LAND ON THE MEADOW'S EDGE SITE...
With very little notice, we have just heard
that Amber Valley Borough Council are hoping
to decide on Wednesday 29th September what
do do with the parcel of land they currently
own adjacent to the Nailer's football
ground.
The following letter has just been emailed
to Amber Valley Councillors. We urge you
to contact your local councillor as soon
as possible, and to turn up at Wednesday's
meeting (details on the AVBC website, if
you possibly can!)...
From Vickie Minion: Co-Chair - B.A.T.S
Dear Councillor,
Re: Agenda item 16(b) Land at Belper Meadows
At the full council meeting on Weds 29th September you will be asked to consider
a range of options concerning land at Belper
Meadows. This issue was brought to my attention
on Saturday 26th September 2010 when we received a letter
to inform us that the item was to be formally
presented to full council. Before I begin
to outline my concerns around the issue I
would like to formally express concern about
the timetabling of items for council meetings.
The future use of the Belper Meadows site
is an issue of significant local interest
and it would not have been unreasonable to
expect that AVBC would have given plenty
of advance notice of the papers to allow
local residents ample time to digest the
contents of the report, and to contact local
members to offer opinions,concerns and points
of clarification. I also note that the report
is detailed and refers members to papers
held in the chief execs office. I would hope
that officers have allowed members ample
opportunity to appraise all documents before
you are required to make significant decisions
about the future of the town.
For ease of reading I will address my points
as the paper is laid out.
Recommendations
It would appear that there is no clear recommendation;
rather a direction to members about the disposal
of the land. Due to the complexities of the
report it would not be unreasonable for officers
to produce a clear set of recommendations
for members rather that the list of options
contained in 6.13 and 6.14.
Consultation and Strategic
In view of the already clearly voiced concerns
from residents about Belper meadows as a
local tax payer I do not think it unreasonable
to have expected publication of the proposals
and an opportunity to give feedback to what
is being suggested.
5.2 refers to government policy and recognising
community organisations but there appears
to have been no broader considerations of
the wishes of the local community beyond
officials of BTFC who may have been involved
with these negotiations. There is also no
consideration of wider partnership working
that could address some of the benefits highlighted
in the report. I understand that Natural
England and the Wildlife trust are currently
leading a partnership to consider ways to
improve wildlife,heritage in the Derwent
valley.
5.3 Although the planning board meeting on
the 22nd February 2010 accepted the SPD AVBC have
still not set a time scale of informed us
how they intend to proceed.
Background
6.3 The issue of land transfer to BTFC was
considered in November 2008.Why has it taken
so long to bring this issue back for further
consideration?Also, if BTFC have been able
to have use of the land for community purposes
while awaiting the outcome of the anticipated
TESCO development why is there now a need
to seek to engage in discussions about land
transfer?
6.11 Refers to confidential land valuation
I wonder why a confidential appendix was
not collated to enable all members to be
appraised of the full facts.
6.12 Refers to the negotiations with TESCO
land agents and seems to suggest that they
have already told the land agent that transactions
and land transfer must not be dependant upon
planning permission being granted so why
is this listed in 6.20 as a possible issue
for consideration
6.15 All of the outline transfers are subject
to TESCO receiving planning consent for their
proposed development. How can AVBC prior
to a planning application being received
compromise them selves by entering into a
land transfer deal which suggests that they
may agree a planning application at some
point in the future?
6.16 Again refers to confidential information
which is available from the chief exec which
I feel all members should have access to
prior to full council consideration
6.18 Although the SPD was accepted by the
planning board it's current status remains
unclear with many local residents feeling
that their concerns had not been fully considered
or addressed in the subsequent draft that
went to planning board on the 22nd February.
6.20 This section contains a range of recommendations
which AVBC will need to consider.6.20.iv
introduces the concept that land transferred
by TESCO could be given to Belper Town but
there is not discussion about how this would
work or whether the town council has the
capacity to drive forward the development
of the Meadows as touched upon in part of
the report and SPD. It would seem ill advised
to commit AVBC to such land transfer based
on informal discussions between council leaders
alone. The section suggests that once approved
the chief exec in consultation with the leader
of the council should oversee the series
of transactions to transfer land holding.
I would like to suggest that members may
want to have a far clearer proposal and recommendation
which directly addresses the needs of the
local community and offers clear guidance
arounf AVBC to administer the public purse
in a clear and transparent manner. Lack of
financial information and the suggestion
that this deal is dependant upon planning
permission would I suggest compromise the
clarity and impartiality of decision making..
I would wholeheartedly support AVBC efforts
to support BTFC as I believe that they along
with other sports clubs greatly contribute
to the community at many levels. The issue
it not therefore about support for local
community sports. The issue is one of fairness
and transparency in planning and use of public
resources. Surely it would be more objective
and reasoned to agree an SPD and accept a
planning application. After that issues of
land transfer and the wider development of
the Meadows could be approached with a clear
mandate. It would also avoid any future accusations
that the planning application had been agreed
prior to submission due to the earlier transfer
of land and private deals that AVBC had reached
with the land agents.
As a local resident I would ask that you
consider the concerns I have raised and ensure
that decisions are made that are fair,transparent,
consider the range of local residents concerns
and avoid AVBC compromising themselves by
agreeing land transfer deals that may in
future bring into question their decision
making about developing the Meadow's
Edge site.
