Markfield Lane planning application approved.

Plans Committee Chair’s casting vote decisive

Watch the meeting on You Tube 

December 2025    The controversial plan by Davidsons to build houses at the rear of homes at Leicester Road in Field Head was approved by Charnwood Borough Council at a meeting on November 13th. Councillors were considering a recommendation by their Planning Officers that approval should be granted based on a detailed analysis which ran to 86 pages. All the documentation is available to read on the Charnwood Borough website.

Some no doubt agree with the development which will provide 115 new homes, but there was widespread opposition to it from a part of the county facing challenges on many fronts. The full meeting, including the Field Head debate, is available to watch online following the link at the start of this article.

The Committee has 13 members, including 3 vacancies. It may be a source of disappointment to residents that so many of those present stood back from the decision making process and abstained. The result was a tied 3 – 3 vote meaning that more of the members either voted against the development or abstained than voted for it.

“The Charnwood Borough Council constitution explains that if there is the same number of votes for and against, the Chair will have a casting vote,” said a spokesperson for Charnwood Borough Council “There is no restriction on how the Chair chooses to exercise a casting vote. Furthermore, the Local Government Act provides that the Chair is entitled to cast two votes in the event a first vote is tied. The Chair’s right to exercise their second (casting) vote is not contingent on their having exercised a first vote.”

“Thus, although the Chair at the Plans Committee meeting held on 13th November on the Markfield Lane, (Application No P/22/1031/2) did not exercise a first vote, save to abstain, they were entitled to exercise their second vote upon it being declared that the first vote was tied.”

The Chair, who initially did not vote for or against, used the casting vote to approve the planning application. Many may feel uncomfortable that the application was approved despite being supported by only 4 members.

A difficult decision for the Chair?

When the vote was tied the Chair perhaps had a difficult decision, as although members were undecided because of the abstentions, the Planning Officer had recommended approval of the outline planning application. Refusal would no doubt result in an appeal by the developer, given that this would have been contrary to the Planning Officer’s recommendation.

Whilst the Chair was advised about the casting vote no guidance was offered on alternative options. Residents may feel that perhaps the decision could have been deferred, given the clear lack of positive support for the development, allowing those who abstained more time to reconsider, and at least preserving the status quo for the time being.

In using the casting vote the Chair said “I’m afraid that given the caveats, and the fact that we haven’t had the reserved matters as yet, at which we have another bite of this cherry, I am going to vote in favour.”

However, the local residents affected may feel that it is not that simple and it is last month’s decision to approve the application that is most critical.

What can you say in 45 seconds?

The restrictions imposed by the Charnwood Borough Council rules on objectors may be another source of contention. In common with many other planning authorities the Charnwood Constitution says it is the responsibility of objectors to appoint a representative to speak on their behalf, or alternatively share the time limit of three minutes. Three of the four prospective speakers gave up the 45 seconds each that they were allowed in order for Councillor David Hyde to speak for them.


Read these Leicester Mercury reports

The Charnwood Borough Council Planning meeting decision

Angry residents respond to decision