Rutland County Council Conservatives Defeated By Liberal Democrats, Local Plan Will Be Withdrawn and a New Plan to be Created but at what cost?

Rutland County Council Conservatives Defeated By Liberal Democrats, Local Plan Will Be Withdrawn and a New Plan to be Created but at what cost?

Councillors listened to petitions, deputations and questions.  

There was a proposal to adjourn for a toilet break, this was not supported, leaving most of the public bemused, with comments being whispered, if they can't agree on that what hope to we have for the rest of the evening. At this point one Cllr jumped out of his seat and slumped against the glass clearly suffering from discomfort possibly a dodgy curry before the meeting. Fortunately he did not have to wait much longer before the loo break was permitted.

The infighting among the Conservative group was very obvious this evening, disagreements over increased prices of garden sheds. 

The Libdems and at least on Tory suggested if the council supported the Conservatives proposal it would bankrupt the council rather like Northamptonshire.

Personally I think the council is heading that way the figure of a £2 million deficit was mentioned this evening.

So I was surprised the Libdems proposed to scrap the current plan knowing millions had already been spent on it and now they were proposing a further £1.4 million be spent on a new one. I wonder why the existing plan could not be revised.

Whichever option was agreed St Georges Barracks will be developed.

At the end of the meeting the Leader of the council certainly looked defeated, I wonder if this defeat will see a change of leadership. It was one of the biggest Tory defeats I have ever witnessed at Rutland County Council.

I am not sure this was a good day for the future of Rutland. There is a long period of uncertainty ahead. As the new plan is created. There will be an election in 2023 that should be an interesting one. with the possibility of increased council tax bills to pay for the new plan, I am not sure the next few year are going to get any better for Rutland.

It was good to see a Cllr wearing a Rainbow LGBTQ+ tie to show his support against discrimination. I was expecting a Cllr to take the knee during prayers that did not happen. Although it is unlawful for councils to pray in council meetings, Rutland County Council decided it would be fine to says prayers just before the meeting starts. Personally I think they should set aside a prayer room and not inflict that upon those who think it is pointless or even hypocritical. 

A video of the full meeting will be publish tomorrow. 

The Council agreed:

That Council:

1. Withdraw the submitted Local Plan (submitted to Government in February 2021) under

Regulation 22 of the Local Plans Regulations from the process of Examination in

Public following the decision made by Council on 22nd March 2021 not to accept the

offer of £29.4m Housing Investment Fund (HIF) grant funding which has impacted the

viability and deliverability of the proposed St. George’s Garden Village scheme and,

therefore, the wider development strategy affecting the soundness of the Local Plan.

2. Approves the creation of an earmarked reserve of £1,395,000 to resource the making

of a new Local Plan for the County and operating without a plan (as detailed in Section

5) and that authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Places and the Section

151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and the Portfolio

Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation to

release funds from the earmarked reserve as required.

3. Approves that Council receives a quarterly statement of the Budget position in light of

the cost uncertainty so that it can track whether the earmarked reserve is sufficient or

can be released accordingly.

4. Approves the need to positively prepare and submit a new Local Plan informed by an

updated evidence base for the benefit of the County of Rutland, its residents and

businesses that will:

i. Deliver the corporate plan vision and themes for the County;

ii. Provide for sustainable growth to meet its objectively assessed housing and

employment needs, utilising and promoting sustainable transport wherever

possible, which will combine to contribute towards achieving the Government’s net

zero carbon emissions 2050 target;

iii. Protect and enhance the County’s heritage, character and natural capital (including

air quality, water resource management and biodiversity); and

iv. Ensure the timely delivery of all necessary infrastructure.

5. Approves the development of robust and effective strategic partnerships to support

plan-making through the duty to cooperate and required for a viable, deliverable and

sound plan.

6. Approves the establishment of a cross-party group to provide oversight of the process

of making a new Local Plan and delegates authority to the Strategic Director of Places

in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning to establish a governance

structure in line with the Corporate Project Management governance framework. 

Oakham Defeated Conservative Andy Burton slams Liberal Democrat campaign

Oakham Defeated Conservative Andy Burton slams Liberal Democrat campaign.

