Agenda item

(a)  That the Council as a former landowner object to the application for village green status at the Land.

(b)  That the objection to the application and the details thereof be delegated to the Deputy Borough Solicitor in consultation with the Assistant Director of Property Services.

The Cabinet considered a report seeking approval for the Council, as former landowner, to lodge an objection to an application to register the play area at Upper Lees Road Britwell as a village green under the Commons Act 2005. 

Members were advised that planning permission had been granted to A2  for the demolition of existing garages and the erection of seven three bedroom houses with parking.  On the 18^th August 2009 the Council, as registration authority, had received an application for the registration of the land as a town of Village Green.  The Council acting as the registration authority published notice of the application and six weeks had been allowed for receipt of objections or other representations ending on 23^rd October, 2009.  Members were advised of the factors required to be satisfied for an area to be registered as a village green.  One of these factors was that the land must have been used for sports and past times as of right for at least twenty years immediately proceeding the application.  The Council was the landowner until 6^th August 2009, and it was considered that the authority should object to the application on the basis that the use was not “as of right” and any other factors which might arise as a result of officers enquiries into the history of the Land. 

Resolved –

(a)  That the Council, as a former landowner, object to the application for village green status at the Land.

(b)  That the objection to the application and the details thereof be delegated to the Deputy Borough Solicitor in consultation with the Assistant Director of Property Services.