. Councillor Mrs Butt said she would take up this issue.

A residents asked whether green bins would be supplied to all Poole residents. Councillor Curtis confirmed that this was the case. All residents would eventually receive green bins but they would be supplied to those residents living furthest from the tips in the first instance. They would be supplied in four tranches.

Mr Ewatt, commenting on the low turnout, asked how residents could be encouraged to attend Area Committee Meetings. The Chairman advised that the meetings were advertised in the Community Magazines, in the Daily Echo and on the Poole Website. Agendas were sent to around 145 residents on the Council’s database.

Mr Brandt of Fernside Road requested ‘proper signs’ approaching the gyratory system for Sandbanks/Bournemouth. Councillor Montrose said he would take this up with Councillor Burden.

Mr Goodhall said that the Neighbourhood Watch Fun Run due to take place on 10 December had been cancelled to lack of support. Two hundred and fifty entrants were required to break even and only seven entry forms had been received. It had been a very disappointing response.

Councillor Matthews agreed that this was disappointing but thanked Mr Goodall and his team for all their hard work in organising the event.

12. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next meeting would be held in the Oakdale Ward, the date and venue to be advised.

CHAIRMAN