Issue - meetings

This report updates the Committee on the work that has been undertaken in relation to Starkholmes Allotments, following the request from Starkholmes Allotment Association to proceed with compulsory purchase action.  The report explains the roles and responsibilities of the District Council and of Matlock Town Council and sets out the ways in which those two organisations are working together on this issue.  A number of recommendations are also made in relation to land adjacent to the Allotment site, which had been proposed to be transferred to Matlock Town Council, but which had been paused following consideration at an earlier meeting of this Committee.

Councillor Mark Wakeman left the meeting at 6:18pm due to having previously declared a personal interest in this Item.

The Director of Regulatory Services introduced a report which updated the Committee on the work that had been undertaken in relation to Starkholmes Allotments, following the request from Starkholmes Allotment Association to proceed with compulsory purchase action. The report explained the roles and responsibilities of the District Council and of Matlock Town Council and set out the ways in which those two organisations had worked together on this issue.  A number of recommendations were also made in relation to land adjacent to the Allotment site, which had been proposed to be transferred to Matlock Town Council, but which had been paused following consideration at an earlier meeting of this Committee.

Councillor Garry Purdy moved the Officer recommendations with an amendment to recommendation 3 to read as below:

3.    That Council be requested to approve a supplementary revenue budget of £15,000 in 2022/23 for the costs associated with defending that Asset of Community Value decision, to be financed from the General Reserve. Should any additional funds be required above the proposed £15,000, this would return to Members for approval.

It was also proposed that an additional fifth recommendation be included as set out below:

5.    That an additional sum of £5,000 be gifted to the Allotment Society to support their fundraising efforts.

The proposed motion was seconded by Councillor Jason Atkin and

RESOLVED

1.  That the work undertaken to support Matlock Town Council in relation to compulsory hire of the allotment site be noted.

2.  That the work undertaken to defend the appeal against the Asset of Community Value listing be noted.

3.  That Council be requested to approve a supplementary revenue budget of £15,000 in 2022/23 for the costs associated with defending that Asset of Community Value decision, to be financed from the General Reserve. Should any additional funds be required above the proposed £15,000, this would return to Members for approval.

4.  That work to undertake a community asset transfer of the site adjacent to the Starkholmes Allotments be recommenced.

5.  That an additional sum of £5,000 be gifted to the Allotment Society to support their fundraising efforts.

Voting

12 For

0   Against

1   Abstentions

The Chairman declared the motion CARRIED.

Councillor Mark Wakeman re-entered the meeting at 6:43pm.