News archive

See WBC LRIE FQAs
https://info.westberks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=46768&p=0

Strangely, lots about the football ground and stand! I wonder if they listened to NCFG?!

From Newbury Today

Newbury Town Council seeking views on recreation ground

Council is seeking residents’ views about the ground, including a possible junior cricket pitch.

See here

(this is good to hear, but also quite close to election time!)

We found these which define how WBC engages with its constituents (if you want to compare fact with fiction!)

Overview https://info.westberks.gov.uk/communityengagement

Consultation Policy https://info.westberks.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=34792&p=0

Consultation portal https://info.westberks.gov.uk/consultations

Links to 2 places which could relate to our areas of interest:

Local Plan Review to 2036 https://info.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=35750

Draft Vision for West Berkshire 2036 https://info.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=35606

From Newbury Today

Opinions sought on council strategy

Authority outlines six priorities for the next four years

See here

Basically, WBC delayed responding, then said they didn’t have any relevant information… but remember, the stand became the landlord’s asset in the mid-1990s and we are not aware of anything that’s changed since (except for WBC’s denial, with no evidence to support it)

See here

Funding boost for Kingfishers pitch bid

Thatcham Town FC fundraising for new artificial pitch

See here

We say good luck to them! 🙂

From Newbury Today

Request to see LRIE email exchanges refused by council

Local authority described the NWN’s FOI as “manifestly unreasonable”

See here

For what it’s worth, this helped us understand:

https://www.11kbw.com/knowledge-events/case/faraday-development-ltd-v-west-berkshire-council-court-of-appeal-gives-important-guidance-on-development-agreements-and-options-and-declares-contract-ineffective/

Faraday Development Ltd v West Berkshire Council: Court of Appeal gives important guidance on development agreements and options, and declares contract ineffective

The Court of Appeal decided that… (see item 4)

However, entry into the development agreement was still unlawful, because looking at the substance of the arrangements taken as a whole, they involved the Council in committing itself to the procurement of works from the developer – if the developer did draw down the land, a public works contract would come into being, and it would then be too late to carry out the required procurement. This was both a breach of the Public Contracts Regulations (actual or anticipatory), and a breach of public law (because it involved the Council in effect agreeing to act unlawfully in the future).

And what is UNLAWFUL?

https://thelawdictionary.org/unlawful/

That which is contrary to law. “Unlawful” and “illegal” are frequently used as synonymous terms, but, in the proper sense of the word, “unlawful,” as applied to promises, agreements, considerations, and the like, denotes that they are ineffectual in law because they involve acts which, although not illegal, i.e. positively forbidden, are disapproved of by the law, and are therefore not recognized as the ground of legal rights, either because they are immoral or because they are against public policy.