The Place and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Panel convened to discuss a range of topics, including the Community Infrastructure Levy programme, reviews of the Rural England Prosperity Fund and Shared Prosperity Fund, an update on the waste strategy, flood and coastal erosion risk management, climate change and nature emergency, and corporate plan performance.

Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Programme

The panel was scheduled to review the programme for strategic CIL projects. A report was prepared to update the panel on five strategic CIL projects approved by the cabinet in October 2024:

• Ringwood town centre
• Milford on Sea seafront
• Bath Road Lymington
• Totton town centre
• Improved walking routes between the New Forest National Park and surrounding communities

The report noted that the council adopted a revised CIL Charging Schedule in October 2024, allocating £4.5 million to the five projects. The report recommended that the panel provide comments to the cabinet and support the recommendations to:

1. Note the Progress of work to date and the direction of travel on the Strategic CIL projects as set out in paras 10 to 50 of this report.
2. Approve that the concept designs proceed to detailed design and tendering of full works.

The report stated that a new dedicated project manager was appointed to ensure timely delivery, engaging with departments, partners and parishes. Consultants were also appointed to prepare concept designs for costing.

For the Ringwood town centre 'Thriving Market Place' project, Indigo Urban Design, partnered with Moorhouse, were appointed to develop a master plan concept in partnership with Ringwood Town Council and Hampshire County Council (HCC). The plan would consider improvements to the Market Place, including narrowing the carriageway, widening footpaths, removing on-street parking, adding accessible crossings, introducing trees, and standardising signage. Initial works were scheduled to focus on the Market Place area near Meeting House Lane. The report also noted that consultants were proposing replicating parts of the original Drovers Route from the Furlong car park across the junction. The original estimate for the full scheme was £2.7 million, but officers proposed allocating £1 million from CIL funds, along with £505,966.13 from unspent Section 106¹ transport funds. An additional £1.5 million may be required.

For the Milford on Sea seafront project, ECA architects were appointed to produce a concept design, with engagement sessions held with Milford on Sea Parish Council. The emerging concept plan included:

• a sense of Place revisioning and arrival at the café building and main car park.
• wayfinding, with walking and cycling improvements
• supporting appropriate commercial opportunities through 'pop up style building's.'
• creating additional children's play areas.
• contribution to essential Sea Wall defence works at the eastern end of Milford on Sea Promenade.
• raised footpath creation alongside purposeful renaturing fit for a harsh marine environment to the eastern end of site to 'The Lighthouse' restaurant.

Officers proposed allocating £1 million towards this project, with a potential £950,000 extra required if the public convenience block and café were included.

For the Bath Road, Lymington project, ECA architects were appointed to undertake concept designs, with engagement sessions held with Lymington and Penington Town Councillors. Initial ideas included a new play area, a splash park or water feature, removal of the seawater pond and bandstand, increased space for outdoor performances, and cycling and walking improvements. A scheme could be delivered with the anticipated £1 million budget and £100,000 from Lymington and Pennington Town Council, but a further £1 million would likely be required to incorporate all aspirations.

For the Totton town centre regeneration, AR Urbanism were appointed in January 2025 to develop a Totton Town Centre Masterplan. Consultants were preparing a concept design on two schemes: a new town square between the police station, library, civic centre and social club, and access improvements through Brokenford Lane. A total budget of £2 million (circa £1 million for each) would likely be required for implementation of these schemes, with a recommendation of potential additional funding to be presented to Cabinet.

For the improved walking routes between the National Park and surrounding communities, the New Forest National Park Authority appointed a consultant to undertake a wayfinding study on the existing trails. It was proposed that £500,000 should be allocated towards this project.

