Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Buildings of Local Interest (BLI) procedure not, shown at Appendix 1 of the report, including the establishment of the (BLI) Advisory Panel be approved;

(b)       That a review of the current list of BLI’s be supported; and

(c)        That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Environment following consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment to format (and where necessary typographically correct) the wording of the procedure note into the appropriate house style for publication. 

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment introduced a report to seek approval for the adoption of a procedure for designating and protecting Buildings of Local Interest (BLIs).  He proposed that the County Council support the recommendations as outlined within the report.

            In seconding the proposals, Councillor R.C. Bithell welcomed the report which he said would protect important BLIs in the future.  He asked if all Members could be provided with a list of current BLIs as there could be additional buildings that Members may wish to suggest for inclusion in the list.  He also asked if consideration could be given to providing a grant to owners of BLIs who may find it financially difficult to restore such buildings.  A number of Members concurred with the comments on providing financial assistance which was currently unavailable.  

            Councillor N.M. Matthews commented on the designation and recording procedure outlined within Appendix 1 of the report and sought confirmation that local knowledge would be given sufficient consideration before a decision was taken.  

            The Head of Planning responded to the questions and comments made and reported that the need to publish and formalise the Councils procedure for designating BLIs arose from a case at Gelli Farm, Whitford where a BLI was made on a property that was the subject of a planning application.  The applicant sought to challenge the BLI and the Council had been criticised for not having a published procedure.  He confirmed that local Member(s) and Town and Community Councils would be consulted for their views when sites within their area were being considered and took on board the comments of available funding to restore BLIs in the future.   

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Buildings of Local Interest (BLI) procedure not, shown at Appendix 1 of the report, including the establishment of the (BLI) Advisory Panel be approved;

(b)       That a review of the current list of BLI’s be supported; and

(c)        That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Environment following consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment to format (and where necessary typographically correct) the wording of the procedure note into the appropriate house style for publication.