Agenda item

The Chairman referred to the tabled information from the Police and to the information from the Fire and Rescue Service at page 45-46 of the agenda.

Su Thorpe, Leader of Salisbury City Council, gave an update on behalf of the City Council:

• On the following Monday, the City Council would be confirming its precept and budget for 2011/12.  It was anticipated that the precept for 2011/12 would be £85 per dwelling, although this was still subject to final approval by the Council.
• The plans for the refurbished children’s play area at the Queen Elizabeth Gardens were available for viewing at the City Council’s offices at 22 Bedwin Street.
• There would be a St Georges Day celebration on 25 April outside the Guildhall which would be open.
• The Mayor-making Council meeting would take place on 21 May.
• The next issue of City Voice was due out in the next fortnight.
• The Community Orchards programme would see its first sessions on 9 February at Fisherton Recreation ground, where 12 heritage apple trees would be planted.  The following day, on 10 February a mixture of apple and pear trees would be planted opposite Fotherby Crescent.
• Su offered the City Council’s congratulations to Jackie Waterhouse who had been awarded an MBE in the New Year honours list for MBE for voluntary service to catering and local government.
• The City Council had also been supporting SCCAP in the process of processing the data from questionnaires received in relation to the Community Plan. 

David Law of Laverstock and Ford Parish Council referred to the sad death of Frank Bissington during the previous week.  Frank had served as a Councillor for 16 years, including 7 years Laverstock Parish Chairman.  He had also represented the parish on the former Salisbury District Council for many years, and had also served as the Chairman of that Council in 2003/04.  In 2010, Frank had been made the first ever Freeman of the Parish of Laverstock and Ford.  His funeral would be held at St Andrews Church, Laverstock, on Wednesday 26 January 2011 at 11.15am.

Following this item, the Chairman referred to the Urgent Late Business relating to the release of R2 funding.  As noted at the start of the meeting, this report had not been included on the agenda, but had been accepted by the Chairman as Urgent Late Business, as to delay a decision until the next meeting of the Area Board would result in the loss of an additional £25,000 funding.

(Note: Having declared a prejudicial interest in this item, Councillor Paul Sample left the room during consideration of the issue)

It was noted that planning policy R2 provided for developers to make provision for recreational open space through either on-site provision, or by making financial contributions under Section 106 to a fund held by the Council, as planning authority.  Town/Parish Councils were then able to request money from this fund for suitable projects which fulfilled the legal requirements of the planning policy.  Requests for the release of funds of £30,000 and above were currently a decision for the Area Board to make.

On 25 July 2006 the former Salisbury District Council had approved a play area scheme for Hudson’s Field, to be funded by £95,000 from the R2 fund.  However, objections to the proposals had been received from local residents, and so Salisbury City Council had since requested that this money be reallocated to fund the refurbishment of the children’s play area at the Queen Elizabeth Gardens.  No objections had been received to this proposal from local residents, and the Area Board’s approval was now sought to this reallocation of funds.

Councillor Richard Clewer, the local Wiltshire Councillor for Queen Elizabeth Gardens, commented that he was aware of significant local support for the scheme and the desire to see the current equipment updated.  In addition, it was considered locally that the equipment should be aimed at young children and families, rather than teenagers, and the City Council’s designs reflected this need.

Reg Williams, the City Clerk, commented that this scheme was entirely separate from the proposals for a concert area in the Queen Elizabeth Gardens, and that this sought to replace the old playground with new equipment.  Consultation had been undertaken with the Friends of the Queen Elizabeth Gardens; the vast majority had been very supportive.  A vote had also been taken to choose the preferred plans.  An officer of the City Council had also spoken to local children to seek their input into the equipment selected, and the plans had been made available at the City Council’s offices at 22 Bedwin Street.

The Area Board councillors confirmed that they were satisfied with the level of consultation which had been undertaken by the City Council, however concern was raised in relation to the procedural anomaly whereby the Area Board was being asked to determine an issue which related to a City Council asset.  The Area Board wished to respect the autonomy of the City Council, and Councillor John Brady undertook to raise this issue with cabinet colleagues to clarify the decision making process for future R2 funding requests.

Decision

Salisbury Area Board approved Salisbury City Council’s request for £95,000 developer contribution money ring fenced to Salisbury City to fund the refurbishment of the children’s play area at Queen Elizabeth Gardens, Salisbury.

Reasons – To support the City Council in this project for the benefit of Salisbury residents.