Agenda item

This Council welcomes the Inspector’s proposed further Main Modifications to the Site Allocations Plan Remittal, which would delete the employment site at Barrowby Lane, Manston and see it remain as Green Belt Land.

 

Council believes that this outcome, if confirmed following the consultation period, would represent a vindication for opposition groups and members of the public who repeatedly argued that Barrowby Lane should remain in the Green Belt. This followed the successful High Court challenge that resulted in 37 Green Belt sites (including Barrowby Lane) being remitted for independent examination.

 

Council regrets that this administration did not take the opportunity at an earlier stage to listen to public feedback on the SAP proposals and retain this site as Green Belt land, despite this feedback being overwhelmingly in opposition to the Council’s position.

 

Council calls on this administration to ensure it undertakes thorough engagement and consultation throughout all future updates to the Site Allocations Plan, and that it listens and acts appropriately on the feedback it receives.

 

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.4(b), Councillor Barry Anderson moved the motion in the name of Councillor Andrew Carter, seconded by Councillor Smith that this Council welcomes the Inspector’s proposed further Main Modifications to the Site Allocations Plan Remittal, which would delete the employment site at Barrowby Lane, Manston and see it remain as Green Belt Land.

 

Council believes that this outcome, if confirmed following the consultation period, would represent a vindication for opposition groups and members of the public who repeatedly argued that Barrowby Lane should remain in the Green Belt. This followed the successful High Court challenge that resulted in 37 Green Belt sites (including Barrowby Lane) being remitted for independent examination.

 

Council regrets that this administration did not take the opportunity at an earlier stage to listen to public feedback on the SAP proposals and retain this site as Green Belt land, despite this feedback being overwhelmingly in opposition to the Council’s position.

 

Council calls on this administration to ensure it undertakes thorough engagement and consultation throughout all future updates to the Site Allocations Plan, and that it listens and acts appropriately on the feedback it receives.

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Firth, seconded by Councillor Alderson

 

Insert the following line after “in opposition to the Council’s position”:

 

“At time of writing a petition calling for the site to remain in the Green Belt had attracted more than 1,400 signatures.”

 

Motion would read:

 

This Council welcomes the Inspector’s proposed further Main Modifications to the Site Allocations Plan Remittal, which would delete the employment site at Barrowby Lane, Manston and see it remain as Green Belt Land.

 

Council believes that this outcome, if confirmed following the consultation period, would represent a vindication for opposition groups and members of the public who repeatedly argued that Barrowby Lane should remain in the Green Belt. This followed the successful High Court challenge that resulted in 37 Green Belt sites (including Barrowby Lane) being remitted for independent examination.

 

Council regrets that this administration did not take the opportunity at an earlier stage to listen to public feedback on the SAP proposals and retain this site as Green Belt land, despite this feedback being overwhelmingly in opposition to the Council’s position. At time of writing a petition calling for the site to remain in the Green Belt had attracted more than 1,400 signatures.

 

Council calls on this administration to ensure it undertakes thorough engagement and consultation throughout all future updates to the Site Allocations Plan, and that it listens and acts appropriately on the feedback it receives.

 

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Hayden, seconded by Councillor Gruen;

 

Delete all and replace with:

 

“This Council acknowledges the Inspector’s proposed further Main Modifications to the Site Allocations Plan Remittal, which would delete the employment site at Barrowby Lane, Manston and see it remain as Green Belt Land.

 

Whilst this was not the submitted proposal made by Council, Council welcomes the end of this Site Allocation Plan process, helping to prevent and protect residents from speculative development across the city. Council notes it has worked within the framework of legislation and national guidance that currently exists from Government, but notes the pattern throughout the Site Allocation Process of repeated changes to that national guidance and framework by Government. Council also notes this lack of consistency, alongside the dysfunction at the heart of Government and lack of inter-Governmental communication, has caused Council unnecessary and unwanted difficulty in planning positively for homes and jobs the people in Leeds need.

