Blaby District Council

The meeting was dominated by planning and housing decisions, especially approval of the draft local plan for Regulation 19 consultation and a related statement of common ground on strategic warehousing. Members also discussed homelessness pressures and additional resources, the impact of the Renters’ Rights Act, transfer of public open spaces to local councils, treasury management performance, the annual modern slavery statement, and a civility motion linked to abuse of elected members. Several items had direct procurement or asset-management implications, including consultancy-heavy planning work, infrastructure delivery, parks transfers, and homelessness prevention resourcing.

The meeting focused on local government reorganisation preparedness, financial outturn and treasury performance, and staffing/policy responses to new housing and building control legislation. Cabinet approved adding posts for building control, environmental health and homelessness, and adopted revised private rented sector enforcement and civil penalty policies. Financial reports showed a stronger-than-expected surplus, increased reserves, and compliant treasury management, while outside body appointments were also agreed.

The committee dealt with four major housing proposals and one traveller site, with repeated emphasis on the council’s weak five-year housing land supply and the NPPF tilted balance. Two housing schemes were approved with significant Section 106 contributions and affordable housing, one countryside scheme was refused on landscape, design, drainage and ecology grounds, and a retrospective traveller site was approved after condition wording was clarified. Members also discussed reserve-matters/outline condition precision, access, glazing, landscaping, and infrastructure mitigation.

The Blaby Golf Course Public Inquiry centers on Section 106 contributions and replacement/open-space provision linked to a proposed development. Key points include a £100,000 golf facilities contribution under S106 (potentially usable for other golf facilities, not restricted to Enderbe), off-site sport provisions (3G and 11v11 football pitches) funded via S106, and the balance between out-of-date policies (CS15 Open Space and CS16 Green Wedges) and the tilted planning balance given the absence of a 5-year housing land supply. The discussion also covers the amount and management of on-site open space (approx. 10.5 hectares), the potential coalescence of Blaby and Wetstone, and the role of Reg 19/regeneration processes in future green-wedge allocations. The evidence underscores procurement implications for sport and leisure facilities, open space, drainage, and associated improvements funded through developer contributions.

The Blaby Golf Centre inquiry centers on whether Blaby or Enderbe should remain, the impact of Davidson’s development on site viability, and the potential capital works required to reconfigure the course. Key procurement angles include capital expenditure for reconfiguration (cost estimates range from ~£185k to £300k), needs for professional golf consultancy (architects, viability assessment, planning), and the role of coaching facilities and driving ranges as pathways into golf. The discussion also covers safety, quality of facilities, and the broader policy/affordability context affecting delivery and planning weight.

Blaby Golf Course Public Inquiry centers on Green Wedge policy CS16 and the separation of Blaby and Wetstone. The hearing weighs whether the appeal site maintains separation through perceptual and spatial effects, with extensive discussion of hedgerows, open space, and green infrastructure. Procurement-relevant themes include potential public realm and landscape works (65% green infrastructure on a 10 ha site), Section 106 obligations, hedgerow/boundary treatments, and future green network/linkage works, all of which would drive design and construction procurements if the scheme proceeds.