Deferral for Luton Town Football Club's sports dome plans after opposition councillors left out of loop

On Wednesday, the council's development control committee voted to defer Luton Town Football Club’s application for a sports dome by one month, amid concerns that information had not been shared with opposition members.

Under the proposals, the club would need to lease land off Luton Borough Council to proceed with the indoor artificial sports pitch on Cutenhoe Road, behind Barnfield Academy South.

Meanwhile its property company, 2020 Developments Limited, is continuing with a legal challenge for the Hatters’ preferred option on the former bowling green at Venue 360. That site has been approved for an Aldi supermarket after a lengthy planning process.

Having failed to obtain a Judicial Review over the approval of the Aldi supermarket, 2020 Developments Limited are applying to have the case heard in the Court of Appeal. The Hatters want the 3G academy surface close to the club’s main training facilities at The Brache.

On Wednesday, the council's development committee was told that Labour councillors were sent an email earlier that day by council chief executive Robin Porter, explaining the lease scenario.

Planning solicitor Steven Sparshott revealed it was signed by the council’s director of property and construction, Roger Kirk.

Labour Farley councillor Mahmood Hussain expressed concerns about the timing of the email.

“Today, I have details of a briefing which was sent to the Labour group by the chief executive,” he said.

“It shouldn’t have been done. If there are any briefings, or anything which needs to be said on any applications, it should go to all the members of development control, not specific people or certain members.”

Labour Farley councillor Dave Taylor said: “I read it late this afternoon, from the chief executive to all members of the Labour group, and it relates to the planning application we’re considering at the moment.”

Councillor Hussain added: “It would be totally unfair and against the rules of the committee that we’re discussing something which at least five members have no idea about.

“I would say the matter needs to be deferred until this is completely clarified and all members of development control can have the full information.

“We mustn’t be influenced by anyone - be that the chief executive of Luton Borough Council.”

Liberal Democrat Barnfield councillor David Franks said: “I want to object in the strongest possible terms to being asked to make judgement on this when information given to some members has been concealed from me.

“It’s grossly inappropriate that we should be expected to make a judgement on a planning application when some information someone considers to be important has been hidden from us.

"I think it’s outrageous.”

Conservative Bramingham councillor Gilbert Campbell said: “This should be deferred and the email sent to us, rather than reading it out to us now for us to make a decision.

“This is so wrong that the executive have sent it to just the Labour group and not the rest of the committee.”

Labour Round Green councillor Mark Rivers told the committee the email contained information specifically relating to the lease.

He said: “That’s a different thing as to whether we as a committee feel it appropriate to build an inflatable dome on this site.

“In my view the two things aren’t connected. It’s not unusual for an application to be made by someone who isn’t the owner or leaseholder of the land.”

Councillor Taylor, who chairs the committee, replied: “It seems pretty odd that it comes on the day of this planning application.”

Mr Sparshott said: “This note is signed by Roger Kirk and relates largely to the terms of the lease over the land.

“If that’s the case, clearly anything concerning the lease is a private matter and isn’t relevant to the application.

“It’s entitled Cutenhoe Community Learning Village. It’s a member briefing note.”

The outline scheme was recommended for approval by planning officers, but was deferred by eight votes to two until the next committee meeting on September 30.