Agenda and minutes

Councillor Connelly welcomed everyone to the meeting.

The Ward Councillors and officers then introduced themselves.

Councillor Connelly was elected as Chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Sue Bourton, Mohamed Jacoura (De Montfort University) and Val Smalley.

There were no declarations of interest.

Officers will be present to discuss how green space in the Ward can be developed, (including whether Section 106 funding can be used).

This item and the following one, “Section 106 Funding” (below), were taken together.

The Acting Head of Planning explained that the Council tried to make provision for green space as development plans were made, but the level of need could be difficult to foresee.  Larger scale developments were required to include some green space, but it was recognised that this was not always practical in smaller developments.  Instead, “developer contributions” were obtained, (also known as Section 106 funding). 

Section 106 contributions were payments towards something that had a relationship to the development and was appropriate in scale, (ie, in proportion to the increased demand that the development would generate).  For example, if the planning application was for student accommodation, developer contributions would not be spent on children’s play equipment.

Previously, the conditions of each planning application had specified where contributions arising out of that application had to be spent, so that they could relate to the development.  This meant that further negotiations had to be held with the developer if the Council wanted to change where the money was spent.  However, with the introduction of the Green Space Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) the Council now had guidance on where 106 funding could be spent.

A map was displayed at the meeting showing green space identified when the Green Space SPD was drawn up.  From this, it could be seen that the main areas of green space in Westcotes Ward were in Bede Park and Great Central Way.

Details of developer contributions received in relation to Westcotes green space were circulated at the meeting and are attached at the end of these minutes for information. 

The Acting Head of Planning advised that vacant and underused sites in the Ward had been identified.  These included the following:-

·           Land to the south of the Code building on Upperton Road.

Only phases 1 and 2 of four phases of student accommodation had been completed. 

·           Land to the south of phases 3 and 4 of the Code building was owned by Railtrack.  There was no other access to that land.

·           Part of the CPH Thurmaston site.

Depending on the development that took place on this site, it was possible that there could be an area left for green space, but it would not be very well located.

The meeting noted that the Barratts planning application was going to include various types of green space, but the developer had changed what was planned for the site.  However, if Barratts completed the next phase of the development, (next to Mawby and King), more green space would be triggered.

It also was noted that the canal was owned by British Waterways.  The Council looked after some of the banks, but British Waterways had not invested in the maintenance or development of the canal.  The original application from Barratts had included a link from the canal path in to the site, but this had not been created.

The meeting was reminded that the land at the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Officers will be present to discuss the amount of Section 106 funding outstanding and its possible uses.

This item was taken together with the “Green Space in the Ward” item, (above).

The Chair thanked those present for attending and for their contributions to the discussion.

He then closed the meeting at 8.28 pm.