Agenda item

(a)  Request from Scrutiny Board (Regeneration) for a Late Submission to DEFRA

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development requesting that Executive Board make a late submission to Defra following its consultation on proposals to reform the process of registration of land as Town and Village Greens and to introduce Local Green Space Developments based on the submission made by the Open Space Society.

(b)  A Response to a Request from Scrutiny Board (Regeneration) for a Late Submission to DEFRA

To consider the report of the Director of City Development informing Executive Board of the Council’s response to consultation undertaken by Defra regarding the reforms to the registration of town and village greens; and the issues identified for the Council in relation to the registration and future management of land designated as a town and village green. This report also seeks approval to decline the request of the Scrutiny Board (Regeneration) for the Council to make a late submission to Defra following its consultation on proposals to reform the process of registration of land as Town and Village Greens and to introduce local Green Space Developments based on the submission made by the Open Space Society.

(A)  A Request from Scrutiny Board (Regeneration) for a Late Submission to DEFRA on its Consultation to Reform the Process of Registration of Land as Town and Village Greens and to Introduce Local Green Space Developments

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report outlining a request from Scrutiny Board (Regeneration) that Executive Board make a late submission to DEFRA based upon that which had been previously submitted by the Open Space Society, in respect of the consultation exercise undertaken by DEFRA on proposals to reform the process by which land was registered as Town and Village Greens and to introduce Local Green Space designations. In determining this matter, the Board took into consideration all matters contained within the accompanying report.

Councillor J Procter, as Chair of Scrutiny Board (Regeneration), attended the meeting in order to introduce the report on behalf of the Scrutiny Board and to highlight the Board’s key findings.

On behalf of the Board, the Chair thanked the Scrutiny Board for the valuable work which the had undertaken on this matter.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the submitted report and the request made by the Scrutiny Board to make a late submission to DEFRA, be noted.

(B)  A Response to a Request from Scrutiny Board (Regeneration) for a Late Submission to DEFRA on its Consultation to Reform the Process of Registration of Land as Town and Village Greens and to Introduce Local Green Space Developments

The Director of City Development submitted a report informing of the Council’s response to consultation undertaken by DEFRA regarding the reforms to the registration of town and village greens, whilst highlighting the issues identified for the Council in relation to the registration and future management of land designated as a town and village green. In addition, the report sought approval to decline the request of the Scrutiny Board (Regeneration) for the Council to make a late submission to DEFRA, based on the previous submission made by the Open Space Society. In determining this matter, the Board took into consideration all matters contained within the accompanying report.

In responding to a suggestion regarding the possible designation of extra land within Leeds for public parks, via the Local Development Framework, it was requested that further work was undertaken on this matter.

The Board acknowledged and considered a view expressed during the discussion that a more robust submission should be made to DEFRA on behalf of the Council.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Council’s response to consultation undertaken by DEFRA regarding the reforms to the registration of town and village greens be noted.

(b)  That the issues for the Council in relation to the registration and future management of land designated as a town and village greens be noted.

(c)  That the request of Scrutiny Board (Regeneration) for the Council to make a late submission to DEFRA based on the submission made by the Open Space Society, following its consultation on proposals to reform the process of registration of land as Town and Village Greens and to introduce local Green Space Developments, be declined.

(d)  That further work be undertaken into the possible designation of extra land within Leeds for public parks, via the Local Development Framework.