 

Council welcomes the extensive consultation and engagement carried out throughout all stages of the SAP, giving everyone a chance to make their voice heard and have their view considered. Council has and will continue to involve local people in both plan making and decision making, something that is enshrined in the updated statement of community involvement.

 

Despite the damage caused to the planning system by 12 years of dither, mismanagement and U-turns by the Conservative Government, Council remains resolute in our commitment to continuing to work with the people of Leeds to deliver appropriate development.”

 

A third amendment was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor Campbell;

 

After the final paragraph, add the following:

 

“Council furthermore regrets the dysfunction within the Westminster government over the past three years that has led to:

 

•  wildly differing views on planning reform within the governing party and the tendency to try to reduce the role of local government within the decision-making process

•  chronic delay in confirmation of the ultimate route of HS2 services to reach Leeds, and the blight resulting from the continuance of the ‘safeguarded land’ on the original proposed route for residents and business alike by being effectively quarantined from domestic or commercial development proposals.

 

Council therefore calls on the Chief Executive to write the relevant government departments expressing our concern on the delay of this decision and its effect on local planning.”

 

The amended White Paper will then read:

 

This Council welcomes the Inspector’s proposed further Main Modifications to the Site Allocations Plan Remittal, which would delete the employment site at Barrowby Lane, Manston and see it remain as Green Belt Land.

 

Council believes that this outcome, if confirmed following the consultation period, would represent a vindication for opposition groups and members of the public who repeatedly argued that Barrowby Lane should remain in the Green Belt. This followed the successful High Court challenge that resulted in 37 Green Belt sites (including Barrowby Lane) being remitted for independent examination.

 

Council regrets that this administration did not take the opportunity at an earlier stage to listen to public feedback on the SAP proposals and retain this site as Green Belt land, despite this feedback being overwhelmingly in opposition to the Council’s position.

 

Council calls on this administration to ensure it undertakes thorough engagement and consultation throughout all future updates to the Site Allocations Plan, and that it listens and acts appropriately on the feedback it receives

 

 

 

Council furthermore regrets the dysfunction within the Westminster government over the past three years that has led to:

 

•  wildly differing views on planning reform within the governing party and the tendency to try to reduce the role of local government within the decision-making process

•  chronic delay in confirmation of the ultimate route of HS2 services to reach Leeds, and the blight resulting from the continuance of the ‘safeguarded land’ on the original proposed route for residents and business alike by being effectively quarantined from domestic or commercial development proposals.

 

Council therefore calls on the Chief Executive to write the relevant Government Departments expressing our concern on the delay of this decision and its effect on local planning.

 

The amendments in the name of Councillor Firth and Councillor Golton were declared lost, the amendment in the name of Councillor Hayden was carried  and upon being put to the vote it was

 

RESOLVED – That this Council acknowledges the Inspector’s proposed further Main Modifications to the Site Allocations Plan Remittal, which would delete the employment site at Barrowby Lane, Manston and see it remain as Green Belt Land.

 

Whilst this was not the submitted proposal made by Council, Council welcomes the end of this Site Allocation Plan process, helping to prevent and protect residents from speculative development across the city. Council notes it has worked within the framework of legislation and national guidance that currently exists from Government, but notes the pattern throughout the Site Allocation Process of repeated changes to that national guidance and framework by Government. Council also notes this lack of consistency, alongside the dysfunction at the heart of Government and lack of inter-Governmental communication, has caused Council unnecessary and unwanted difficulty in planning positively for homes and jobs the people in Leeds need.

 

Council welcomes the extensive consultation and engagement carried out throughout all stages of the SAP, giving everyone a chance to make their voice heard and have their view considered. Council has and will continue to involve local people in both plan making and decision making, something that is enshrined in the updated statement of community involvement.

