This Council notes changes put forward by the ruling Conservative Group to their proposals for the building of homes on green belt land in Flixton. Council recognises this space as a vital community asset and makes clear its opposition to any building taking place on the site. To this end Council calls upon the Conservative Group to review their proposals again and to withdraw their support for any and all building on Flixton’s green belt.

(Note: With the consent of the Council, Councillor Andrew Western altered the Motion for which notice had been given, with additional text after the word ‘Flixton’ in the first sentence.)

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council notes changes put forward by the ruling Conservative Group to their proposals for the building of homes on green belt land in Flixton, reducing the potential number of properties from 750 to “under 400”. Council recognises this space as a vital community asset and makes clear its opposition to any building taking place on the site. To this end Council calls upon the Conservative Group to review their proposals again and to withdraw their support for any and all building on Flixton’s green belt.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“This Council notes that as part of a commitment to openness and transparency in relation to overcoming the housing crisis in Trafford, the Executive has shared its latest thinking with regard to the potential building of new homes on land at Flixton Station and the surrounding area, which includes a greater portion of land including Flixton fields, Flixton House and park being retained in the green belt. 

Council recognises this space as a vital community asset, which was previously only accessible to a small number of users and understands that the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) is an iterative process, to which final proposals will not be published until June 2018.

Council recognises that the unaffordability of housing in Trafford is a crisis that cannot continue to be ignored and will require decisive action to resolve. The Council is concerned that the Labour party has not set out how it would meet the housing challenge, which puts at risk all land across the borough to future uncontrolled development.

Council is aware that all nine Labour-controlled authorities in Greater Manchester are proposing to release pockets of green belt land and that a sensible and open minded approach will be required where residents can expect a non-partisan, long term solution to the issues raised. 

To this end Council calls upon the administration to develop further thinking in the same open manner before determining whether to support or oppose final proposals, once published.

The Council also acknowledges that any representations made as part of the GMSF consultation process shall not fetter the future discharge of its statutory planning and regulatory responsibilities.”

Note: Councillor Andrew Western raised a point of order regarding the validity of the amendment under Council Procedure Rule 13.4 (a) and the meeting was adjourned at 8.08 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8.22 p.m. without the presence of Councillors Acton, Adshead, Baugh, Brotherton, Carter, Freeman, Gratrix, Harding, Hynes, Jarman, Lloyd, O’Sullivan, Procter, Ross, Stennett, Taylor, Walsh, A. Western, D. Western, Whyte, A.J. Williams and Wright and the Mayor ruled that the amendment was not in breach of the Council Rules of Procedure.

Following a debate on the matter, the amendment was put to the vote and declared carried. The substantive Motion was then put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED: That this Council notes that as part of a commitment to openness and transparency in relation to overcoming the housing crisis in Trafford, the Executive has shared its latest thinking with regard to the potential building of new homes on land at Flixton Station and the surrounding area, which includes a greater portion of land including Flixton fields, Flixton House and park being retained in the green belt. 

Council recognises this space as a vital community asset, which was previously only accessible to a small number of users and understands that the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) is an iterative process, to which final proposals will not be published until June 2018.

Council recognises that the unaffordability of housing in Trafford is a crisis that cannot continue to be ignored and will require decisive action to resolve. The Council is concerned that the Labour party has not set out how it would meet the housing challenge, which puts at risk all land across the borough to future uncontrolled development.

Council is aware that all nine Labour-controlled authorities in Greater Manchester are proposing to release pockets of green belt land and that a sensible and open minded approach will be required where residents can expect a non-partisan, long term solution to the issues raised. 

To this end Council calls upon the administration to develop further thinking in the same open manner before determining whether to support or oppose final proposals, once published.

The Council also acknowledges that any representations made as part of the GMSF consultation process shall not fetter the future discharge of its statutory planning and regulatory responsibilities.