Agenda item

*CALL IN - Accelerated Land and Property Disposals Programme - Phase 2

Following the receipt of a Notice of Call-in within the required deadline, from Councillor N Jones calling in the decision of the Cabinet set out in Minute CA.94 of the meeting held on the 30th June 2021 a meeting of the Committee has been convened in order to consider the matter in accordance with the reasons set out on the Notice of Call-In.

 

In considering the matter, the options available to the Scrutiny Committee are as follows:

 

1.   The Scrutiny Committee decides not to offer any comments on the Notice. In this situation the decision of the Cabinet will stand.

 

2.   The Scrutiny Committee decides to offer comments or

objections, which will be referred back to the Cabinet   

 

3.   The Scrutiny Committee may refer the Notice, without comment, to the Council. The matter will then be considered by the Council (a standard item appears on all Council summons to consider referrals from Scrutiny Committees). Any comments or objections from Council will be referred back to the Cabinet at the earliest opportunity, in accordance with the Council Constitution.

 

The Cabinet will be required to consider any objections and comments but will not be bound by them unless "it is contrary to the Policy Framework or contrary to or not wholly consistent with the Budget"

 

A copy of the original paperwork considered by Cabinet, along with the decision Minute and Call –in notice are attached in the agenda packs.

 

Minutes:

OSC.03

CALL IN – ACCELERATED LAND AND PROPERTY DISPOSALS PROGRAMME – PHASE 2

(A)       Call in members to present their reasons for Call in

Following the receipt of a Notice of Call-in within the required deadline, from Councillor N Jones calling in the decision of the Cabinet set out in Minute CA.94 of the meeting held on the 30th June 2021; Councillors Jones and Harris were invited to present their reasons for calling the matter in for further consideration.  In presenting their reasons the following points/issues were raised:

  • The importance of the land at Ryecroft, Whitefield to the local community.
  • Lack of consultation, lack of trust and confidence in the consultation process and poor engagement with local residents.
  • Concerned that green spaces would be built on.
  • Clarification as to the process for selection of the sites to be disposed of
  • Clarification as to whether the land could be offered to the community as a Community Asset transfer in the first instance.

Responding to the issues raised, the Leader of the Council reported that it is important for Elected Members to raise objections as early as possible, there were several opportunities for Members to raise objections, including when the Accelerated Land Disposal reported was considered at Cabinet.

The Leader reported that he is not prepared to make determinations on individual pieces of land at this meeting, this would be unfair, wrong, out of process and not in keep with policy established in Nov 2020.  There are several routes open to the community and he will encourage residents if they wish to do so, to progress a Community Asset Transfer. 

The Executive Director reported that in deciding the sites for disposal, Council Officers considered if the land was a) part of a regeneration programme, b) parkland or formal recreation area and c) the typology of the sites.  Some of the site identified will generate Capital receipts for the Council some, but not all will be used for new housing.

The Leader report that the Council adheres to the Gunning Principles when undertaking a consultation exercise.  The Leader reported that Councillors and Members of the public may disagree and may have differing views, but Members can be assured that these principles are adhere to. 

The Leader reported that CAT has been utilised successfully in the past and is open to members of the community and residents to pursue supported by Officers from the Council.

 

 

 

(B)       Questions and comments from committee members

 

In response to the Call in and also the comments by members of the public present as well as the Leaders statement, Committee members raised the following issues:

 

·         Responding to Councillor Kevin Peel, the Leader of the Council reported that there is continued pressure on the Council’s revenue budget, the capital receipts generated from the sale would help to lift the burden of some of the investment needed to underpin day to day running costs, including digital infrastructure, energy efficacy roads and green spaces.

·         In response to a Councillor Lucy Smith, the Leader reported that he is happy to look at different ways to engage with members of the public.  The Council will need to take important steps to rationalise the stock while at the same time look to invest in different areas within the Borough. 

·         In response to Councillor Birchmore the Leader reported that the Council can look at resources to support community assets, the CAT process is not always about outbidding an opponent, Councillor budgets can support these improvements, as well as Township and community hubs and pitch funding. 

·         Responding to a question from Cllr Dean, the Leader confirmed that he will ask Officers to review if consultation, in relation to land disposal could be undertaken in the same way as it is for planning applications, for example notices on streetlights etc

·         The Leader reported that Cllr Quinn with the national cycling academy, has led the consultation in relation to the site at Philips Park.  Discussions are ongoing with the environment agency, forest of trees, the Council and friends of Phillips Park to develop a proposal for this site.  The site is unusual in that it is a brownfield site in a green belt area, this will be however further examined if plans proceed to the planning stage.

·         The Leader reported that it is difficult to choose specific sites for C.A.T. the intention however is clear, the Council believes that they can generate capital receipts to invest into Council assets.  It is important to say the CAT is at the heart of the proposals as much as is a land sale or a managed disposal or development all have an equal weighting.  Some sites will be much more appropriate to progress a C.A.T.

 

 

Councillor LJ Dean moved, and Councillor Birchmore seconded, that the following recommendation

“The scrutiny committee advises the Cabinet to put on hold the planned disposal of land sales until full consultation is undertaken with local residents.”

Be forwarded from Overview and Scrutiny to Cabinet, and On being put, with 3 voting for, 5 against, the motion was lost.

Councillor K Peel moved, and Councillor L Smith seconded, that the following recommendation

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee strongly support Community Asset Transfers and recommend to Cabinet that policies are reviewed and strengthened to incorporate earlier communication with residents.

Be forwarded from Overview and Scrutiny to Cabinet, and On being put

It was agreed unanimously, that

 

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee strongly support Community Asset Transfers and recommend to Cabinet that policies are reviewed and strengthened to incorporate earlier communication with residents.

 

Supporting documents: