Agenda and minutes

To move the exclusion of the Press/Public for the following items, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

It was proposed by Councillor Beecher, seconded by Councillor Bateson and resolved that the public and press be excluded during consideration of the following items, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) because it was likely to disclose information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in being able to undertake even-handed negotiations and finalising acceptable contract terms.

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors under the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, or contact with applicants/objectors under the Planning Code.

a) Disclosures of interest under the Members’ Code of Conduct

There were none.

b) Declarations of interest under the Council’s Planning Code

There were none.

Description:

The Planning Committee considered a report from Officers containing advice from the Council’s consultants and legal advisors about matters arising from an update on a Planning Committee report.

Members considered the matters arising from the report and debated them.

Decision:

The Committee agreed to approve the recommendation and gave instruction to Officers in order to progress on the matter.

Given that this advice is legally privileged, the report arising from it and the discussions of Members are necessarily confidential and cannot be published at this time.

This confidentiality is in the Public Interest as it allows the Council to progress the legal proceedings without prejudicing its position.