Issue - meetings

(i)                        That the progress made with the Fields in Trust work being undertaken be noted.

(ii)                       That the updates on the Village Green Applications made historically, the calling of a Public Inquiry and that the Council designates an officer to support the Inquiry for the Sandy Lane Village Green status in January 2026 be noted.

(iii)                     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 continue the work required with the Fields in Trust applications to secure our sites protection.

The Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Environment introduced a report providing

an update on the work underway  to support Fields in Trust Applications which gave a permanent status for green spaces and carbon capture areas.

Since this item had been brought to Cabinet previously, a number of sites had been submitted into the Fields in Trust application process.  These were shown at paragraph 2.1 of the report and paragraph 2.2 listed sites to be submitted in phase four.

There were eight applications currently being considered and those were listed at paragraph 2.4.

The Leader stated that a lot of the sites had been talked about over the last couple of decades, some of which had been included in asset disposal plans so it was good that they would now be protected.  The Fields in Trust and Village Green schemes complimented each other.

Members welcomed this stating that it would enhance and protect the Borough.

Resolved:              (i)       That the progress made with the Fields in Trust

work being undertaken be noted.

(ii)             That the updates on the Village Green Applications made historically, the calling of a Public Inquiry and that the Council designates an officer to support the Inquiry for the Sandy Lane Village Green status in January 2026 be noted.

(iii)           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 continue the work required with the Fields in Trust applications to secure our sites protection.

Watch the debate here