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Minutes of a Meeting of the Executive Committee held at 18 Sandbourne Road, Westbourne 1.00pm on Monday 27th February 2023

 

Present: Ken Mantock (Chairman), Jean Bird (Vice Chairman), Jean-Daniel Kursner, Sally McGrath (Membership Secretary), John Soane (Built Environment Officer), Hilda Brownlow and  Phil Stanley-Watts

 

Apologies: Elaine Cooper and Alex McKinstry

 

 

A presentation was received from the developers of Holland House, Oxford Road, Lansdowne.

Nick Hornby, Chris Wilkinson and Mark Gorton gave a detailed and well illustrated presentation of their plans for redeveloping the Holland House site with a new residential complex in three blocks, the tallest being 28 storeys. They explained the design rationale and the local context as well as the demographic/economic case for the development and answered members questions. A planning application would be submitted to the Council shortly and the Society would comment at that stage. In the meanwhile the Chairman thanked them for sharing their proposals and for engaging with the Society.

 

  1. The minutes for the meeting held on 30th January 2023 were agreed.

 

  1. Matters Arising from the Minutes – None
  2. Built Environment.
  • Bournemouth Seafront – A further £2.5M on top of the original £18m had been awarded by Government under its Levelling Up agenda to BCP Council for the improvement of Bournemouth Seafront. Great news.
  • Environmental Hub – the new building at Durley Chine has finally opened a year or so late.
  • Holland House, The Lansdowne – Comments would be made at planning application stage but the case for the scheme had been well made during the presentation at the beginning of this meeting.
  • Beales – Our comments on the change of use to residential featured in The Echo last week.
  • Lansdowne College   – The remodelling plans for the former Bournemouth and Poole College had been submitted so JS would review them in the next monthly digest. They did appear sensitive and a positive addition.

 

  • Southbourne:
  1. Southbourne Forum – JD remains in contact with the new Chairman but pending review of the BCS Cttee is holding off any long term commitments.
  2. Southbourne Cross Road car park flats plans – Keeping a watching brief.
  3. Cliff House Hotel – John S has reviewed plans for residential conversion– they are acceptable but it would be shame to see the loss of the hotel. JD has met the Manager.
  4. Benches and Seats – Letter received from Southbourne members re provision of public benches and seats – passed to local councillor
  5. Purbeck Court, Overcliff Drive – redevelopment of the block of flats had been approved by the Planning Committee.

 

  • Stour Valley Park – Details of latest proposals/plans circulated .
  • Council Leader  – Time will tell what impact on planning, conservation, development and open spaces the recent change of BCP Council leader from Cllr Mellor to Cllr Broadhead will make. The first never engaged with the Society and his replacement has only once responded  to  us. A sad situation compared to how Bournemouth Council used to function and its leading/cabinet members regularly engaging with community groups.

 

  1. Heritage and Conservation.
  • Upside down House – The plans for a further period of the tourist attraction staying in front of The Pavilion had been rejected by the Planning Officers but a revised plan has subsequently submitted after criticism by members of the public in The Echo

 

  1. See John Soane’s written report for January
  • 33 Uplands Road, Charminster – Alter and extend house – support
  • 44 Redhill Avenue- New bungalow on severed site – refuse
  • 10 Gorsecliff Road, Wallisdown- Side extension to house – refuse
  • 73 Newstead Road, West Southbourne – Extensions to house – refuse
  • 70 Ripon Road, Moordown- Extension and new dwelling – refuse
  • 26 Saint Michael’s Road – Alterations to create three flats – refuse
  • Land adjacent to 846 Christchurch Road, Boscombe- New flats and retail – support
  • 9 Keswick Road, Boscombe Manor – New dwelling on severed site – support
  • The Lodge, 16a Manor Road, East Cliff – Extensions to house – support
  • 110 Horsham Avenue, Kinson:- Extend existing bungalow and create new bungalow in grounds – refuse
  • Cliff House Hotel, Belle Vue Road, Southbourne – Conversion to flats – work to retain hotel use.
  • Majorca Mansions, Crescent Road – Mansard roof additional storey – support
  • 27-29 Meyrick Park Crescent – Alterations and heightening of link building – refuse

 

  1. Planning Committee .
  • February – Phil S-W attended the meeting on 8th February and reported: 908 Castle Lane West – redevelopment with 10 flats. Guildford Court, 29 Surrey Rd – additional storey to flatblock, 28 Brackendale Rd – amendments to previously approved scheme, St Swithuns House, 21 Christchurch Road – conversion to residential.

 

  • March – 16th March at 10am

 

  1. Communications Timetable.  It was agreed that the next newsletter would promote the AGM and that this would take place in June or July. A communication to members following up the call to arms in the recent newsletter would be prepared by the Chairman.

 

  1. Civic Voice.  Bulletins received and circulated.

 

  1. Membership Officer’s Report.
  • Sally –membership subscriptions for existing members being received.

 

  • JD – 40 members in Southbourne. The Phase 2 of the project was on hold pending outcome of BCS Committee call to arms.

 

  1.  Webmaster’s Report.
  • All up to date and  all enquiries being followed up. Emails received re Holland House, 12 Huntly Road and Guildford Court.

 

  1. Treasurer’s Report:
  • Current Account. £40,244.47
  • Charity Commission. Bulletin circulated to trustees.
  1. Prospects for the future of Bournemouth Civic Society.

 

Summary of discussion:

 

  • No nominations or suggestions had been received for new committee members following the call to arms in the Newsletter or JD’s meetings with BH6 members.

 

  • Jean did not wish to take on the Chairman’s role in a pro-tem arrangement.

 

  • Of the suggested new committee members mooted at the last meeting the following would be  contacted JN, OW, ROL, LH, JB.

 

  • The offer to have the monthly committee meetings at Bournemouth Library before or after their Heritage Talks to encourage new members and potentially work logistically for the new Committee was agreed in principal.

 

  • The current Chairman’s workload and how to delegate it amongst the committee was noted.

 

Tasks for a Chairman were:  Chairing meetings, arranging monthly meeting agendas, responding to general enquiries received by email and through the website and attending meetings of the committee and with councillors, developers, community groups and residents.

 

Tasks needing new Committee members to deliver were: arranging monthly meeting agendas, writing monthly meeting minutes, writing the Newsletter, reviewing the monthly planning application digest then editing them after each committee meeting and forwarding to BCP Planning, keeping the website up to date and keeping the Excel membership list up to date.

 

  • It was felt that with at least two current committee members wishing to stand down from the Committee and the Chairman wishing to stand down from his current role the Society was in real peril. The call to arms in the New Year Newsletter had gone unanswered and whilst a few people had been approached by JD no one had followed this up with action by contacting the Chairman or attending this Committee meeting. It was agreed most preferable that any new committee members / officers (especially Chairman) needed to attend a number of meetings to familiarise themselves with roles and responsibilities and then be nominated by the existing committee at the AGM rather than join and take on roles without any induction. A communication would be prepared by the Chairman for issue to members advising them of the seriousness of the situation and noting that without new Committee members the Society might have to close and then its remaining funds transferred to another local charity with similar aims and objectives (all to be in accordance with the Charity Commission).

 

  • Any Other Business.
  • Holdenhurst Road – The area was looking ropy despite the recent public realm investment due to so many closed and empty shops including the prominently sited KFC.

 

Next Meeting

 

Monday 27th March – 1pm at 18 Sandbourne Road, Westbourne. (JD gave advance apologies)

 

 

 

                                                                                                                        Ken Mantock              Chairman

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