The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member
Development presented the background papers to a decision which had
been called-in in accordance with the Council’s
Constitution.
The following papers were included with the
agenda:
- Copy of completed call-in request
form
- Report of the Acting Director of
City Development
- Relevant extract of Executive Board
minutes of 9 March 2011.
The Chair welcomed the following to the
meeting for this item:
- Councillor Rachel Procter, Call-in
Signatory
- Mr Evans – Thorner Resident
- Councillor G Hall, Barwick in Elmet and
Scholes Parish Council
- Mr S Wood, Clerk to Thorner Parish Council
- Mr Godson, Resident of Morwick Avenue
- Martin Farrington, Acting Director,
City Development
- Christine Addison, Acting Chief
Asset Management Officer
- Jane Cash, Senior Project
Manager
- Councillor Adam Ogilvie, Executive Member
Councillor R Procter addressed the
meeting and raised the following
concerns as part of the reason for calling in the decision:
- Lack of consultation with Ward
Members, Parish Councillors and other local representatives.
- Some consultation was held with Ward
Members, but not until after the report to Executive Board had been
written.
- Concern regarding increased traffic
at the Thorner/A64 junction.
- Issues with land drainage in the
area.
- Close proximity of the cemetery to
local sports pitches.
Mr Evans raised the following concerns:
- Lack of consultation with local
residents and the Parish Council.
- The area concerned was not suitable
for a cemetery, the adjacent sports ground was frequently
waterlogged as was land at Whinmoor
Grange Farm.
- Alternative sites had not been
considered.
- There would be an increase in
accidents at the Thorner/A64 junction.
Councillor G Hall raised the following
issues:
- Concern that the Parish Council was
only made aware of this 3 days before the Executive Board
meeting and that they had not been
consulted. It was felt that Leeds City
Council had not honoured its obligations as outlined in the Town
and Parish Council Charter. Mr Wood of
Thorner Parish Council also raised
concerns that consultation was not carried out in line with the
Charter and requested that the decision be deferred until proper
consultation was undertaken.
- Highways issues – including
increased volumes of traffic and accident statistics.
- Concern raised by residents of
Morwick Terrace
Mr Godson, a resident of Morwick Terrace addressed the meeting. He informed the Board of the following
concerns:
- Lack of consultation with
residents
- The fields planned to be used
remained in a poor condition through out the year.
- Due to the slope of the land and
problems with drainage, the houses at Morwick Terrace had problems with flooding.
- It was felt that the proposals would
devalue the properties
- Close proximity of the proposed
cemetery to gardens.
- Impacts on wildlife.
- Landscaping of the site and
screening views from local properties
In response to the comments and concerns
raised, Martin Farrington addressed the meeting. He gave a full background and history to the
cemetery proposals at Whinmoor Grange
including the planning permission that was granted in 2002, and
previous reports to Executive Board in 2006 and 2008. There was a need to increase provision in the
North East of the City as it was estimated there was only a 20
month supply left elsewhere. It was
further reported that at this stage, the decision of the Executive
Board was to approve the consultation process to be undertaken.
In response to Members comments and questions,
the following issues were discussed:
- The consultation process was being
drafted. This would include input from
Planning, Highways, Land Drainage, Sport England, faith groups and
others.
- Concern that expenditure for the
construction of the site had been approved without the appropriate
consultation.
- Potential sites for alternative
provision.
- In response to questions regarding
planning provision, it was confirmed that planning permission was
still live for the proposed area.
- Test holes had been dug at the site
in October 2010 and had not shown a problem with water retention
– it was possible that further testing could be carried
out. The Environment Agency had been
consulted with regards to surface water and no problems had been
identified.
- Expenditure on the scheme would not
be progressed without further consultation.
Councillor R Procter was invited to summarise
the call-in and reiterated the issues already raised.