 

Despite the damage caused to the planning system by 12 years of dither, mismanagement and U-turns by the Conservative Government, Council remains resolute in our commitment to continuing to work with the people of Leeds to deliver appropriate development.

 

On the requisition of Councillor Cohen and Lamb the voting on the amendment in the name of Councillor Firth was recorded as follows;

 

YES - 29

 

Alderson, B Anderson, C Anderson, Buckley, Amanda Carter, Cohen, Firth, Flynn, Foster, Harrington, Lamb, Richards, Robinson, D Seary, S Seary, Shemilt, Smith, Stephenson, Wadsworth, Blackburn, Dobson, Field, McCormack, Campbell, Chapman, Golton, Lay, Finnigan and Newton.

 

NO - 53

 

Akhtar, Almass, Arif, Bithell, Bowden, Bromley, Brooks, Burke, Carlill, Coupar, Dowson, Dye, Farley, Flint, France-Mir, Garthwaite, Gibson, Grahame, Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, Z Hussain, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jenkins, Khan, Lennox, Lewis, Maloney, Marshall-Katung, Martin, McKenna, Midgley, Mulherin, Pryor, Rafique, Renshaw, Ritchie, Scopes, Sewards, Shahzad, Sharpe, Smart, Taylor, Thomson, Truswell, Tudor, Venner, Wilson and Wray.

 

ABSTAIN – 3

 

Carlisle, Cunningham and Forsaith.

 

On the requisition of Councillor Lennox and Lewis the voting on the amendment in the name of Councillor Hayden was recorded as follows;

 

YES - 53

 

Akhtar, Almass, Arif, Bithell, Bowden, Bromley, Brooks, Burke, Carlill, Coupar, Dowson, Dye, Farley, Flint, France-Mir, Garthwaite, Gibson, Grahame, Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, Z Hussain, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jenkins, Khan, Lennox, Lewis, Maloney, Marshall-Katung, Martin, McKenna, Midgley, Mulherin, Pryor, Rafique, Renshaw, Ritchie, Scopes, Sewards, Shahzad, Sharpe, Smart, Taylor, Thomson, Truswell, Tudor, Venner, Wilson and Wray.

 

NO - 24

 

Alderson, B Anderson, C Anderson, Buckley, Amanda Carter, Cohen, Firth, Flynn, Foster, Harrington, Lamb, Richards, Robinson, D Seary, S Seary, Shemilt, Smith, Stephenson, Wadsworth, Dobson, Field, McCormack, Finnigan and Newton.

 

ABSTAIN – 8

 

Blackburn, Carlisle, Cunningham, Forsaith, Campbell, Chapman, Golton and Lay

 

On the requisition of Councillor Campbell and Golton the voting on the amendment in the name of Councillor Golton was recorded as follows;

 

YES - 7

 

McCormack, Campbell, Chapman, Golton, Lay, Finnigan and Newton.

 

NO - 72

 

Akhtar, Almass, Arif, Bithell, Bowden, Bromley, Brooks, Burke, Carlill, Coupar, Dowson, Dye, Farley, Flint, France-Mir, Garthwaite, Gibson, Grahame, Gruen, Hamilton, Harland, Hayden, Heselwood, A Hussain, Z Hussain, Illingworth, Iqbal, Jenkins, Khan, Lennox, Lewis, Maloney, Marshall-Katung, Martin, McKenna, Midgley, Mulherin, Pryor, Rafique, Renshaw, Ritchie, Scopes, Sewards, Shahzad, Sharpe, Smart, Taylor, Thomson, Truswell, Tudor, Venner, Wilson, Wray, Alderson, B Anderson, C Anderson, Buckley, Amanda Carter, Cohen, Firth, Flynn, Foster, Harrington, Lamb, Richards, Robinson, D Seary, S Seary, Shemilt, Smith, Stephenson and Wadsworth.

 

ABSTAIN - 6

 

Blackburn, Carlisle, Cunningham, Forsaith, Dobson and Field.