Decision details

The planning application on this site has been the subject of a decision by the Secretary of State.  There is a window of opportunity to pursue a High Court Challenge in respect of that decision, which is due to expire on 12 October 2016.

There are a number of issues which need to be taken into account in deciding whether there is any merit in seeking to challenge the Secretary of State and the Cabinet will be looking to consider the options.  This necessitates arranging an extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet to look at the issues and decide on the best course of action.  There is no other Cabinet meeting at which this could have been taken for consideration, given the timeframe.

Given the timeframe that is being worked to, it has not been possible to provide for 28 days notice of the decision.  Under the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Council’s Constitution, paragraph 16.1 relates to a Key Decision (which this is) and requires that where the normal procedure cannot be followed, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee is to be informed as to why the taking of the decision cannot be reasonably deferred.  This has been undertaken accordingly.

RESOLVED:

That:-

1.           Forest Heath District Council does not seek to challenge the Secretary of State’s decision in regard to the Hatchfield Farm development, but to remain an interested party in the claim of Moulton Parish Council, on behalf of themselves and the Rural Parish Alliance and the Earl of Derby.

2.           Forest Heath District Council to lead a process looking to the future of the Town.  The Cabinet to invite the whole community to join us and work together to develop an exciting new Prospectus for Newmarket that brings together all the different planning and visioning work that is taking place across the Town and District.