Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Bard, Brian Burling, Andrew Fraser, Raymond Matthews, Tony Orgee, David Whiteman-Downes and Tim Wotherspoon.

To receive any declarations of interest for items on this agenda.

No declarations of interest were made. 

This extraordinary meeting of Council has been called to consider the Inspectors’ decision to suspend the examination of the submitted Local Plan. This follows receipt of a requisition signed by Councillors Philippa Hart, Janet Lockwood, Bridget Smith, Hazel Smith and Aidan Van de Weyer on 21 May 2015.

A copy of the letter received from Inspectors Laura Graham and Alan Wood on 20 May 2015 is attached, together with a briefing note that was circulated to all Members of the Council in response to the letter.

Council RESOLVED the following motions:

(1)        That this Council notes the letter from the Inspectors regarding the suspension of the Local Plan examination and their call for more work on the evidence supporting the Plan. It welcomes the opportunity to address the Inspectors’ preliminary concerns at this stage and looks forward to the officers presenting their plan and timetable for the additional work to the Planning Portfolio Holder and, subsequently, to present their findings, their evidence and any new or additional recommendations to Full Council at the earliest opportunity.  The Council requests officers to provide a timetable for this process by the end of June, and anticipates that all this work will be completed and the plan will be ready for resubmission to the Inspector not later than 31 December 2015.  The Council agrees to satisfy all reasonable requests for the resources necessary to adhere to this timescale.

(2)        That we also call on this Council to commission immediate independent advice on how we can best manage the speculative planning applications which we are undoubtedly going to have to deal with in significant numbers over an unspecified period.

Councillor Sue Ellington, Chairman, proposed that Standing Order 12.1(a), regarding Notice of Motions, be suspended to enable Council to consider two motions that had been received after the expiration of the required seven working days’ notice.  Councillor David McCraith, Vice-Chairman, seconded the proposal and it was unanimously AGREED.

Councillor Ellington also proposed that Standing Order 14.10, regarding motions which may be moved during debate, be suspended to enable the two motions to be moved and seconded, with there being one debate prior to individual votes being held on the two motions.  Councillor McCraith seconded the proposal and it was unanimously AGREED.

Councillor Bridget Smith, Leader of the Opposition, proposed that Standing Order 12.5, regarding the maximum time limit for the consideration of motions, be suspended to enable debate of both motions to continue beyond one hour.  Councillor Sebastian Kindersley seconded the proposal.

Voting on the proposal, with 23 votes in favour 22 votes against and 1 not voting, the proposal was lost as the required two-thirds of Members present and voting did not vote in support.  Enough Members as prescribed in the Council’s Standing Orders requested a recorded vote for this proposal.  Votes were therefore cast as follows:

In favour

Councillors Val Barrett, Henry Batchelor, Anna Bradnam, Nigel Cathcart, Christopher Cross, Jose Hales, Philippa Hart, Tumi Hawkins, James Hockney, Peter Johnson, Sebastian Kindersley, Douglas de Lacey, Janet Lockwood, Mervyn Loynes, Cicely Murfitt, Des O’Brien, Robin Page, Deborah Roberts, Bridget Smith, Hazel Smith, Edd Stonham, Aidan Van de Weyer and John Williams.

Against

Councillors Tom Bygott, Grenville Chamberlain, Graham Cone, Pippa Corney, Kevin Cuffley, Simon Edwards, Lynda Harford, Roger Hickford, Mark Howell, Caroline Hunt, Ray Manning, Mick Martin, David McCraith, Charles Nightingale, Alex Riley, Tim Scott, Ben Shelton, Peter Topping, Richard Turner, Robert Turner, Bunty Waters and Nick Wright.

Not Voting

Councillor Sue Ellington.

NOTE – Councillors Neil Davies and Roger Hall were not present at the meeting when this recorded vote took place.

Councillor Robert Turner, Portfolio Holder for Planning, proposed the following motion:

“This Council notes the letter from the Inspectors regarding the suspension of the Local Plan examination and their call for more work on the evidence supporting the Plan. It welcomes the opportunity to address the Inspectors’ preliminary concerns at this stage and looks forward to the officers presenting their plan and timetable for the additional work to the Planning Portfolio Holder and, subsequently, to present their findings, their evidence and any new or additional recommendations to Full Council at the earliest opportunity.”

NOTE – Councillor Neil Davies attended the meeting at this stage of proceedings.

Councillor Turner referred to the letter that had been received by the Inspectors dated 20 May 2015 and reminded Members that a briefing note was immediately circulated to all Members of the Council to ensure that they were kept up to date with the latest information and that he had also participated in a radio interview to discuss what this meant for the Local Plan examination.  Councillor Turner also  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.