Joint Meeting of the Environment and Leisure and Youth Policy and Review Panels - Tuesday, 7th November, 2017 7.00 pm - Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman for the Joint Panel meeting.

RESOLVED:  That Cllr Mrs. D.B. Bedford be appointed Chairman for the joint meeting of the Environment and Leisure and Youth Policy and Review Panels.

To appoint a Vice-Chairman of the Joint Panel meeting.

RESOLVED:  That Cllr. D.S. Gladstone be appointed Vice-Chairman for the joint meeting of the Environment and Leisure and Youth Policy and Review Panels.

To receive a presentation by the Head of Community and Environmental Services following the completion of the recent consultation on the future of Southwood Golf Course. The presentation will cover:

·         SANG requirements and options in Rushmoor

·         Southwood Golf Course background and operation

·         Consultation process

·         Results from consultation

·         Decision making process

·         Options for the way forward

The Joint Panel will be asked to consider making a recommendation to the Cabinet, which is scheduled to consider the issue on Tuesday 12th December, 2017.

A copy of the original joint report to the Cabinet (COMM1714 and PLN1720 on 25th July, 2017) is attached as background information. In addition, the analysis report from the consultation is also attached.

The Cabinet Members for Leisure and Youth and Environment and Service Delivery have been invited to attend.

The Joint Panel meeting considered the options for the future of Southwood Golf Course following the completion of the recent consultation.  The Joint Panel was asked to make a recommendation to the Cabinet which was scheduled to consider the issue on Tuesday 12^th December, 2017.  The Cabinet Members for Leisure and Youth (Cllr M.L. Sheehan) and Environment and Service Delivery (Cllr M.J. Tennant) were in attendance.

The consultation had been carried out due to a requirement for the Council to identify additional Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) to continue to deliver the regeneration of the Borough’s town centres and meet housing needs.  The purpose of the consultation was to seek views on the option of converting Southwood Golf Course into new natural open parkland which would become SANG and allow for around 2,500 new homes to be built in the Borough.

The Joint Panel received a presentation from the Head of Community and Environmental Services which provided information on the SANG requirement and options in Rushmoor, the background to Southwood Golf Course, results of the consultation process and options for the way forward.

SANG was required as the whole of Rushmoor Borough was located within 5km of the Thames Basin Heath Special Protection Area (SPA).  European law required housing developers to provide or contribute towards SANG as an alternative for recreational activities to encourage visitors away from the SPA.  Current SANG had diminished with only 23 dwellings left in Rushmoor at the end August 2017.  The housing need in Rushmoor from 2014-2032 required a minimum of 7,850 new dwellings.  To date 836 had been completed with a further 4,897 permissions granted with SANG allocation.  The Wellesley Woodland SANG had been ringfenced for the 3,850 properties in the Wellesley development.  To deliver the housing numbers identified in the Local Plan, SANG was required for up to 3,000 new homes.

The Council had already explored alternative options for the provision of SANG for the Borough including Ball Hill in Farnborough and Farnham Quarry but neither were viable due to landowner aspirations and Natural England requirements.  There were emerging options at Bramshot and Hawley Park Farm, Blandford House and Tongham Pools and the Council was also exploring with Natural England whether there was any residual surplus SANG at Wellesley.  None of these sites were within Council ownership and therefore could not be guaranteed.

Due to the difficulties in identifying other potential SANG in Rushmoor the Cabinet had considered the possibility of converting the Southwood Golf Course into natural open parkland to include walking, cycling, fitness trails and natural play structures.  The tender for the Golf Course was due for renewal in Spring 2019 and it currently cost the Council £40,000 per annum.  The Council recognised the social, sporting and health benefits the Golf Course provided and that 25,000 rounds per annum rounds of golf were played by casual players, season ticket holders, club members and societies.  There were alternative golf courses within a ten mile radius which generally accepted new members and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.