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Chair’s Blog of the HRA Committee Meeting of Monday 13th June 2016

Chair’s Blog of the HRA Committee Meeting of Monday 13th June 2016

The main issues discussed at the HRA Committee on 13th June were as follows:

  • The Committee welcomed Sarah Watts (Senior Public Affairs Officer, University of Southampton) and Hayley Morrison (Hampshire Constabulary).
  • The minutes of the meeting on 9th May were approved.
  • There are still tickets for the Paella Evening on 1st July. Various suggestions were made as to how best to convey information about the event to members and others.
  • Sarah Watts brought the Committee up to date with developments at the University. Under the new Vice Chancellor, the University was reviewing its overall strategy with an emphasis on excellence in everything it does, including its infrastructure. There was also a new Chief Operating Officer, Ian Dunn and, from July, new Sabbatical Officers at the Student Union. Groundworks were commencing for the new Teaching and Learning Centre together with landscaping at the end of Salisbury Road. Questions were asked about the University’s further expansion, about future plans for accommodating students, about the University’s latest thinking on cycle paths from the campus, and about bins being left on pavements when the students go down. It was agreed to discuss these further at the next meeting.
  • Simon Hill reported on recent developments affecting the Common. There was still time to send in comments about Council proposals concerning the paddling pool/play area and the bye-law change to permit cycling on all tarmac paths across the City. A Section 106 order would cover remedial work by the University at the end of Salisbury Road consequent on agreement to the new Teaching and Learning Centre. The Council had agreed to a 20 mph restriction on Highfield Road but there remained a number of issues concerning junctions and protection for road users. The planning application for widening Lover’s Walk to create a ‘super-cycleway’ had been withdrawn but would likely reappear. Even if approved, specific consent would still be required from the Secretary of State since part was on Common land. It was agreed that, together with SCAPPs and other interested parties, HRA should consider taking legal advice about the continuing validity of the 1969 High Court judgement limiting work on the Common to the needs of recreational users. The Association would continue to press for urgent remedial work on the path outside 1-5 Highfield Road.
  • The Chair reported on a successful meeting of residents’ associations and others interested in establishing a Forum to act as a sounding board for Common-related issues. In due course it would be necessary to appoint an HRA representative.
  • A number of planning matters were discussed. The Committee were pleased to learn of the dismissal of the appeal at 38 Grosvenor Road, and especially the Inspector’s emphasis on the character of the area and the SPD. The Council’s decision to once again have a single Planning and Rights of Way panel was also gratifying. No response had been received to the Chair’s letter to the Council’s Solicitor about the absence of written legal advice on the Salisbury Road application and Councillor Claisse offered to follow this up. The Secretary would be writing to object to the application at 5 Portswood Avenue and would consider the application at 103a Highfield Lane. There was a hearing on the licensing application on 186-188 Portswood Road (Tramstop Bar) on 22nd
  • A number of problems had occurred in the transition from the old to the new email database, but these were being resolved. The Committee agreed that if necessary, and because of the size of the membership, we might have to pay a very small sum each month to a hosting company in future. The Committee expressed its continuing gratitude to Nadine Johnson and Ross Gordon for their efforts here.
  • Under Any Other Business, the Chair reported that he had received a note from Roret Blue informing him that she had now moved to Shirley but valued her association with HRA and would still be active in the area.
  • The next meeting is on 11th

Roger Brown, Chair