Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllrs Cerasoli, S Clarke, J Davies, Duke, Gossage, Hoare, Holding, Hopkins, Rackham, Reilly, Rippon-Swaine, Steele and M Wade.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2021 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2021, be confirmed.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

There were no declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests by Members.

Cllr E Heron declared, for transparency purposes, that he was a Member of Hampshire County Council, the waste disposal authority in respect of the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy, considered at minute 46 below as part of the report of the Cabinet – 6 October 2021.

Peter Bassett

The Chairman referred with great sadness to the recent passing of former NFDC Chief Executive Peter Bassett,

Peter served the Council as Chief Executive from 1974 – 1989 and was instrumental in the creation of the current New Forest District Council administrative area following the Local Government Act 1972.

The Chairman expressed his sincere condolences to Peter’s family and friends, and recognised the significant service he had given to the District.

Engagements

The Chairman reported on the following recent engagements:-

16 September 2021

Attended Test Valley Borough Council’s “Showcasing Test Valley” event.

18 September 2021

Attended the investiture of the New Milton Town Mayor, Cllr Keith Craze.

20 September 2021

Attended Hampshire County Council’s Civic Day.

10 October 2021

Attended the Civic Service of the Mayor of Christchurch at Christchurch Priory.

3 October 2021

The Vice-Chairman attended the Harvest Sunday Service at Winchester Cathedral, following an invitation from the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral.

Waste and Recycling Services

The Leader referred to the ongoing impact of staff shortages and the national shortage of HGV drivers on the Council’s Waste and Recycling services.  This was the case for many councils in the country.

He placed on record his thanks to residents who had been patient and supportive and to Council staff who continued to work extremely hard in difficult circumstances. Managers and supervisors in the service were doing all they could to alleviate pressures on the service, working with staff from other council-wide services and agency staff and recruiting where they could to fill driver vacancies.

Staff were having to respond day by day, assessing the staffing levels available, and rightly prioritising collecting the black and clear sack waste.  This had meant some of of the Council’s services were experiencing disruption.  Garden waste was temporarily paused, some glass collections had not taken place, bulky waste was currently suspended, and the delivery of sacks was behind schedule.

The Leader confirmed that the disruption would continue for some time with a bigger impact on glass collections.  Priority would continue to be first collecting black and clear sack waste, then four weekly garden waste, and then glass collections.

The Council would keep working towards the most effective waste collection service for the community with the resources currently available.  HGV driver vacancies would continue to be recruited to and the current service arrangements would be reviewed by the Cabinet at its meeting on 3 November 2021.

The Leader asked residents and the community to follow the Council’s updates on the website and on social media, and asked again for forbearance in these challenging circumstances.  He apologised for the current disruption to services but reassured Members and the public that whilst the Council continued to respond to national challenges, work also continued to develop services for the better.

To consider the following petition of 3557 signatures from Gilly Jones, New Forest Speed Awareness Campaign in accordance with the Council’s Petitions Scheme:-

“We the undersigned petition the council to add its support to calls for the introduction of an Average Speed Camera system on the B3078”

In light of the recent tragic deaths of three donkeys, two sheep and four ponies on the B3078 Roger Penny Way and the history of animal casualties on this route, that the District Council adds its support to calls for the introduction of an Average Speed Camera system on this route.

Note:

In accordance with Standing Order 38, the petition organiser may present the petition for a maximum of five minutes.  Councillors may debate the petition for a maximum of 15 minutes.

The Chairman welcomed Gilly Jones of the New Forest Speed Awareness Campaign to the Council meeting who had organised the following petition as set out on the Council agenda:-

“We the undersigned petition the council to add its support to calls for the introduction of an Average Speed Camera system on the B3078.”

The petition contained 3,557 signatures from people who live or work in the District and therefore met the required threshold of 1,700 in the Council’s petitions scheme for a Council debate.

Gilly Jones presented the petition and made a statement.  She encouraged the need for agencies to work together to reduce the number of animal casualties and the solution of an average speed camera system was a viable one.

The Chairman welcomed Sarah Weston to the Council meeting who had organised a similar petition on the website change.org, which was signed by over 50,000 people without a requirement to live or work in the District.

