Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting

NOTICE OF MEETING

The next Beaulieu Parish Council Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting will be held on Tuesday 12^th May 2026 at 6.00 pm at Beaulieu Village Hall to review:

1. The 2025/26AGARand accompanying disclosures
2. The current Risk Assessment
3. The currentAssetRegister
4. Any revised policies to be put to the Annual General Meeting
5. The current insurance cover and future policy
6. The draft 2026AnnualReview
7. The election of Internal Auditor for 2026/27

Nicky Deering

Clerk to Beaulieu Parish Council

8^th May 2026

Parish Council Statement on Hartford Woods Planning Application

Earlier today, Beaulieu Parish Council addressed the New Forest National Park Authority Planning Committee regarding Application 25/01405 – Field west of the Tree House Study Centre, Hartford Woods.

Given the level of public interest and the range of views expressed locally and in the press, we are publishing a verbatim transcript of the statement delivered on behalf of the Parish Council.

The Council believes that open and transparent communication is particularly important where planning applications attract significant community interest and differing perspectives.

Click here to read the full statement. 

21 April 2026

Local Government Reorganisation

The proposals confirm that our area will form part of a new unitary authority aligned with other predominantly rural communities. This reflects the strong shared identity and characteristics of these areas and is welcomed.

However, it is also clear that the New Forest as a whole will be divided, with areas along the Solent joining a separate authority centred on Southampton. This will be disappointing to many residents and stakeholders who value the New Forest as a single, coherent area.

These decisions have been taken at a national level, and the Parish Council recognises that the focus must now be on ensuring a smooth and effective transition.

We will work constructively with Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council, and the emerging unitary authority over the coming years to represent the interests of Beaulieu and secure the best possible outcomes for our community.

The Parish Council will continue to keep residents informed as further details emerge.

Forestry England introducing car parking charges

Beaulieu Parish Council has today written to the Chief Executive of Forestry England regarding the proposed introduction of car parking charges across the New Forest. The Parish Council is concerned that car park charging will soon be introduced without evidence available to the public demonstrating compliance with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), as required under the Equality Act 2010.

Due to the significance of the issues raised, this request has also been sent to the Minister for Nature. The Council has asked for the implementation of the scheme to be paused until compliance with PSED can be either guaranteed or the process fully completed as required by law.

The Parish Council has also formally requested, under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR), key documents that have not yet been made available to local communities, despite Forestry England’s previous undertaking to do so. These include risk assessments (including those on displacement parking), the business case, and supporting analysis underpinning the proposal.

Please click here for our Press Statement.

Governance

The parish council's Standing Orders and Policies set out how it operates. Its financial dealings are managed under its Financial Regulations and its approved annual budget, which also sets the annual Precept. NFDC pays our Precept in two instalments during the year and then includes this in its Council Tax charge. The 2026/27 Precept is £23,832. The details of this charge are set out in the approved 2026/27 budget.

The parish council's activities last year were reported earlier this year in its 2025 Annual Review.