Agenda item

Prior to the consideration of this item, Councillor Woods withdrew from the meeting and took no part in the debate.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services regarding an application to register land known as The Buddle, High Pittington as Town or Village Green, under the Commons Act 2006 (for copy see file of minutes).

The Principal Planning and Development Solicitor informed the Committee that the application had been submitted by Pittington Parish Council to voluntarily register land as village green and referring to Section 15(2) of the Commons Act 2006 whereby any person could apply to the Commons Registration Authority to have land registered as green if it had been used by local people for recreation ‘as of right’ for at least 20 years. Under Section 15(8) a landowner could apply to register land as village green without meeting that criteria. The village green would be subject to the same statutory protection as other registered village greens and local people would have the legal right to indulge in sports and pastimes over it on a permanent basis.

In response to concerns regarding maintenance of the land, the Principal Planning and Development Solicitor confirmed that the Parish Council would continue with the existing arrangements.

Resolved:

That the area of land edged black on the plan be registered as Village Green.