The defeated Conservative Party candidate in Thursday's Oakham South by-election has hit back at the Liberal-Democrat's campaign, which focussed on housing issues and planning policy.

Andy Burton, who is already an Oakham Town Council said he was 'disappointed' not to win, "but it was always going to be a very hard fought contest in view of previous results in the ward, the national issues with Health, Afghanistan and so on, but we fought a very positive campaign and yes there are lessons to be learned from the result."

He said: "Local Health provision and local housing developments were mentioned mostly on the doorstep. Our health provision in Oakham has significant room for improvement, and the planning issues are very complicated.

"Given that the reason for the by-election was over the resignation by the previous Conservative incumbent who, along with his Conservative ward colleague, voted against the planning application in the ward, it is something of a surprise that the Lib Dem campaign was centred around this planning issue when their own member sitting on the planning committee voted for approval of the application."

He continued: "Their criticism of the Council's stance on the Housing Infrastructure Fund monies, some £29 Million, was also somewhat surprising in that the Lib Dems voted against acceptance of the funding, presumably in the belief that by voting with the Independents on the council to reject the fund, it would stop the controversial development at St Georges Barracks from going ahead.

"Far from stopping the development, the LibDem position has likely strengthened the hand of any future developer in how any application proceeds, and deprived the County of Rutland of a much needed £29 million.

"My worry for the residents of Rutland is that now another Lib Dem Councillor has been elected, this will reduce the Conservative majority and will now make it more difficult to attract future funding into Rutland if they continue to make the same shortsighted and ill informed voting decisions."

Mr Burton accused his opponent of running a 'negative campaign' saying it clearly worked, as he won.

"In all election campaigns I have run over more than 20 years as a Councillor, I have always believed that highlighting what I and my Conservative colleagues will do for residents is more important than trying to find negatives in others policies, but it is obviously easier to campaign against and criticise what is being delivered by the ruling party when you are in opposition. That's politics."

He also told Nub News: "You asked if I would try again. I have served as a successful Councillor in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and previously as a Town Councillor in Market Weighton, and I am now proud to serve Oakham residents as a Town Councillor on Oakham Town Council.

"Yes I will put myself forward for selection and if my party selects me I will be proud to stand again for election to Rutland County Council."

https://oakham.nub.news/n/oakham-defeated-conservative-slams-liberal-democrat-campaign

The Conservatives need to listen to the residents. This man was never going to be a suitable person to join their team.  He was always going to be a poor loser. The Conservatives need to listen to the residents over 1200 of those residents who voted Conservative in the 2019 OS Ward did not bother to vote at this weeks by-election. 

Oakham Town Cllr Andy Burton was County Councillor for East Riding and there is a little poor press. He was also a Town Councillor in Market Weighton

Councillor Andy Burton was the Portfolio Holder for Economic Investment and Planning delivery and previously Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Local Economic Development, and  Planning Highways and Transportation.  Andy has also served on a number of Overview and Scrutiny committees and panels since 1999 when he became East Riding of Yorkshire Councillor for the Wolds Weighton Ward.  He also served as chairman of the Western Area Planning committee and was a member of the Strategic Planning committee.

Andy was Chairman of the  East Riding Pension Board and previously served as Chairman of the East Riding Pensions Committee as a trustee of the LGPS (Local Government Pensions Scheme) and was previously Chairman of Weighton Area Regeneration Partnership, a Market Town initiative funded through what was Yorkshire Forward.

Andy was previously a Town Councillor at Market Weighton Town Council and also previously a School governor at a local school in Market Weighton.

Work experience not related to local government: 

Andy worked as a consultant to an Agricultural manufacturer of trace elements and bio-stimulants for crop production but previously worked as an agronomist specialising in Potato Production. Andy is BASIS and FACTS registered.

Formerly, Andy had his own business Importing and selling agricultural machinery and was also MD of a UK based agricultural machinery manufacturing business.  Prior to that, Andy owned a fruit and vegetable wholesale and retail business with a total of 3 shops and also previously Managed Dairy and arable farm.

Andy attained an MA in politics at Huddersfield University.

For some reason Cllr Andy Burton was know in Yorkshire for being a 'Conservative Councillor Andy Burton – Utter Bunkum'