Issue - meetings

The Committee gave consideration to a report presented by the Director – Planning, Regeneration & Communities and Director of Corporate Services / Section 151 Officer regarding further legal proceedings in relation to the former RAF site at Scampton.

Members heard that the December 2023 Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Direction had been received and there were two options which the Council could take. Those being to either commence Judicial Review proceedings against the Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up Homes and Communities, and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in relation to the December 2023 Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Direction, or to not commence Judicial Review Proceedings.

The summary of legal proceedings to date, as well as the potential impact of either option being approved, was provided to Members, as well as estimated costings.

Note:              Councillor P. Swift arrived at 6.14pm

During the course of the debate, A Member of the Committee proposed an amendment to the recommendations contained within Option 1. That being for the word ‘legal’ to be replaced with the word ‘potential’. The recommendation would then read:

“A full update on all potential costs and timescales pertaining to RAF Scampton is brought to the March 2024 meeting of this committee.”

This proposed amendment was duly seconded with indicated support from all Members, who also expressed their thanks to Officers for all involved in the case.

The Chairman clarified that recommendations one to three, as contained within Option One in the report, subject to the agreed word change as detailed above, had been proposed and seconded, and, on taking the vote it was unanimously

            RESOLVED that

a)    delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director People and Democratic Services to commence Judicial Review proceedings against the Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up Homes and Communities and the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to the December 2023 Environmental Impact Assessment Screening Direction; and

b)    the proceedings detailed in resolution (a) above be funded, up to a value of £92,000, from the Growth and Investment Reserve; and

c)    a full update on all potential costs and timescales pertaining to RAF Scampton be brought to the March 2024 meeting of the Corporate Policy and Resource Committee.