Agenda and minutes

In submitting written representations as the Local Member for the area in which the Seabridge Centre lies (minute 265 below) Mr Tagg declared an ‘Other Interest’ due to his role as a Member of Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 June 2020 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman to move:

‘That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business which involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 indicated below’

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business which involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Details were submitted of the Terms for the proposed sale of part (51.92 acres) of the vacant Holding No.47 Plardiwick Estate, Gnosall as part of the County Farms Review Programme included in the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the sale of part (51.92 acres) of Holding No. 47 Plardiwick Estate, Gnosall on the Terms indicated in the report.

The Chairman agreed to the following item being dealt with as urgent as the planning appeal process was in progress.

The Sub-Committee considered representations received by the Chairman from residents of the Ash Way area  of Newcastle under Lyme calling on the County Council to withdraw their appeal against the decision of Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council to refuse to grant outline planning permission for residential development of the site of the former Seabridge Centre, off Ash Way.

The representations referred to the potential loss of an educational asset, the unsuitability of the development proposed and the use of Ash Way to access that development, the timing of the appeal during the COVID 19 Pandemic and argued that the appeal was a challenge to the legitimacy of the Borough Councils decision making powers.

Members considered the background to the  proposed development of the site, particularly the discussions which had taken place with the Borough Council’s Planning Officers on the design and density of any development and the access arrangements thereto; the unsuitability of the Seabridge Centre for adaptation for future educational use and the use of the planning process to help determine the best options for future disposal of the site.

As the local member for the area, Mr Tagg submitted written representations in support of the residents. He called for the retention of the building on the site for future use for educational purposes and sought dialogue between the two local authorities on the future of the site.

In view of his role of Leader of Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council, Mr Tagg had not been afforded the right to attend the meeting in person to participate in any discussions as those discussions were subject the subject of  legal privilege.

RESOLVED – That the representations be noted and the appeal against Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council’s refusal to grant outline planning permission for residential development on the site of the former Seabridge Centre continue.