Issue - meetings

To receive pursuant to Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) a report from the Director of Finance, Resources & Customer Services detailing two petitions that have been received which meet the criteria (in terms of the number of signatures) for debate at Council.

(Report No.213)

Council is being asked to consider these petitions as urgent items given the fact that both petitions were received after the Council agenda had been dispatched and both issues are the subject of live applications under the Asset of Community Value process, with the next ordinary business meeting of the Council not scheduled until mid-July.

Councillor Taylor moved and Councillor Stewart seconded the report of the Director of Finance, Resources and Customer Services (No.213) circulated as a Supplementary Council agenda which detailed two petitions being submitted for consideration by Council as urgent items, under the Petitions Procedure.

The Petitions were dealt with in the following order:

1.1    Petition: Green Dragon Public House

NOTED

1.         The background and history of the site on which the Green Dragon Public House had been located.

2.      The current use of the building on the site as a discount retail store, which had been converted from the public house under Permitted Development Rights.

3.      The Assets of Community Value nomination process, which Members were informed the property was now subject to following an application submitted on 6 March 2015.  The nomination process was governed by set criteria, which included as one element an assessment regarding the strength of local community feeling.  The nomination would be considered by an Evaluation Panel made up of officers with relevant knowledge and professional skills and it was therefore felt reasonable for the petition to be referred on to the Panel for consideration as part of that process.

4.      In terms of any further action in relation to the petition, it was not felt appropriate (whilst the application was subject to the live nomination procedure) for the Council to agree anything further outside of that procedure.  Should the property be successful in its nomination as an Asset of Community Value it would lead to a moratorium, in respect of any future disposal of the asset.

The Mayor then invited Mike McLean (as lead petitioner) to address the meeting, who highlighted the following issues:

·                The petition contained approximately 4,200 signatures which had been gathered in support of protecting the site from redevelopment and its continued use as a public house.

·                The long history of the site in terms of its use as a public house and its iconic status as a building at the centre of the local community.

·                Although business had declined in recent years it was felt that its use as a public house could generate significant interest, under the right style of management given its location at the heart of the community and good transport links.

·                Members of the local community had been disappointed at what they felt to have been the secretive nature of the sale of the site to the current owner, with other companies who specialised in the pub sector having since expressed potential interest in continuing to run the property as a public house.

·                Concerns were expressed at the current viability of the property in terms of its use as a “pop up” discount retail store and impact this may have on any future development or use.

·                The need to recognise the local community value of the premises and to support, in any way possible, the aims of the petition in safeguarding and protecting its future use as a public house and preventing any other form of development on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 167