Rural England Prosperity Fund Review 2023-2025 and Shared Prosperity Fund Review 2023 - 2025

The panel was scheduled to review outcomes and lessons learned regarding the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) 2023 – 2025 and Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Review 2023 – 2025. The UKSPF provided £2.6 billion of funding intended to reduce inequalities between communities. New Forest District Council received an allocation of £1 million to cover the financial years 2022 – 2025. The council's investment plan was approved by Cabinet on 29 July 2022. New Forest District Council's REPF allocation was £540,115 (capital) to cover the period 2023 – 2025. The core priorities of the REPF were to:

• support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes farm businesses looking to diversify income streams.
• support new and improved community infrastructure, providing essential community services and assets for local people and businesses to benefit the local economy.

In March 2023, Cabinet approved a proposal to split the allocation of this funding with 60% towards business support projects and 40% towards community infrastructure projects.

19 projects were awarded UKSPF funding, with most funding directed toward improving communities and places. REPF funding was heavily subscribed to, resulting in 12 business grant awards and 10 community grant awards. A common theme that emerged for businesses and community organisations was regeneration of buildings making them more energy efficient through installation of renewable energy technology.

The panel was asked to note the success of the New Forest District Council UKSP and REPF Programmes 2022 – 2025, and consider the lessons learnt from the 2022 – 2025 programmes.

Christchurch Bay & Harbour Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy

The panel was scheduled to receive a report proposing the Readoption (2025) of the Christchurch Bay & Harbour Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy, following amendments required as a result of the Environment Agency assurance process.

The points raised by the Environment Agency Large Project Review Group (LPRG) were summarised as follows:

• The affordability of the Strategy was challenged due to the lack of an affordability statement (creating uncertainty).
• There was a variation in outcomes starting from 2026.
• Framework allows changes but lacks clarity on dates and triggers.
• Re-evaluation may cause delays and increase costs.
• Delays could expose communities to higher risks due to asset degradation.

The report stated that the Affordability Assessment concluded that there was low affordability in Epoch-1 (0-20 yr) for the leading options for the following Option Development Units (ODU's):

• Naish Cliff & Barton-on-Sea (ODU 14) within SMZ 14
• Rook Cliff (ODU 17) & Milford on Sea (ODU 18) within SMZ 16

Within the NFDC area, revisions were made to the starting point of the identified options as follows:

• ODU 14 (Naish Cliff & Barton-on-Sea) reduced scheme (capital refurbishment only)
• ODU 17 (Rook Cliff) Defence upgrading works to commence later
• ODU 18 (Milford-on-Sea) Defence upgrading works to commence later

The report recommended that Cabinet recommend that Full Council approve and adopt the revised Strategy, with the recommended leading options identified in the Christchurch Bay & Harbour Flood & Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) Strategy for the New Forest District Council area, subject to securing the necessary funding contributions.

Annual Report on Climate Change and Nature Emergency

The panel was scheduled to receive the Climate Change and Nature Emergency Annual Update 2024/25, which provides an update on progress towards achieving the aims of the Climate Change and Nature Emergency Declaration (CCNED).

The report noted that the UKSPF and REPF programmes as delivered in the New Forest have supported all three of the Council's Corporate Plan priorities.

The report recommended that the panel acknowledge activities undertaken and efforts made by NFDC and its partners, and continues to support the development of longer-term Climate Change and Nature Emergency strategic objectives.

Corporate Plan Key Performance Indicator Dashboard Quarter 1 2025/26

The panel was scheduled to receive the Corporate Plan: Key Performance Indicator Dashboard for Quarter 1 - 2025/26 for items falling under this Panel. Data was presented for 23 of the KPIs.

The report noted that planning measures performed very well, above local and government targets, the number of households using the chargeable garden waste service has dipped slightly, and there were 870 fly-tipping incidents in the last quarter.

Other Business

The panel was also scheduled to discuss the panel's work programme for the coming months and confirm the dates for future meetings. The work programme 2025/2026 included discussion of the Environmental Enforcement Policy, Closed Cemetery Policy, Management of New and Existing Open Spaces, Tree Strategy, the Corporate Plan Key Performance Indicator Dashboard for Quarter 2 2025/26, the Car Parking Action Plan, the Public Realm Strategy, and Local Plan Updates. The confirmed dates for future meetings were 18 June 2026, 10 September 2026, 14 January 2027 and 11 March 2027.