Decision details

The strategic growth plan for Leicester and Leicestershire was presented to Council. It was noted that the document had been drafted in collaboration with all Leicestershire authorities and the Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.

In response to a member’s question, it was stated that members had been consulted on this via a number of meetings of the Planning Policy Member Working Group, to which all members had been invited and had received agendas. During discussion on the report, reference was made to:

·         The 750 acre freight depot planned for the edge of Blaby District, bordering Burbage Common, to be considered as a national infrastructure scheme

·         The lack of belief that the infrastructure would be in place to support the plan

·         The lack of certainty over where the A46 expressway will be

·         The risk of lack of consultation responses if the document is set at too high a level.

It was emphasised that the purpose of this report was to agree the document for consultation, not to agree the adoption of its content. It was moved by Councillor Surtees and seconded by Councillor Hall that the recommendations within the report be approved.

Councillor Bray and four other councillors requested that voting on the motion be recorded. The vote was taken as follows:

Councillors Allen, Bessant, Boothby, Camamile, Cook, Hall, Kirby, Ladkin, Morrell, Nickerson, Roberts, Surtees, Sutton, Wallace, Ward and Williams voted FOR the motion (16);

Councillors Bill, Bray, Cartwright, Crooks, Hodgkins, Hollick, Nichols and Taylor voted AGAINST the motion (8).

Councillors Lay and O’Shea abstained from voting.

The motion was therefore declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED –

(i)            The process undertaken for preparation of the draft strategic growth plan for Leicester and Leicestershire be noted and endorsed;

(ii)           It be noted that the consultation draft plan had been endorsed by the Members’ Advisory Group;

(iii)          The consultation process and timetable be approved;

(iv)         A further report be brought back to Council to consider the consultation responses and approve the final version of the plan.