The proposal to sell the Upminster Pitch and Putt site (not the planning application – this is a separate matter) was brought before the Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee last night (Tue 2nd) at the Town Hall.

This meeting was a chance for the sale to be questioned and, if agreed that there were valid concerns, be sent back to the Council’s Cabinet for reconsideration. Several local residents were in attendance.

Upminster and Cranham Residents’ Association councillors Gillian Ford and Linda Hawthorn both sat on the committee. Cllr Ford presented 15 reasons why the decision to sell the land was flawed including: ‘Could you explain why there has been no public consultation on the sale of the land in respect to the residents gates leading onto the site, usage, rights of access without challenge form the local authority, afforded to them for over 20 years.’

Unfortunately, the Conservative Members voted in unity not to send the matter back to Cabinet, and a Harold Wood Councillor abstained. All of the other non-Conservative members voted against the Conservatives. The vote was therefore 8 not to send it back to Cabinet, 7 to send it back and 1 abstention, which means that the matter will now go straight to a public consultation.

The consultation process in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972 and Town and Country Planning Act 1990, requires notices to be placed in a local newspaper circulating in the area for two consecutive weeks, which is a very short turn around and a very limited notification circulation.

As soon as the public notice is published, allowing comments and objections to be submitted, we will let you know. 

The original Cabinet decision therefore proceeds as follows:

(a)    Agree, in principle, that the land referred to below is no longer required to be held for the purposes for which the Council presently holds it and that it should be appropriated to planning purposes with a view to its subsequent disposal in due course:

 ·       Land at Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill

·       Hall Lane Pitch & Putt Course, Upminster

 (b)    Authorise, for the purposes of (a) above and in accordance with section 122(2A) Local Government Act 1972 and section 233(4) Town and Country Planning Act 1990 that notices are placed in a local newspaper circulating in the area for two consecutive weeks expressing

 (i)     An intention to appropriate the land to planning purposes; and

(ii)     An intention to dispose of the land following its appropriation.

(c)     Consider any objections to the intended appropriation and/or disposal before a decision to appropriate or dispose is made.

(d)    Agree, in principle, following its appropriation for planning purposes, to the disposal of the land referred to above subject to (b) and (c) above.

 The Council’s intention therefore, is for the Cabinet to consider all of the objections made, both to the appropriation and the disposal at another meeting before a decision is made on whether or not to proceed with the disposal.

 

By Editor on 3rd April 2019   /   News   /   2 Comments