Issue - meetings

The Chairman advised that at 2:20 pm this afternoon, Democratic Services had received an email from Councillor Jeff Jones (Hertfordshire County Council member for Buntingford division) in relation to addressing the committee regarding application 3/21/2509/FUL.

As per the Council constitution, paragraph 6.4.2 sets out that all speaking requests must be made by 5pm two working days prior to the meeting.

Then Chairman said that under the constitution, the committee can depart as it sees fit from the speaking arrangements on certain applications, in accordance with paragraph 6.4.5 of the constitution. The committee could agree to depart from the speaking arrangements and would need to vote on this.

Councillor Estop proposed and Councillor Hill seconded, a motion that in accordance with paragraph 6.4.5 in Section 6 – Regulatory Committees of the constitution, the committee agree to depart from the speaking arrangements of the Development Management Committee, to allow Hertfordshire County Councillor Jeff Jones (Buntingford division) to address the committee for 3 minutes in respect of application 3/21/2509/FUL.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that in accordance with paragraph 6.4.5 in Section 6 – Regulatory Committees of the constitution, the committee agree to depart from the speaking arrangements of the Development Management Committee, to allow Hertfordshire County Councillor Jeff Jones (Buntingford division) to address the committee for 3 minutes in respect of application 3/21/2509/FUL.

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/21/2509/FUL, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report.

The Principal Planning Officer summarised the application and set out the policy context with a particular reference to the planning policies regarding Gypsy and Traveller sites. She referred to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (PPTS).

The Principal Planning Officer detailed the consultee responses and referred to the comments of Hertfordshire Highways. She detailed the relevant planning history and talked about water supply, the treatment of waste, biodiversity and drainage. Members were presented with a series of photos, plans and elevation drawings.

Mr Andreou addressed the committee in respect of his concerns regarding the application. Councillor Anne Downes (Westmill Parish Council) and Councillor Jeff Jones (Hertfordshire County Council) also addressed the committee.

Following a question from Councillor Estop, the Principal Planning Officer set out in detail the operation of the Herts Lynx Bus Service. Councillor Copley asked about the other considerations in terms of what would make this site sustainable for Gypsy and Traveller pitches.

The Team Leader (Strategic Applications) said that the first consideration was the hierarchy of villages. He said that there was a degree of accessibility to the limited services in the group 2 village of Westmill. He referred to the site as being 100 to 200 metres away from the village and the site was considered to be sustainable in that regard. Members were referred to relevant appeal case law and were advised that the site  ...  view the full minutes text for item 279