The Eastleigh Local Area Committee met on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, and approved a series of financial allocations for local projects, new fees and charges for council services, and appointments to regulatory panels and outside bodies. Councillor Alex Bourne, Chair of the Committee, was absent, and Councillor Tanya Park, Vice-Chair of the Committee, read the Chair's report.

Financial Allocations

The committee approved a series of financial allocations for local projects, as detailed in the Finance Management Report. These allocations are funded from a combination of developers' contributions and the council's revenue budget. A proposed amendment to recommendation 11 was approved. The allocations include:

• £20,000 for the Fleming Park Paddling Pool and Play Area Improvement Project.
• £13,450 for replacement fencing at Brookwood Cemetery.
• £13,000 for earth mounds at Lawn Road Recreation Ground.
• £4,954.18 for earth mounds at Passfield Avenue Fair Ground.
• £11,000 for the Lakeside Play Area Improvement Project.
• £5,482 for improved disabled parking access at the North Stoneham Community Centre.
• £5,000 for flood prevention at Chatsworth Road.
• £9,580.50 for play area maintenance at Lawn Road and Leigh Road Play Areas.
• £95,000 for the Fleming Park Bowls Club artificial pitch refurbishment. This funding is contingent on the Fleming Park Bowls Club submitting an acceptable five-year club development plan.
• £5,000 for the Mela 2025.
• £141,576.38 for improvements to St Nicholas Church, Stoneham. This allocation is subject to the receipt of satisfactory information from St Nicholas Church regarding phase 1 of the improvements, and in agreement with the Local Area Manager, Chair and Vice Chair.
• £9,900 for target hardening measures at Fleming Park.

Fees and Charges

The committee approved the introduction of new fees and charges for cemeteries, the Energy Youth Centre, Lakeside Country Park, and parking within the Eastleigh Local Area, as detailed in the Fees and Charges Report and Fees and Charges Appendix 1. These changes will be implemented between October 2025 and April 2026.

The council aims to maximise income where possible and appropriate, with an expected minimum yield increase of 4.4%, based on the May 2025 CPI¹ + 1%.

Parking Fees

Changes to parking fees include:

• Bishopstoke Road Car Park: Introduction of a new up-to five hours tariff and an increase in the daily charge from £8 to £10 on Mondays to Fridays, while maintaining the up-to 90 minutes free parking. Saturday operating hours will be extended, and restrictions introduced on Sundays, mirroring Saturday charges. The free parking period for Saturday and Sunday will be extended from 90 minutes to 180 minutes, with a five-hour tariff introduced alongside an all-day rate. These changes are projected to generate an additional £30,000 in revenue.
• Swan Centre and Wells Place Car Park: Removal of the free after 6:00 pm offer and introduction of a new evening tariff of £2.00, payable from 6:00 pm. The daytime tariff will start from 9:00 am instead of 7:00 am.
• Romsey Road and Leigh Road Car Parks: Introduction of a flat rate for evening parking, operating from 6:00 pm to 8:00 am, excluding Sundays. The flat rate will be £2 for any length of stay during the charging period.
• General Tariff Increases: General tariff increases will be implemented via a Notice of Variation. Sunday and Bank Holiday tariffs for stays exceeding 1 hour will increase from £3.50 to £4.00 in Mitchell Road MSCP², Swan Centre, and Wells Place car parks. Swan Centre day tariffs will increase by an average of approximately 3%. Romsey Road, Leigh Road, Wells Place, and Hanns Way car parks will see an average increase of approximately 3%. Southampton Road car park tariffs will be frozen. All-day parking at Mitchell Road MSCP will be frozen at less than £6.
• Blue Badge Holders: Blue badge holders will be exempt from charges in Wells Place car park only during the evening tariff charging period, for a maximum stay of 4 hours.
• Mitchell Road MSCP – Resident Parking: Introduction of a resident parking permit for eligible local residents, subject to a 50% discount against the current season ticket price. Eligible residents include those without on-street permit provision or off-street parking, such as residents of Mitchell House, Mitchell Road, Market Street, Wells Road, Regal Walk, Postmark Place, Upper Market Street and Hanns Way.

A member of the public raised concerns that the increase in parking charges after 6pm will negatively impact his business, as many customers use the gym in the evening.

Appointments to Outside Bodies

The committee approved the nominations for the 2025/26 municipal year appointments to regulatory panels and other groups, as outlined in the Appointments to Outside Bodies Report and Appointments to Outside Bodies App 1.

The following nominations were approved:

• Licensing: All members of the Committee to be appointed to a pool from which any three can be selected.
• Licensing Panels as appointed by full Council for the purposes of the Licensing Act 2003 or the Gambling Act 2005: Councillor Alex Bourne, Councillor Wayne Irish, Councillor Tanya Park, and Councillor Rosemary Reynolds.
• Eastleigh Borough Council/Test Valley Liaison Group: Councillor Wayne Irish.
• Shopwatch: To be confirmed.
• Asian Welfare and Culture Organisation: Councillor Darshan Mann.
• Barton Peveril/ Eastleigh College Liaison Group: Councillors Cameron Spencer, Councillor Tanya Park, and Councillor Paul Bicknell, Cabinet Member for Regeneration (north) and Social Policy.
• Pavilion on the Park: Councillor Wayne Irish, Councillor Paul Bicknell, Cabinet Member for Regeneration (north) and Social Policy.
• The Hub: Councillor Steve Beer.
• University of Southampton (Wide Lane Sports Facilities - User Advisory Group): Councillor Paul Bicknell, Cabinet Member for Regeneration (north) and Social Policy.

Chair's Report

Councillor Tanya Park, Vice-Chair of the Committee, read the Chair's report, which included updates on:

• Lakeside Play Area Refurbishment: The refurbishment works at Lakeside Play Area are in their final stages and the facility is expected to be fully open within the next week or so.
• New Local Area Manager: Mel Stephens has joined Eastleigh Borough Council as the new Local Area Manager for Eastleigh Local Area Committee (ELAC) and Chandler's Ford & Hiltingbury (CFH).
• Community Events:
  • Eastleigh Pride took place on 6 September and was a success.
  • The Christmas Lights Switch-On will be held on 15 November.
  • The council will be supporting and attending Remembrance events in Eastleigh.

Planning Appeals

The committee noted the planning appeals that had been lodged and dismissed, as detailed in the agenda.

Appeals lodged:

• Pavement outside, 44-50 High Street, Eastleigh, SO50 5LE. Appeal against the Council's refusal of the installation of an internally illuminated digital Advertised Communication Hub Unit with Defibrillator.
• Pavement outside, Swan Centre Car Park, Eastleigh, SO50 5PB. Appeal against the Council's refusal of the installation of an internally illuminated digital Advertised Communication Hub Unit with Defibrillator.
• Pavement outside, 13 Leigh Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9FF. Appeal against the Council's refusal of the installation of an internally illuminated digital Advertised Communication Hub Unit with Defibrillator.
• 10 Oakfields, Eastleigh, SO50 4RP. Appeal against the Council's refusal of works to protected trees.
• Tall Oaks, 25 Compton Close, Eastleigh, SO50 4RE. Appeal against the Council's refusal of works to protected trees.

Appeals dismissed:

• 91 Leigh Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9DQ. Appeal against the Council's refusal for the change of use from offices to an 8-bedroom house in multiple occupation, with associated refuse and cycle storage, boundary treatment, and provision of parking.
• 17 O'Connell Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9GN. Appeal against the Council's refusal of the demolition of the existing outbuilding and the erection of a detached dwelling.