Agenda and minutes

A webcast of the meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzw1JWt7nxM

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 August 2022 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 34.

The Chief Executive reported that no questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5).

There were no urgent items for consideration.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

It was noted that all members who were members of a Parish, Town or District Council, or Liaison Committee would have personal interests in applications which related to areas covered by those authorities.

No declarations were made.

The Chief Executive reported that no petitions had been received under Standing Order 35.

The Board considered a report of the Chief Executive, a copy of which, marked ‘Agenda Item 7’, is filed with these minutes.

Mr. K. Merrie CC asked for a copy of the HGV routing agreement which was in place for the site so he could pass it onto local residents, and officers agreed to provide this after the meeting. It was noted that this latest planning application did not propose to make any alterations to the number of HGV movements.

RESOLVED:

That the application be permitted subject to the conditions nos. 1-34 as set out in Appendix B to the report and the prior completion of a S106 legal agreement covering HGV routeing, transfer of land, public access and aftercare management.

The Board considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources, a copy of which, marked ‘Agenda Item 8’, is filed with these minutes.

With regards to the definitions in section 1 of the proposed new byelaws, Members noted that there was no definition of Electric Scooters and questioned whether the wording of the Byelaws was sufficient to make it clear that Electric Scooters were prohibited in the country parks. The Director of Corporate Resources agreed to give this further consideration after the meeting.

Members were also of the view that section 27 of the proposed new byelaws regarding musical entertainment was insufficiently clear and could be interpreted to mean that all music and singing was prohibited. The Director of Corporate Resources agreed to give this further consideration after the meeting.

The Director of Law and Governance informed that the byelaws were based on a model set of byelaws and therefore it was not advisable to move too far away from the model.

In response to a question from a member it was explained that the approach towards enforcing the byelaws in Leicestershire had traditionally been one of collaborating with Leicestershire Police and raising awareness amongst the public in a non-threatening manner rather than taking a strict approach.

RESOLVED:

(a)        That the Director of Corporate Resources be requested to:

(i)              Take note of the comments now made by the Board regarding the wording of the amended byelaws;

(ii)             Report on the outcome of the consultation back to the Development  Control and Regulatory Board.

(b)        That the Director of Corporate Resources be authorised to:

(i)              Commence consultation on amending the current byelaws for all

         country parks listed in Appendix B;

(ii)       Consult informally with DLUHC, DEFRA, Natural England and other statutory bodies;

The Board considered a report of the Chief Executive, a copy of which, marked ‘Agenda Item 9’, is filed with these minutes.

RESOLVED:

That the County Council be recommended to adopt the revised Planning Code of Good Practice as appended to the report, subject to the Chief Executive being authorised to make any changes including those arising from its consideration by the Board.

Future meetings of the Board are proposed to take place on the following dates all at 2.00pm:

Thursday 17 November 2022;

Thursday 8 December 2022;

Thursday 12 January 2023;

Thursday 16 February 2023;

Thursday 6 April 2023;

Thursday 11 May 2023;

Thursday 22 June 2023;

Thursday 3 August 2023;

Tuesday 19 September 2023;

Thursday 26 October 2023;

Tuesday 5 December 2023.

RESOLVED:

That future meetings of the Board take place on the following dates all at 2.00pm:

Thursday 17 November 2022;

Thursday 8 December 2022;

Thursday 12 January 2023;

Thursday 16 February 2023;

Thursday 6 April 2023;

Thursday 11 May 2023;

Thursday 22 June 2023;

Thursday 3 August 2023;

Tuesday 19 September 2023;

Thursday 26 October 2023;

Tuesday 5 December 2023.

(After the meeting it was noted that the meeting scheduled for 5 December 2023 clashed with another meeting involving County Councillors therefore that date was changed to Thursday 30 November 2023).

The Chairman announced that this was the last Board meeting of Mr. Anthony Cross, Head of Law, who was retiring at the end of the month. Mr. Cross joined Leicestershire County Council in September 2014 as a Team Leader in the Property and Environment section of the legal department and he became Head of Law in 2018. It was noted that Mr Cross had attended most DCRB meetings over the last 8 years to give the Board legal advice. Mr. Cross had also been the designated Scrutiny Officer for Leicestershire County Council and attended meetings of the Scrutiny Commission in that capacity. The Chairman thanked Mr. Cross for the support he had provided him and the Board over the years and wished him well in his retirement. Mr Cross responded to thank the Chairman and Board members for their good wishes.