Response 3985565

Response to request for information

Reference

3985565

Response date

23 April 2026

Request

I am writing in connection with the ongoing consultation on the East Midlands Freeport Strategic Infrastructure and Contributions Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). I would be grateful if you could clarify the following points regarding potential commercial interests and conflicts of interest:

1. East Midlands Pipeline (EMP) Involvement: Does Rushcliffe Borough Council hold information on whether the East Midlands Pipeline project is likely to be directly or indirectly referenced, considered, or supported in the SPD consultation process or associated strategic planning activities?
2. Councillor Interests: Is the Council aware of any commercial or financial interest by serving councillors or their immediate family members in EMP, or in companies that could materially benefit from the SPD’s recommendations or infrastructure contributions? 
3.  Conflict Management: Could you clarify the procedures Rushcliffe Borough Council has in place to identify and manage potential conflicts of interest where councillors may have commercial links to projects relevant to SPD consultations?
4. Prior Discussions and Correspondence: We note that the SPD is due to be considered by Cabinet. Could you confirm whether there have been any prior discussions, briefings, or correspondence involving councillors relating to the SPD or EMP before this Cabinet consideration? If so, we would be grateful for the dates, recipients, and general nature of these communications, insofar as they are publicly available.

My request is made to ensure that all consultation processes are transparent and that any potential conflicts are appropriately disclosed and managed.

Response

1. The Council does not hold such information. The draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) does not reference East Midlands Pipeline (EMP) and any activities associated with it. EMP and any activities associated with it would only be referenced and considered further in the context of the SPD consultation if consultation comments were to be received mentioning EMP.
2. The Council is not aware if any commercial or financial interest by a serving councillor or their immediate family members in companies that could materially benefit from the SPD’s recommendations or infrastructure contributions. Councillor Debbie Soloman has declared that she is a director of East Midlands Pipeline Ltd which can be viewed on her Register of Interest 
3. Elected Councillors are required to comply with the Council’s Councillor Code of Conduct including the registration and disclosure of interests. a copy of the Council’s Constitution containing the Councillor Code of Conduct that be located online
4. Prior to consultation, a draft of the SPD was considered by the Council’s Local Development Framework Group.  Rushcliffe Borough councillors who currently form this group are Councillors Upton (Chair), R Walker (Vice Chair), Bird, Brown, Butler, Calvert, Chewings, Edyvean, Ellis, Gowland, S Mallender, Mason, Plant, Thomas and Wells. (view online) The papers for this meeting are not made publicly available.