No Compulsory Purchase of the NWG – updated 19/9/14.
Update 19th Sep’14 – WDC Council Meeting 13th Aug’14 Minutes published – download.
Update 20th Aug’14 – WDC Executive Committee minutes published see below.
The Brakes Trust are pleased to have been instrumental in obtaining concrete confirmation from WDC that there will be no Compulsory Purchase of the NWG – in direct response to the Trust’s spoken representation at the meeting.
The Brakes Trust attended the council meetings yesterday evening (13/07/14) regarding the Gypsy and Traveller site issue.
The council voted to include the NWG in the draft Local Plan as an approved G&T site, however prior to this they went on public record to state that the proposed use of the NWG is conditional on an acceptable alternative site and that they will not apply compulsory purchase proceedings on the NWG.
Throughout the last week the Brakes Trust Board and Secretary have discussed strategy and prepared a statement to make at the WDC meetings.
Peter Davis, Trust Vice-Chairman, attended the Executive Committee and presented our statement verbally, which closed with the following questions:
In conclusion we have three questions which we wish you to address:
1) Is the provision of an acceptable new site for LFC dependant on the NWG being in the Local Plan as an Allocated G&T site?
2) Will the Chief Executive put on public record his assertion that: “The worst case scenario is that the football club stays where it is”
3) Will you confirm on public record that the council will not apply compulsory purchase proceedings to the NWG?
The Executive Committee responded with direct reference to the closing questions posed by the Brakes Trust statement and recommended to add the following paragraph to WDC Agenda item 13: “Draft Development Plan Document (DPD) for the Allocation of Sites for Gypsies and Travellers”.
2.2.8 The Council will undertake no move to develop the Leamington Football Club site as a Gypsy & Traveller site, until a location is found and made available for use, and has been agreed by the Council and Leamington Football Club Ltd. The Council also confirms that no Compulsory Purchase Order will be used in relation to this site.
This was then discussed at length by the full Council and passed by an overwhelming majority of councillors from all parties.
We’d like to thank:
- our members and indeed all Brakes fans who contributed during our engagement process. Your input was invaluable in forming our objection document
- Jacqui Forster at Supporters Direct
- Cllrs Alan Boad, Tony Heath and Roger Copping for input and advice during the process and in the run-up to the council meeting
- The Leamington FC board for their input during the process
- Chris White MP for input and notes of support to the Trust
- WDC Chief Executive Mr Chris Elliot for his time on the telephone during the consultation phase
Whilst we had hoped for the removal of the NWG from the allocated list, we believe that receiving the explicit statement in writing that CPO powers will not be used was the next best outcome. We welcomed the very high level of support for Leamington FC demonstrated by the council during the meeting, and thank the councillors for this.
We welcome the subsequent statement from the club, and look forward to the forthcoming open meeting on Thurs 4th Sept and learning about the possibilities ahead for the club.
Update 20th Aug’14 – extract from the published minutes ot the WDC Executive committee meeting:
Following Mr Hallworth’s* speech to the Executive, the Leader responded
that the Council would not use a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) on the
site and that they fully supported the football club. He also praised the
club for the excellent relationship that had been built with officers from
the Council and hoped that this would continue. He assured Mr Hallworth
that the worst case scenario would be that the club would remain where it
was.Councillor Barrott, Chairman of the Joint Scrutiny Committee, addressed
Members and explained that the Committee had resolved to refer the
matter to Council for full debate. In addition, he thanked the
representatives from the Brakes Trust and Leamington Football Club for
attending and for all the hard work that had been inputted by those
present.…
It was proposed, and duly seconded, that an additional recommendation
to Council be added to assure the football club that a CPO would not be
used and to ensure that any new location was fit for purpose and made
available for use, prior to any relocation. This recommendation was
agreed by Members and added in as recommendation 2.2.8.
The Leader, Councillor Mobbs, reiterated the Council’s support for the
football club and for their excellent contribution to the local community.
He stated that the Council wanted to see the club thrive and be in a
position to attract larger crowds as they gained promotion.
It was therefore …
Recommended that …(8) the Council will undertake no move to develop
the Leamington Football Club site as a Gypsy
and Traveller site, until a location is found and
made available for use and has been agreed by
the Council and Leamington Football Club Ltd.
The Council also confirms that no Compulsory
Purchase Order will be used in relation to this
site.
* Our speaker was actually Peter Davis – but our original representation to the consultation was sent by Nick Hallworth.
