Agenda item

Report attached.

Officers and the Cabinet Member advised that careful thought had been given to the decision which was no intended to replace the original Cabinet decision that was taken in 2019. The grounds of the requisition were then responded to.

When the planning decision for the site had been put before officers, the area had been assessed as open space under the Local Development Plan. The Golf Facilities Needs Assessment had however stated that the site was surplus to requirements. Whilst the site could only be accessed by the public upon payment of a fee during opening hours, the Cabinet Member felt therefore that this was in reality not open space.

The Council would have control of the development and it was therefore anticipated that the area would remain as open space. The Cabinet Member added that the most likely scenario was that the Council’s Parks Department would maintain the site.

The needs assessment had considered gold provision across the whole of the borough and found that the Hall Lane facility was not viable. Usage of the pitch and putt course remained very poor and the lack of car parking on the site was also a problem. The facility was also loss making for the Council, requiring a subsidy of around £5k per annum. Some Members felt that the site would have been better used if there had been better control of contractor staff attending and ensuring the site was open. The close proximity of Upminster Playing Fields meant there was no viable alternative leisure use for the site.

There had been no evidence found that the site had been left for the public in perpetuity nor that there were any special constraints on its disposal. Any residents wishing to make a claim for access to the site should direct these to the Director of Legal Services. The Council did not however recognise any private rights of access. Estimates had been obtained for remedial works on the site which were in the region of £35k.

Some Members felt that  the published opening times for the Pitch and Putt course had not been delivered. Officers clarified that the site had been considered on its own merits alternative brownfield sites had been included as part of the Council’s Local Plan. The development proposals had been tested for school capacity as part of the planning process and the Cabinet Member added that the Strategic School Plan would take into account all developments such as the one on this site.

Tree Protection Orders would be used where appropriate and other trees on the site would be protected in accordance with Council planning procedures. Any issues around the protection  of tree roots were also considered during the planning process.

It was confirmed that the development was in line with the Council’s energy strategy. The position on whether the site would still be included if the land was disposed of would need to be checked with planning officers.

The requisition was NOT UPHELD by 8 votes to 7 with 1 abstention. The voting was as follows:

Not in favour of upholding the requisition – Councillors Best, J Crowder, Goode, Holt, N Patel, Christine Smith, Themistocli and M White.

In favour of upholding the requisition – Councillors Darvill, Durant, Hawthorn, Morgon, Mugglestone, Wilkins and Williamson.  

Abstention – Councillor Miller.