Agenda and minutes

– to note the names of members of the public wishing to speak on general matters affecting the District or on agenda items (in the case of the latter, representations will normally be received at the time of the agenda item, after the Portfolio Holder’s introduction and any questions from Cabinet Members).

Patrick Davies spoke during public participation and in summary queried why the report was exempt as he believed that it should be possible to make at least parts of it open.  He speculated that the land transaction related to the Central Winchester Regeneration area and stated that the exemption rules did not apply if relating to a planning application.

The Corporate Head of Resources advised that the Council always aimed to be as transparent as possible in its decision making and the report was subject to careful consideration by the Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer.  She confirmed that she believed that the correct exemption had been applied in this case and that on balance the subject matter of the report meant that it should all be considered in exempt session.

One Member noted that the Claer Lloyd-Jones report recommended that the Council seek to make confidential reports (or parts thereof) available to the public if and when possible after a decision had been made.  The Chairman confirmed that the Council wished to be as transparent as possible in its decision making and depending on the decision made at this meeting and Council later that evening, the possibility of making all or part of the report available to the public would be considered further at the appropriate time.

To consider whether in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(i)            To pass a resolution that the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100 (I) and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

1.         That in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

2.         That the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100I and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Cabinet considered the above report which set out details regarding a proposed land transaction and recommended a way forward (detail in exempt minute).