Agenda item

To receive an oral update from the Portfolio Holders for the Environment and for Planning and Transportation.

Cllr Beeton, the Portfolio Holder for the Environment, advised the Panel that the replacement of the beach huts at Milford on Sea was progressing.  A recent meeting for beach hut owners, to look at design options, had attracted more than 600 attendees, with 6 presentations being given instead of the planned 3.  Over 300 questionnaires had been returned and were in the process of being analysed.  This was taking time, particularly for the free text entries. 

As a related issue, it had not been possible to remove the metalwork from the World War II sea defences at Milford, as planned in the summer.  The Council was still awaiting the necessary consents from the Marine Maritime Organisation, who had received the fast track application more than a month ago.  Realistically, this work was now unlikely to be done before next spring.

The Food Hygiene service was continuing to perform well having completed 807 inspections; 158 revisits of unsatisfactory premises; and investigated 184 complaints about food hygiene and food purchases over the last year.  The annual report had recently been submitted to the Food Standards Agency.  Over 1200 premises now had scores listed on the Food Standards Agency’s website; more than half with the best potential score of 5.  The scheme was proving effective in encouraging food businesses to improve their standards.

Increasing problems with flytipping across the District had prompted a realignment of resources to improve the investigation of incidents.  Consequently a number of sites where flytipping had been prevalent had been cleared through enforcement.  To assist this work the Panel would be asked to look at the Council’s policy on flytipping, distinguishing it from littering.  The Panel would also be asked to look at some of the issues associated with issuing fixed penalty notices for littering.

So far this year there had been a significant reduction in the number of stray dogs collected, at 72 instead of the expected 100.  Many were being rehomed by this Council as they were not reclaimed by their original owners.

Cllr E Heron, the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation, advised the Panel that he would shortly be taking a decision with respect to the charges to be applied for car parking next year.  He was intending to freeze the current charges; which would then have been unchanged for 4 years.  He was intending to remove the special exemption for users of Lyndhurst Community Centre that allowed a 5 hour stay in the main Lyndhurst car park, in recognition of the lack of alternative parking, and that events often lasting longer than the 3 hours covered by the short term parking clock.  Cllr Heron believed the circumstances in Lyndhurst were no different to those applying with other community buildings across the District.  People were able to top up the parking allowed by the clock with an additional 2 hours, which was a cost-effective solution.  He considered it only fair to remove such anomalies.  Cllr Heron considered however that car parking for the Hythe Ferry was an exceptional case and the current extended parking arrangements should continue to apply.

Cllr Heron reminded members of the recent briefings that had taken place on the challenging planning issues facing the District.  Both this Council and the National Park Authority would shortly be initiating the reviews of their local plans and Members were urged to stay vigilant to remain in touch with the process and to participate.