Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors K Brush, M Casey and J Kaye.  It was noted that Councillor J Cartwright was in attendance as substitute for Councillor Kaye.

The Chairman welcomed the press and public to the meeting.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 22 July 2015 (Previously circulated as part of the Council Minute book for Wednesday 29 July 2015).

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2015 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Recommended for Approval

Note – Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ to follow.

The following people addressed the Committee in objection to the application:

·                          John Rhodes (Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation)

·                          Peter Hough (Chantry Community Association)

·                          David Royle

·                          Andy White

The following people addressed the Committee in support of the application:

·                          Mike Lambert (Countryside Properties)

In respect of application 3/13/0886/OP, the Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that:

(A)        in consultation with the Chairman of the Development Management Committee and the Head of Planning and Building Control, the Head of Democratic and Legal Services completes a Section 106 Agreement between the Council, landowner, developer and other parties as appropriate in accordance with the heads of terms detailed in Essential Reference Paper A;

(B)        in consultation with the Chairman of the Development Management Committee plus the Executive Member for Development Management and Council Support as well as any two Members who represent Bishop’s Stortford wards and who are members of this Committee and the Head of Democratic and Legal Support Services, the Head of Planning and Building Control be authorised to make amendments to the heads of terms, the scale of financial contributions to be assigned to the various service areas referred to in the heads of terms and the service areas to which financial contributions should be assigned and the Head of Democratic and Legal Support Services be authorised to complete a Section 106 Agreement as maybe amended, in all cases to ensure a satisfactory development;

(C)        on completion of the approved Section 106 Agreement, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in Essential reference Paper B; and

(D)        in consultation with the Chairman of the Development Management Committee, the Head of Planning and Building Control be authorised, in advance of the issuing of the planning permission, to add or remove conditions and directives and make such changes to the wording of them as might be necessary to ensure clarity and enforceability and to ensure a satisfactory development.

The Director introduced the application and reminded the Committee that the outline application for ASR sites 1 – 4 had been approved and a previous hybrid scheme for ASR5 had been refused in March 2015.  The Director detailed the papers Members should have in front of them and summarised the key details of this application.

Members were reminded that this was an outline application that had been with the Authority since May 2013 and all matters were reserved aside from the proposed access arrangements.  The Director summarised the amendments that had been made to the application and advised that the application included 25% affordable housing provision.

The Director advised that Council policy was for up to 40% affordable housing.  The Authority had supported schemes with less than 40% provision and appeal decisions had also reached this conclusion.  Members were advised that all sites had their own set of circumstances and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) stipulated that Authorities should not seek full affordable housing provision where the cost to a development might prevent it from coming forward.

The Director concluded by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 225.