Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

There were no declarations of any interest.

To consider a request by Councillor Mark Perks for the following decision of the Executive Member (Resources) on 5 February 2015 to be called in:

Proposed Sale of Land to the Rear of 18a, The Farthings, Astley Village, Chorley PR7 1TP

A copy of the call in request form which includes the call in procedure is attached, along with a copy of the above report which was approved by the Executive Member (Resources) on 5 February 2015.

Members were advised of the request submitted by Councillor Mark Perks for the call-in of an Executive Member decision of 5 February by the Executive Member for Resources on the proposed sale of land to the rear of 18A, The Farthings, Astley Village. The call-in request was on the grounds that the land is open space and forms a protective barrier. It was also stated that the sale of this land had been previously rejected on the grounds that the land formed a formal land barrier from the properties in Astley Village and that the Parish Council and both borough Councillors had objected.

The Chair advised that the panel should consider the report in light of the objection submitted by Councillor Mark Perks and consider his alternative proposal “that if the sale is approved on the current footprint the funding received is allocated to S106 funding for provision in Astley Village”. Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources and Chris Moister, Head of Governance were present to outline the report and answer any questions.

The decision taken by the Executive Member (Resources) had approved the sale of the land in line with the recommendation to impose restriction on its use to garden land (but permitting sheds, greenhouses, gazebos etc.)

Executive Member Approval had been granted on 13 December 2013 declaring land rear to the rear of 18A The Farthings surplus to Council requirements and authorising the sale to the resident for garden and garage/parking use. Approval was granted to declare the land surplus to Council requirements to enable a sale, authority was also granted for the negotiation of the terms of sale of the land and placing of advertisements/notices in accordance with provisions of the Local Government Act 1972, Section 123(2A).

Terms were agreed and the intention to be dispose published in the local press and on site in accordance with the 1972 Act, with a closing date for objections or representations set for 13 August 2014. The Council received one objection from Councillor Perks and although it was 5 days after the objection period had expired, the Council accepted his objection in the interest of reflecting his views about the proposed disposal as borough Councillor for that ward.

Councillor Perk’s objection stated that the land was a wooded copse that lies between the properties and Westway/Southport area and was concerned that if sold, issues would arise from trees being cleared, becoming more open in aspect and altering the general appearance of the open/green space/wooded area of the residential area. Councillor Perk’s also stated that the sale of this land was connected to a planning application on the site that was causing concerns in that part of the village.

Councillor Peter Wilson explained that as part of the original request to purchase the land, the intended area had included an area of the existing shelter belt, but that this had been reduced to exclude existing trees and shrubs from the sale. The area did form part of the larger open  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.OS.32