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Agenda item
Application to Register Land at Stoke Lodge as a Town and Village Green under the Commons Act 2006, Section 15(2)
Minutes:
The Team Leader, Legal Services introduced the report and summarised it for everyone. She drew Members attention to paragraphs 52 and 55 on pages 128 and 129, the Legal Implications as well as paragraph 337 on page 83.
She then answered questions from Members highlighting the following:
· In relation to Taylor in the Inspector’s report, on page 128 paragraph 52 the Judge made it clear that Taylor was binding
· In relation to the application of the Winterburn case to the facts of this case, there was a 9 day Public Inquiry and the Inspector made his views clear in paragraph 384 page 93 following the Winterburn case
· In relation to the application of the Taylor case, the Inspector may not have been aware of the Taylor judgement when he produced his original report; however Taylor and Winterburn are similar in judgement and binding on the judge.
· In relation to the position of the signage, the Judge was mindful of the two judgements as a test
· The judge (who reviewed the Council’s December 2016 decision) agreed with the Inspector’s findings and has applied the law properly
Councillor Abraham stated that the Committee needed to be clear what it was being asked to do. They were being asked to reconsider the decision taken previously following the High Court judgement. Councillor Abraham had reviewed what the committee had before them and came with an open mind. He noted that several members of the public did not agree with the Judge’s decision and suggested obtaining different legal advice. The Judge had not ordered the Committee to not register the land. He felt that the decision could be reconsidered and that the Committee could come to the same decision as it made in December 2016 – to register the land.
The Team Leader, Legal Services reminded the Committee that the Judge had made it clear where the Committee had gone wrong when making the decision in December 2016.
Councillor Alexander stated that he lives near the site and has used the land for a number of years. He noted the Inspector’s report and reminded everyone that the Conservative, Green and Lib Dem Representatives had voted in favour of registration in December 2016. He noted the High Court judgement and the money spent on the issue. He considered that this should be the end of the matter.
The Team Leader, Legal Services reminded the Committee that financial considerations are not part of the Statutory Test.
Councillor Wellington stated that the signage issue is very clear.
Councillor Kent stated that he had considered the High court judgement. He felt that the Committee had previously spent a lot of time considering the issue of signage. The Winterburn judgement had changed the Inspector’s mind. He did not consider that the Inspector had taken enough notice of Taylor and suggested that a letter be sent to him asking him to clarify issues about Taylor.
The Team Leader, Legal Services stated that the Inspector had made consideration of the principles in both Taylor and Winterburn clear. The Committee now needs to consider the matter afresh following the High court judgement. The Officer’s recommendation is to refuse the application for the reasons set out in the Inspector’s report.
Councillor Langley moved the Officer’s recommendation. Councillor Alexander seconded this motion.
On being put to the Vote it was
Resolved –
(Voting 3 for, 3 against; the Chair using his second or casting vote for the Motion) that the Committee accepts the recommendation of the Independent Inspector set out in his Report dated 14th October 2016 for the reasons set out therein and as confirmed by the High Court in R(Cotham School) v Bristol City Council [2018] EWHC 1022 and rejects the application to register.
Supporting documents:
- 1 a Stoke Lodge report for PROWG 25 June 2018, item 26. PDF 174 KB
- 1 b Appendix 1 Inspectors Report dated 14th October 2016 (Redacted for Publication Purposes), item 26. PDF 756 KB
- 1 c Appendix 2 - R(Cotham School) v Bristol City Council [2018] EWHC 1022, item 26. PDF 359 KB
- 1 d Appendix 3 plan of application land showing access points, item 26. PDF 480 KB