Agenda item

Under the Code of Conduct members are reminded that in declaring disclosable interests you should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is pecuniary or non-pecuniary.

Before Members declared their interests the Legal Advisor stated the following:-

Before Members declare their interests in the applications being heard at this committee, I would just like to remind Members of the advice that was provided at the previous committee in respect of the Money Hill application, application A1 of the agenda. Some members were advised that they had a non-pecuniary interest in that matter due to them being members of the Labour Party and, therefore, if they came to the meeting with an open mind, were entitled to remain and take part in the decision-making on that matter. Despite this advice, some concerns were raised about their involvement in the process and they chose to leave when the item was considered having declared a pecuniary interest.

To clarify the position I can confirm that those members have again been advised that they have a non-pecuniary interest only.  It is for each member to decide what interests they need to declare but should they choose to do so, my advice is that they can declare a non-pecuniary interest in item A1 providing they come to this committee and hear the application with an open mind.

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members declared the following interests:

Councillor R Adams and Councillor D Everitt declared a non-pecuniary interest in item A2, application number 14/00933/OUTM as members of Whitwick Parish Council.

Councillors R Adams, D Everitt and J Legrys stated that they had a non-pecuniary interest in item A1 due to being members of the Labour party and that they had come with an open mind and confirmed that they shall reach a decision based solely upon the information that they heard on the night and had read. They stated that they did declare a pecuniary interest in that application at the last committee although they had received advice that they only had a non-pecuniary interest. However, due to concerns that had been raised and the fact they had little time to consider their position, they felt the best option was to declare a pecuniary interest and take no part in the matter. Having received additional legal advice and had more time to consider their position, they were satisfied that their interest amounted only to a non-pecuniary interest and, therefore, they intended to remain and participate in the debate.

Councillor J G Coxon, declared a non-pecuniary interest in items A1, application number 15/00512/OUTM and A5, application number 15/00732/FULM as a member of Ashby Town Council.

Councillor J Hoult and G Jones declared a non-pecuniary interest in item A5, application number 15/00732/FULM as members of Ashby Town Council.

Councillor D Harrison declared a non-pecuniary interest in item A5, application 15/00732/FULM as the applicant was his son-in-law and stated that he would leave the meeting for the consideration of the item.

Councillor M Specht declared a pecuniary interest in item A6, application number 16/00562/OUT as a close associate of the applicant and a non-pecuniary interest in items A7, application number 16/00544/FUL and A8, application number 16/00311/OUT as a member of Coleorton Parish Council.

Members declared that they had been lobbied without influence in respect of various applications below:

Item A1, application number 15/00512/OUTM

Councillors R Adams, R Ashman, R Boam, J Bridges, J Cotterill, J G Coxon, D Everitt, D Harrison, J Hoult, G Jones, J Legrys, P Purver, A C Saffell, M Specht, D J Stevenson and M B Wyatt

Item A2, application number 14/00933/OUTM

Councillors R Adams, R Ashman, R Boam, J Bridges, J G Coxon, D Everitt, J Legrys, D J Stevenson and M B Wyatt

Item A3, application number 15/00951/OUTM

Councillors R Adams, R Ashman, J Legrys and M Specht

Item A5, application number 15/00732/FULM

Councillors J Cotterill and D J Stevenson

Item A6, application number 16/00562/OUT

Councillor M Specht

Item A7, application number 16/00544/FUL

Councillors R Boam and M Specht

Item A8, application number 16/00311/OUT

Councillors R Boam and M Specht