Sarah Weston spoke in support of the petition on the Council agenda and her own involvement in the campaign and the wider audience for her petition.  The wider petition had now reached over 63,000 signatures.  Members were urged to consider the measures that might have been implemented to date, had the casualties been human rather than animal.

The Leader of the Council responded to the petition and thanked members of the public for their work in bringing an important matter to the Council’s attention.  Although the District Council did not have the responsibility or powers to install average speed cameras, the petition called on the Council to add its support to the campaign.  The Leader was pleased to report positive progress on this issue, as the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner was agreeable to contributing towards a feasibility study.  He then moved the following motion:-

“That the Council adds its support to the campaign for the introduction of an Average Speed Camera system on the B3078.” 

Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.

The Leader undertook to write to partners to ensure the matter was progressed, bringing back appropriate reports to the Council’s Cabinet, if the Council was in agreement with the motion.

The Council debated the petition and the motion.

The majority of Members spoke in strong support of the motion and acknowledged that the campaign on this particular road had been over a number of years.  It was a particularly dangerous route at night time.  Some Members spoke of their personal experiences with animal casualties in addition to those raised by the petitioners.  If successful, it was suggested that the average speed camera model could be one that was viable for reducing animal casualties across the wider forest.  Members welcomed the opportunity for viability studies to take place to ensure a solution was evidence based.

One Member expressed their concern that average speed cameras might be the wrong solution for a real issue across many forest roads.  It was suggested that a reduction in overall speed limits might be a more cost  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

To consider the report of the Cabinet dated 6 October 2021.

The Leader of the Council presented the report of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 October 2021 and moved the adoption of the recommendations.  Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.

The Chairman informed the Council that he would take the recommendations of paragraphs 1-5 in the Cabinet report before dealing with the final recommendation in paragraph 6 separately, as it recommended that the Council pass a motion.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the recommendations of paragraphs 1-5 be adopted.

Paragraph 6 – Response to Motion to Declare a Climate Emergency

Members spoke in support of the recommendation to declare a climate change nature emergency.  The work of Cllr M Wade was highlighted in bringing forward the matter to the Council in the form of the original motion and a previous motion in 2019.  Members of the Opposition were pleased to support the Cabinet’s recommendation to declare a climate change and nature emergency.  They committed to holding Members to account in the delivery of the action plan in due course.

The direction of the Government, Hampshire County Council and the National Park Authority was highlighted and Members recognised that the Council had the opportunity to become a community champion on the subject.  A number of Members highlighted the positive work already undertaken by the Council in this area as fully detailed in the Cabinet report.

RESOLVED:

That the Council declares a Climate Change and Nature Emergency.

Under Standing Order 22.

There were none.

To ask questions of Portfolio Holders. Questions received will be tabled at the meeting.  Members are reminded that questions must be submitted to the Chief Executive or to the Executive Head of Governance and Housing by not later than 12.00 noon, Friday 8 October 2021.

Questions were put and answered under Standing Order 22A as follows:-

·         Cllr A Wade to the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Regeneration and Infrastructure, Cllr Andrews, on facilities for HGV drivers.

·         Cllr M Clark to the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Investment and Corporate Services, Cllr J Heron, on changes to Universal Credit.

·         Cllr Dowd to the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Homelessness Services on sustainable and greener housing.

·         Cllr M Wade to the Portfolio Holder for Partnering and Wellbeing, Cllr Steele, on NFDC CCTV cameras.

·         Cllr Kangarani to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Coastal Services, Cllr S Davies, on waste and recycling services.

·         Cllr Brand to the Leader of the Council, Cllr E Heron, on hybrid meetings.

Note – a copy of the full questions and replies are attached to these minutes.

RECOMMENDED:

That the Ordinary Council Meeting scheduled for 6.30 pm, Monday 10 April 2023, be moved to 6.30 pm, Monday 17 April 2023.

The Chairman of the Council moved the date change to the April 2023 Council date as set out on the agenda.  The Vice-Chairman seconded the motion.

RESOLVED:

That the Ordinary Council Meeting scheduled for 6.30 pm, Monday 10 April 2023, be moved to 6.30 pm, Monday 17 April 2023.

To consider any changes to the membership of Committees or Panels that might be proposed by the political groups.

There were no changes.