A Special Full Council Meeting to consider Rutland's Pre-Submission Local Plan has been adjourned to be reconvened a week on Monday (10 Feb) to allow councillors more time for discussion.

Full Council meetings must be completed within three hours and cannot proceed beyond a specified finishing time of 10pm.

Councillors at the Special Full Council meeting to held last night (Mon) voted to adjourn the meeting at 9.55pm, when it became clear that business would not be concluded within the allotted time.

This has the effect of extending the meeting – giving more time to consider possible amendments and continue their debate before making a decision.

Councillor Gordon Brown, Cabinet Member for Planning, said: "Councillors at last night's meeting spent considerable time hearing from our residents and discussed matters relating to the Pre-Submission Local Plan.

"With debate taking place right up to the very end of the meeting and possible amendments being put forward, members voted to adjourn so that discussions could continue on another day.

"The Special Full Council meeting is to be reconvened on Monday, 10 February, allowing members more time to consider the documents and continue their discussions on what is a very important issue for Rutland – the need to have an up-to-date Local Plan which can guide development in our county."

The meeting is to be reconvened in the main Council Chamber at Rutland County Council's Catmose offices at 7pm.

All local planning authorities must have a Local Plan that sets out planning policies for their area and Rutland's updated version - covering the period from 2018 to 2036 - also sets out where any additional housing, employment or other development may be needed in future years.

Approval by Full Council is required before Rutland's Pre-Submission Local Plan can be published for further statutory consultation.