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Minutes of the Planning Meeting 8 December 2009 held at Copythorne Parish Hall (7:00pm - 8:52pm)
8 December 2009
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PRESENT:
Cllr Lady Kara Hawks (Chairman); Cllr G James, Cllr I Milsom, Cllr M Moriarty and Cllr J Samways
Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Mansell and Stenson
119. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The applicants spoke on planning applications 09/94697 and 09/94698 (Poona Lodge, Old Romsey Road, Cadnam).
120. PLANNING MATTERS
Current applications:
Members agreed to comment as shown on the following applications:
09/94697 Poona Lodge, Old Romsey Road, Cadnam (Replacement outbuildings). Object (4)
09/94698 Poona Lodge, Old Romsey Road, Cadnam (Demolition of outbuilding (application for Conservation Area consent)). Object (4)
Decisions etc:
Members noted recent planning decisions and applications referred to Committee, as shown in the schedule tabled at the meeting (appendix 1).
Enforcement:
A note from the NFNPA confirmed that the field adjacent to AC, Winsor Road was not being used for non-agricultural purposes.
Other matters:
Members received the following:
- an agenda for the NFNPA meeting on 10 December 2009 which included an item on the revised National Park Management Policies
- a letter from the NFNPA to the New Forest Association in response to the latter’s comments on the revised Management Plan
121. CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS
Agreed, that the press and public be excluded for the following item of business on the grounds that, by reason of the confidential nature of the business, publicity would be prejudicial to the public interest.
122. AFFORDABLE HOUSING
John Lancaster of Community Action Hampshire and Diana MacLean, Housing Strategy and Development Manager, NFDC, attended for this item.
JL gave a general outline of the procedures for securing affordable housing schemes and acknowledged the Council’s previous concerns about certain aspects, including the eligibility criteria and the allocation of housing units. In this respect, DM tabled a Homesearch Factsheet showing how accommodation in village areas was allocated and the local connection bandings.
A general discussion ensued during which the following issues arose:
- the absence of any direct approach from residents to the Parish Council about the need for more affordable housing
- the inability to satisfy all applicants who simply had a desire to live in a particular village- the restrictions on further housing development in the New Forest, particularly in the National Park (JL advised that affordable housing projects were always presented as exception schemes)
- examples of individual NFDC properties being sold off, notwithstanding the supposed affordable housing needs.
JL and DM advised that the current needs position could be verified by a further needs survey which would be carried out in conjunction with the Parish Council. A representative of the lettings unit at NFDC could also be asked to attend a Parish Council meeting to deal with queries on letting procedures etc. DM was also asked to provide further information on the following:
- whether there are any restrictions on affordable housing tenants running businesses from their homes
- in respect of Rockram Close:
confirmation that all residents had local connections when the units were first let and all current residents remain equally qualified
whether section 106 agreements were applied to both phases of the development and if not whether the absence allows lettings to non-local people
- whether the normal housing waiting list is used to deal with accommodation for Commoners
- whether a person who has owned a local property for many years but not lived there is treated as having a local connection
Members also queried the status of the prospective site in Chinham Road discussed at an earlier meeting. JL advised that the site was not being pursued at present and that NFNPA officers did not consider it a strong candidate in any event.
In summary, it was confirmed that the Parish Council would support the principle of a further survey to clarify the current housing need. It was proposed that the survey should include a question on whether applicants were registered on another housing list elsewhere.
123. FINANCE MATTERS
Current balances:
Deposit A/c £8476.28 Current A/c £996.84
Payments:
Expenditure was authorised as shown in appendix 2 (cheques 725 to 727).
CHAIRMAN
DATE
