Agenda and minutes

Members are reminded of his responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matter contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of membership of another public body or one to which the Member has been appointed by the Council then he only need to declare it if he intends to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, then the individual Member should not participate in a discussion on the matter and not seek to influence a decision on the matter.

The Executive Member had no reason to declare an interest in the meeting’s agenda item.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following item of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Decision made:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following item of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclose of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider the enclosed report of the Director of Finance.

The Executive Member for Resources considered a report of the Director of Finance seeking the Executive Member’s decision on the future use of a 211 square metre area of land to the rear of 74 The Farthings, Astley Village.

The land had been transferred to the Council by the former Central Lancashire Development Corporation and had since been held as open amenity land.  While adjoining owners had complained frequently about the level of maintenance of the site, purchase requests had been refused in the past in accordance with the Council’s practice not to sell open space or amenity land.

In response to recent enquiries, the Director of Streetscene, Neighbourhoods and Environment had confirmed that the land was no longer required for operational use as the Council’s policy on play spaces concentrated their provision in more comprehensively equipped neighbourhood parks.  The Director of Development and Regeneration had also clarified that any plans to change the use of the land from public open space to garden purposes would require planning permission.

The Executive Member was also reminded that the consent of English Partnerships (the successor body to the Development Corporation) would also be required to the disposal of the land for any purpose other than amenity land.  The majority of the proceeds of any sale would need to be repaid to English Partnerships under the terms of the ‘clawback’ provisions of the transfer.

Decision made under delegated authority:

That the area of land at the rear of 74 The Farthings, Astley Village, Chorley, comprising 211 sq metres, as identified on the plan attached to the submitted report, be declared surplus to the Council’s requirements and offered for sale to adjoining owners.

Reason for decision:

The land is no longer required for operational or planning purposes and requires significant annual maintenance expenditure.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected:

The retention of the land as amenity open space would require future maintenance commitments.