Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors M Casey, B Deering, J Jones and R Standley.  It was noted that Councillors P Boylan, S Cousins, D Oldridge and P Ruffles were substituting for Councillors J Jones, M Casey, B Deering and R Standley respectively.

The Chairman welcomed back Elaine Bell to the Committee as cover for the Interim Legal Services Manager.  The Chairman also welcomed Rachael Collard, Principal Planning Officer (Quality Places), to her first meeting of the Committee.

The Chairman summarised the new standardised procedure whereby all decisions must be proposed and seconded by Members before being voted on by the Committee.

The Chairman advised that application 3/17/1726/FUL - The construction of a new farmyard including 3 new agricultural buildings, associated yard area, cattle handling pens and silage storage area, landscaping and drainage at Tewin Water Farm, Churchfield Road, Tewin Water, Tewin AL6 0BW for William Brothers Partnership, had been withdrawn.

To confirm the Minutes of the meetings of the Committee held on:

Tuesday 27 March 2018

Wednesday 28 March 2018.

Councillor D Andrews proposed and Councillor M Allen seconded, a motion that the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

Councillor P Boylan proposed and Councillor R Brunton seconded, a motion that the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2018 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meetings held on 27 and 28 March 2018, be confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

Recommendation for Refusal.

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/17/2216/OUT, planning permission be refused for the reasons detailed in the report now submitted.

The Head summarised the application and detailed the relevant planning history.  Officers had recommended approval of the application in a report that had been withdrawn by Officers from the Agenda for the Committee meeting held on 31 January 2018.  The Annual Monitoring Report that was published in February 2018 had since indicated that the Council was able to demonstrate 6.2 years of housing land.

The Head emphasised that prior to February 2018, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) had stipulated that sustainable developments should be approved unless the harm significantly and demonstrably outweighed the benefits.  Officers had therefore recommended the application for approval back in January as, at that time, the lack of a 5 years’ supply of housing outweighed the harm.

The Head stated that this judgement was no longer relevant and had fallen away.  The test of significant and demonstrable harm was no longer relevant.  The development plan comprised the current Local Plan and the emerging District Plan which was currently at a very advanced stage of pre adoption.

The site was located outside of the identified village boundary in the East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 and the District Plan.  This incursion into the wider countryside area and the harm that would still be caused coupled with the ability of the Authority to demonstrate more than 5 years’ supply of housing were the main reasons for the change in the recommendation now in front of the Committee.

Councillor S Bosson addressed the Committee as the Chairman of Thundridge Parish Council.

Councillor D Andrews referred to the application site being beyond the village boundary.  He commented on the concerns of residents in respect of flooding and the unsuitability of the estate style of the proposed development for High Cross.  He and local residents were also concerned in respect of the siting of the access opposite a school.

Councillor Andrews stated that a bus service that started late, finished early and did not run on Sundays did not constitute a sustainable transport service.  The other village services fluctuated in that the village had lost a pub and had gained a shop.  He concluded that there were a raft of other issues but Officers were absolutely correct in their recommendation for refusal for a site that was outside the village boundary and was in the rural area beyond the Green Belt.

Councillor D Oldridge commented on whether the appeal decision at North Road had changed the situation regarding this application since the January meeting of the Committee.  He queried whether there had been any official discussions with the primary school or whether a single governor had stated their own personal views.

The Head stated that the appeal for the application on North Road had had no significant bearing on this application.  Members should focus on the relevant policy considerations to this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 466.

Recommended for Approval.

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/18/0290/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Head referred to this being an application for full permission and the application was summarised for Members.  The Head detailed the location of the site and summarised a number of key issues for the Committee.  Members were advised that the proposed car deck to the rear of the workshop area would be 74 metres in height and 42 metres in depth.  The ground level parking would be retained with the creation of 88 and 87 spaces respectively on the first and second storeys of vehicle storage on the site.

Members were advised that Officers considered that the proposed development was not out of character with the area.  The Head detailed the conditions and referred to a contribution towards sustainable transport in respect of improvements to a nearby bus stop that had been requested by the Highway Authority.  The Head also referred to a Section 278 agreement.

Mr Wade addressed the Committee in support of the application. 

Councillor K Warnell commented on screening by trees to reduce the potential for overlooking.  He commented on noise from vehicles using the metal access ramps at a nearby dealership with an identical car storage park located behind DIY sheds.  He felt that noise mitigation should be considered for this site as this dealership was closer to residential properties.

Councillor P Boylan suggested that condition 6 should be amended so that deliveries and removals should only take place between the hours of 07:30 and 19:30 Monday to Friday, 07:30 and 18:30 on Saturdays and at no time on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

The Head confirmed that a condition could reasonably be applied in respect of the metal ramps and surfacing to keep noise to a minimum.  Officers could also reasonably amend condition 6 as suggested by Councillor P Boylan.  Councillor D Andrews suggested that a surface other than metal should be applied to the access ramps.

Councillor K Warnell proposed and Councillor M Allen seconded, a motion that in respect of application 3/18/0290/FUL, the Committee support the recommendation for approval subject to an additional condition that a surface other than metal be applied to the vehicle tracks on the access ramps and subject to an amended condition 6 regarding the removal of vehicles.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.  The Committee accepted the recommendation of the Head of Planning and Building Control as now submitted, subject to the inclusion of an additional condition that a surface other than metal be applied to the vehicle tracks on the access ramps and the amendment of condition 6 regarding the removal of vehicles.

RESOLVED – that in respect of application 3/18/0290/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the following amended conditions:

1.           The development to which this permission relates shall be begun within a period of three years commencing on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 467.

(A)  Appeals against refusal of Planning Permission/ non?determination.

(B)  Planning Appeals Lodged.

(C)      Planning Appeals: Inquiry and Informal Hearing Dates.

(D)     Planning Statistics.

RESOLVED – that the following reports be noted:

(A)   Appeals against refusal of planning permission / non-determination;

(B)       Planning Appeals lodged;

(C)        Planning Appeals: Inquiry and Informal Hearing dates; and

(D)       Planning Statistics.