Issue - meetings

(i)              That the Fields in Trust principle as it applies to the Council’s green spaces and carbon capture areas,be noted.

(ii)             That the Deputy Chief Executive and the Service Director Sustainable Environment, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Sustainable Environment and Finance, Town Centres and Growth be authorised to undertake the required legal documentation and lodging of the Fields in Trust applications to secure this status for the site identified within this report.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment introduced the report on the Fields in Trust permanent status available to the Council for green spaces and carbon capture areas over and above allocations in the Local Plan and the Green Spaces Strategy.

The Leader commented that many of these sites had been put forward for housing in the past which was no longer the case in the Local Plan. The status would bring an additional level of protection in addition to enhancing the sites. Village greens’ applications had also been submitted including an application for Sandy Lane, which the Leader was involved with.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning welcomed the recommendations, adding that the Fields in Trust status would contribute to protect sites from predatory planning applications.

The Leader noted that some of the smaller sites did not qualify and while they were protected under the Local Plan officers were investigating other external accredited protection.

Resolved:    (i) That the Fields in Trust principle as it applies to the Council’s green spaces and carbon capture areas, be noted.

(ii) That the Deputy Chief Executive and the Service Director Sustainable Environment, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Sustainable Environment and Finance, Town Centres and Growth be authorised to undertake the required legal documentation and lodging of the Fields in Trust applications to secure this status for the site identified within this report.

Watch the debate here