Issue - meetings

To consider the nomination of the Stag, Little Easton as an ACV.

RESOLVED: to list the Stag, Duck Street, Little Easton, on the Council’s Register of Assets of Community Value for a period of five years

The Solicitor provided details of what construes to be an Asset of Community Value and the related process for nominating an asset for the benefit of the public.

The Planning Policy Officer presented a report asking Members to consider the nomination of The Stag, Little Easton, as an Asset of Community Value (AoCV). She outlined the necessary criteria that needed to be established for an asset to be considered as an AoCV. The nomination had previously been deferred at the Committee meeting on 21 June 2021 following the discovery of nineteen emails that had not been taken into consideration as they had been submitted to an unchecked email address.

She explained that  she considered there to be insufficient supporting evidence in sixteen of the nineteen emails supporting the application which had failed to record accurately the non-ancillary usage of The Stag by the groups.

The Planning Policy Officer advised that she recommended rejection of the nomination due to the insufficient supporting evidence relating to the non-ancillary usage of The Stag.

Members discussed;

·         The submission of thirteen activities as evidence relating to non-ancillary use of The Stag presented to Members, particularly as this nomination was originally considered prior to changes made to the nomination process adopted by Cabinet in July 2021.

·         The need to acknowledge that AoCV’s should not be used to prevent sustainable development.

·         The need to adopt a common sense approach when deciding the tests that members should consider and to consider each nomination on its own merits.

·         The mental health benefits of groups such as those submitted as evidence of non-ancillary use of the site, particularly as the only public house in the village.

·         The need for the documentation provided to the public to enable the public to understand what they are required to submit.

·         The village`s previous significant fundraising achievement.

·         The recent approval  of a planning application for 44 dwellings and 3 ancillary units to the rear of this site.

·         The sale of local produce from The Stag, with the proceeds going to charity.

·         The proposed non-ancillary use of The Stag as a Post Office.

The Planning Policy Officer  said that several of the emails received were almost straight copies of the nomination form and reiterated that care should be taken when considering whether the specific evidence of non-ancillary use was sufficient.

The Parish Council Representative spoke in support of the nomination.

The freeholder re-read his presentation from the adjourned AoCV meeting and requested rejection of the application as he believed that the evidence submitted was “exaggerated and contrived” in an attempt to prevent the now approved proposed development to the rear of the site.

The freeholder confirmed that he was willing to grant a six year lease of the premises to the licensee.

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Members of the public left the meeting and the Committee retired to make its decision at 3.10pm.

DECISION NOTICE – THE STAG PUBLIC HOUSE, LT EASTON

The matter before the Committee today is a request, known as a nomination,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4