Minutes of Public Meeting

30 July 2010 at Richmond Park Bowls Club

7:00 Introduction and Welcome from Anson Westbrook Chair, Winton Community Forum
Thanks to all for coming. Thanks to Richmond Park Bowls Club for use of their meeting room.
Introduce speakers:
- Anson Westbrook (Chair of Winton Community Forum)
- David Smith (Bournemouth Councillor)
- Alan Cheesman (Team Leader: Bournemouth Core Strategy),
- Malcolm Hodges ( Bournemouth Core Strategy),
- Mark Axford (Bournemouth Core Strategy)
- Pat Oakley (Chair, Winton Community HMO's)

7:05 Core Strategy Consultation Process Mark Axford Bournemouth Planning Officer
Introduce the document and go through some of the details.
This document is only part of a series of documents and policies to be finalised in 2011. The whole series of documents give an indication of how the town will shape up in the next 20 years.
Answer to questions about the strategy and how residents should be able to comment in order to influence its direction.

7:40 Explain briefly details of HMO Consultation and current progress. Anson Westbrook
Announce decision on Truscott Avenue development (refused but will most likely be appealed by Dave Wells).

7:45 Explain briefly details of HMO Consultation and current progress. Pat Oakley
Introduce the HMO committee objectives.
Current situation of HMO policy in Bournemouth.
Students are welcome in Bournemouth but a small minority is causing problems.
HMO committee is working with Students Union and Police to produce video to help students become better members of the local community.
New legislation about HMO will soon be in effect (See WInton Forum Website for more details).
Current legal situation is in a state of flux and as such there are no decisions about HMO lobby.
National Consultation is ongoing.
Please use the form to object to the Core Strategy.

8:05 Anson Westbrook
Announces that Connor Burns indicated he supports our cause when questioned at last meeting.

Start of Questions and Answers.

8:10
Q Where do we stand with current HMO legislation?
A (D.S.) Current law still stands until new legislation comes to force

Q Do they need planning permission to convert to HMO?
A (P.O.) Need to consult Article of Direction. For Category 4 then need planning permission.
For more details, contact Nigel Billit at Bournemouth Council.

Q Regarding 2-4 Acland Road and Firbank Road, how can we object to the appeal?
We have also heard that the Council are selling of Old toilet sites; this could potentally make the site larger and thus easier to develop.
A (A.W.) Need to object on Parking spaces which could be a problem and refer to Strategy for parking provision. Also use the fact that emergency vehicles will have restricted acces.

Q How can we find out about the council selling off toilet site?
A (D.S.) Contact Larry Austin at Bournemouth Council

Q When a planning application comes in and there are a large number of objections, how does the planning department make its decision.
A (D.S.) The Planning department will tend to refer to the Residential Design Guides

Q We heard there might be a covenant on the property in Firbank Road. Will than stop the planning application going ahead.
A (D.S.) Covenants are not a planning issue. Unless you do the research and can prove that the covenant has those restrictions.

Q The house next door to me has students in it. The son of the landlady is joint owner. Will then need to apply for an HMO to use the house for student lets.
A The house can be used legally as a Student Let.

Q If a planning application is refused due to a large number of objection, then the applicant can appeal against the Council decision, does that not make the Council rather useless.
A Unfortunately, this is the law. You will need to go through the process all over again with probably some newer information.

Q Does the planning department take into consideration the packing of communities when considering a planning application.
A1 Unfortunately, the law is not on our side regarding this matter, so the council is rather powerless.
A2 Unfortunately there is not much we can do on Student Lets but legislation is going to change. According to the Bournemouth council statistics, 13% of housing in Winton is HMO making it one of the densest student population in Bournemouth at approximately 25%. If you want to object to HMOs you will need to write to your council.

Q What percentage of housing in Bournemouth are Housing Associations.
A There are no Housing Associations. If you're referring to Dave Wells, we think he's doing a great job. Some of his properties have the highest build standards, and to be honest if it wasn't for him, we don't know where the Bournemouth Council Housing would be in order to meet their housing targets.

Q Is there a way to make the students pay their Council Tax.
A This is not up to the Council. If you need the law changed, you will need to lobby your MP.

Q What is Bournemouth Council doing as far as pushing upwards the requests of its Residents. We all know the Council can push down on its residents, but what is it doing for its residents.
A To be honest, the only way you will get anything done is by lobbying your MP.

Q Part of Green Road is all Student Lets, and most days it is impossible to walk on the pavement as all the space is taken up by wheelie bins from the Students. Should something be done.