KRGA challenge HDC for full Council debate and vote on Rookwood

HDC has twice rejected the Rookwood petition for reasons that do not stand up to scrutiny.

HDC have identified nine strategic sites for potential housing development in the draft local plan. All but one are on private land. To include the private land in the local plan, the developers need the consent from the land owners to agree to potentially sell the land for future development. HDC have not yet reached agreement with all the private land owners.

The other strategic site is Rookwood. This land is owned by HDC on behalf of the tax payer. As a valuable public asset it is clear that HDC must seek agreement from the taxpayers, via their elected representatives, in a full council debate before its inclusion in the local plan. This is particularly important as there is a very clear conflict of interest with HDC being both the landowner and the developer.

Taking into account the above, KRGA have requested HDC to answer the following:

• Has the full council already met and voted on inclusion of Rookwood in the local plan? If so, when and with what result?

• If not, when will the full council meet and vote on the inclusion of Rookwood in the local plan?

• If HDC have determined that a full council meeting and vote is not required for this valuable community asset prior to inclusion the draft plan, please explain why.