Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 16^th October 2025.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 16^th October were confirmed and signed.

To disclose any pecuniary, other registrable or non-registrable interests as set out in the adopted Code of Conduct. In making their disclosure councillors are asked to state the agenda item, the nature of the interest and any action they propose to take as part of their declaration.

If required, further advice should be sought from the Monitoring Officer in advance of the meeting.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made at the meeting.

Members of the public wishing to speak to the Committee on a planning application should notify the Democratic Services Officer listed on the front of this agenda. This must be done no later than two clear working days before the meeting. Please refer to the Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee.  Guide to Public Speaking at Planning Committee

The deadline for notifying a request to speak is 8.30am on Friday 21^st November 2025.

Representations by the public to the Committee on individual planning applications are detailed below. There were no questions, petitions or deputations received on other items on this occasion.

To amend the Register of Town and Village Greens by the addition of an area of land known as The Green, Birchdale Road, Wimborne, as shown on Drawing VG1-2024-1 attached as Appendix 1 in the report.

With the aid of a visual presentation including plans and aerial photographs, the Case Officer identified the site and outlined the proposal to members along with the relevant legal test for registration of the land as a Town or Village Green. The site, known locally as “The Green”, lay on the eastern side of Wimborne at the end of a cul-de-sac. A recent aerial image was reviewed, noting adjacent land proposed for development.

Members were informed that a planning application for the adjacent land had been refused, and a new planning application was in progress. As a result of the original planning application, part of the land included in the application for a Green could not be considered for registration.

The legal test for registration of a Green was considered in detail. An objection had been received from the owner of land to the east, raising concerns about the right to apply, neighbourhood cohesiveness, sufficiency of land use, and whether part of the land formed public highway. The applicant had been invited to comment and subsequently identified a cohesive locality they considered to meet the legal requirements as well as sufficient qualifying use. Officers had concluded that all elements of the legal criteria set out in the Common Act 2006 were met for part of the land subject to the application for a Green. Therefore, the officer recommendation was that application be accepted in part;

that:

a)    The application VG1/2024 to register land at Birchdale Road, Wimborne as Town or Village Green is accepted in part;

b)    The Register of Town and Village Greens should be updated by the addition of the area shown on Drawing VG1-2024-5 attached at Appendix 8.

Public Participation

Mrs J Whitfield reported that she had lived on Birchdale Road for 50 years and had used the green throughout that time. She explained that the area was originally created as a green area for the enjoyment and recreation of the residents as part of the estate’s development. After the developer became bankrupt, residents continued to use it as a safe children’s play space. With no other play area within a 30-minute walk, the green had served as a valued community space for social events, including coffee mornings and barbecues, and featured a donated bench and a jointly maintained garden. She stated that the green had strengthened community bonds and expressed her wish for it to be preserved for future generations

Members questions and comments

• Clarification was sought regarding the ownership of the land in cases where the previous owner had gone bankrupt and the Crown had not claimed the asset
• It was noted that the space had been well used by residents and members expressed best wishes for many more years of community use and celebration on the green.

Having had the opportunity to discuss the merits of the application and an understanding of all this entailed; having considered the officer’s report and presentation; the written representatives; and what they had heard at the meeting, a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

To consider any items of business which the Chairman has had prior notification and considers to be urgent pursuant to section 100B (4) b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The reason for the urgency shall be recorded in the minutes.

There were no urgent items.

To move the exclusion of the press and the public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). The public and the press will be asked to leave the meeting whilst the item of business is considered.  

There are no exempt items scheduled for this meeting.  

There was no exempt business.