Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Whittle.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Planning and Development Policy Development and Review Panel meeting held on 4 March 2014.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting of the Planning and Development Policy and Development and Review Panel meeting held on 4 March 2014 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

There were no Chairman’s announcements made at this meeting.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Walker declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 7 – River Hamble to Portchester Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management Strategy – Options for Public Consultation ( see minute 7 below).

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a scoping study report regarding a review of public transport provision in the Borough.

The Panel considered a scoping study report which proposed a review of public transport provision in the Borough.  The report had been requested by Councillor Mandry, (Chairman) and its aim was to identify possible actions for working more effectively with those organisations responsible for delivering such services to meet the needs of the local communities through the Council’s community leadership role.

Members considered the proposal that in order to take the matter forward, an informal Member Working Group consisting of Panel members be set up to steer the review and consider initial findings (which it was expected could be presented to a future Panel meeting).  It was also proposed that the Council liaise with First Bus to build a better relationship with the principal bus service operator in Fareham.

In response to an enquiry from Councillor Miss Harper, it was confirmed that the reference in the scoping report to “bus infrastructure provision” included the provision of bus shelters.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)          a Public Transport Review Member Working Group of  members of the Panel, be established;

(b)          the members of the  Working Group be Councillor  A Mandry,  Councillor  PJ Davies and  a representative nominated by the Liberal Democrat Group.

(c)          arrangements be made for the first meeting of the Working Group to be held in August 2014  and a programme of future meetings be formulated; and

(d)          an update on the Public Transport Review Member Working Group be reported to the Panel meeting on 2 September 2014 and details of the Group’s initial findings be considered at the  Panel meeting on 4 November 2014 (see minute 8 below).

To consider a report by the Director of Planning and Development which summarises the progress of the River Hamble to Portchester Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management Strategy and sets out the preferred Strategic approach for managing the Fareham coastline over the next hundred years and sets out the details of the public consultation of these options.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Planning and Development which summarises the progress of the River Hamble to Portchester Coastal Flood and Erosion Risk Management Strategy and sets out the preferred Strategic approach for managing the Fareham coastline over the next hundred years and sets out the details of the public consultation of these options to run for 3 months from 1 September 2014 to 1 December 2014. The report was accompanied by a presentation which illustrated the information contained in the report.

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting two representatives from Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership, Mark Stratton and James Addicott who presented the item and answered members’ questions.

At the invitation of the Chairman Councillor Knight joined the meeting for this item and took part in the discussion.

Councillor Walker declared a non-pecuniary interest in this matter on the grounds that in the past he has built sea defences along the coastline.

The presentation covered the following key areas:

·                     Strategy Progress - collection of baseline evidence, flood modelling leading to assessment of preferred options for mitigating flood and erosion risk.

·                     Community Engagement – there has been on-going engagement with the public and other interested partners including presentations to councillors and other organisations and website and social media updates. Part of the aim of engaging with other organisations is to work collaboratively in the development of the strategy and to try and seek longer term future funding.

·                     Options Development - along list of options was assessed against several categories including; technical feasibility, environmental impacts, cost, funding opportunities, objectives of interested parties etc. This process produced the short list of options which subsequently was reduced to the following preferred strategic options referred to in paragraph 12 of the report:-

 (a) Do Minimum, (b) Maintain, (c) Sustain (d) Improve

·                     Preferred Strategic Options for Consultation – more detailed information was provided regarding the preferred strategic option for each of the 5 Strategy Management Zones (paragraph 14 of the report refers).

              A proposed amendment to the preferred option in Strategy Management Zone 1 (when compared to the submitted report) was outlined by officers during the presentation. The preferred option was changed from:

            Delay sustain– Maximise life of existing defences and then sustain minimum 1:100 year SoP (phased) from 2030.

            To:

            Delay sustain - Maximise life of existing defences then sustain a minimum 1:100 year SoP from 2030, with environmental improvements to currently eroding former landfill sites.

·                     Public Consultation – the Panel was reminded that during the consultation period the following four public exhibitions have been scheduled to seek opinion on the proposed options:-

9th September 2014 (13.00-19.00) – Ferneham Hall, Fareham

10th September 2014 (13.00-19.00) –  Gosport Discovery Centre

11th September 2014 (13.00-19.00) – Hill Head Sailing Club, Fareham

18th September 2014 (13.00-19.00) – Warsash Sailing Club, Fareham

It was AGREED that the Panel:-

(a)          thank the representatives from Eastern Solent Coastal Partnershipfor their informative presentation and report;

(b)          support the Strategy’s preferred options as detailed in Appendix 1 attached to the report subject to the amendment outline above; and

(c)          approve the public consultation process due to commence in September 2014, as detailed in paragraphs 15 to 18 of the report.

To consider a report by the Director of Planning and Development which reviews the Panel’s work programme for 2014/15.

The Panel considered a report by the Director of Planning and Development which reviewed the Panel’s Work Programme for 2014/15.

It was noted that an item related to the Public Transport Review had been added to the agenda for 4 November 2014. The Chairman further proposed that following the establishment of the Public Transport Review Member Working Group at this meeting, an item to update members on progress be added to the Panel’s work programme for the meeting on 2 September 2014.

The Chairman also referred members to Appendix C to the report, the list of items scheduled on the Planning and Development Executive Portfolio Work Programme 2014/15 and invited members to suggest items for consideration by the Panel which they felt could assist in the process of policy development.

In reply to an enquiry regarding current membership of the Fareham Design Members’ Working Group, the Director of Planning and Development undertook to provide members with the details via the Members Newsletter.

A question was also raised as to when the item on flooding- related matters would be added into the main programme.   The Director of Planning and Development advised the Panel that the Eastern Solent Coastal Partnership will be working with Fareham Borough Council on flooding related matters. The Director proposed that in the first instance he enters into dialogue with the Coastal Partnership Manager and colleagues responsible for emergency planning arrangementson this issue to determine when the necessary details/information would be available to present to members.  Following consultation with the Chairman, an item could then be added to the work programme at an appropriate time.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)       subject to the addition of an item on  Public Transport Review  - Update to the meeting on 2 September 2014,  the Panel’s Work programme for  2014/15, (attached as Appendix A to the report), be approved;

(b)       that the outcomes from matters considered at the Panel meeting on 4 March 2014 be noted, and

(c)       that the Planning and Development Executive Portfolio work programme for 2014/15, attached as Appendix C to the report be noted.