Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was submitted from Councillor V Burt. It was noted that Councillor M Connolly was substituting for Councillor V Burt.

The Chair welcomed everyone present at the meeting. He explained that unfortunately an issue with the IT had prevented a live stream of the meeting. He introduced the Officers and reminded everyone to use the microphones as the meeting was being recorded.

To receive any Members' declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday 4 December 2024.

Councillor Estop proposed and Councillor Carter seconded, a motion that the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2024 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair, subject to the following amendment:

Delete in the 19^th paragraph of minute 261:

‘licensing terms’.

Replace with:

‘proposed live performance uses of the site’.

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

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2024, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair, subject to the following amendment:

Delete in the 19^th paragraph of minute 261

‘licensing terms’.

Replace with:

‘proposed live performance uses of the site’.

The Chair said that following a request for extra speaking time from the applicant, he was inviting Members to consider whether they wished to extend public speaking timed slots to 6 minutes. He said that under paragraph 6.5.5 of the constitution, the committee can depart as it sees fit from the speaking arrangements on certain applications. The chair explained that the committee would need to vote on a formal motion to extend the speaking time.

Councillor Watson proposed and Councillor Hill seconded, a motion that in accordance with paragraph 6.5.5 in Section 6 (Regulatory Committees) of the constitution, the committee agree to depart from the speaking arrangements of the Development Management Committee, to increase the total speaking time to 6 minutes for the objectors, the applicant, and the town council speaker in respect of application 3/24/0294/OUT.

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

RESOLVED – that in accordance with paragraph 6.5.5 in Section 6 (Regulatory Committees) of the constitution, the committee agreed to depart from the speaking arrangements of the Development Management Committee, to allow public speakers to address the committee for 6 minutes in respect of application 3/24/0294/OUT.

The Head of Planning and Building Control recommended that in respect of application 3/24/0294/OUT, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions set out at the end of the report, and subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement.

The Principal Planning Officer highlighted the location of the site and said that application 3/24/0294/OUT was a hybrid planning application with part of the proposals submitted in full details. He set out in detail the key issues for Members to consider. As part of this summary, Members were presented with a series of plans, visuals, and detailed elevation drawings.

The Principal Planning Officer detailed the planning history of the site and summarised the late representations received since the publication of the report. Members were advised that legal advice given to Officers was that the application should be reported back to Committee to allow further discussion and for some greater clarity on the elements of the proposal that members at the previous committee considered unacceptable and, in particular, in respect of the policies to be referenced and reasoning for any refusal in relation to the harms that had been identified at the previous meeting of the Committee on 13 November 2024.

The Principal Planning Officer also explained that since the previous meeting there were a number of material planning considerations which needed to be reported as these may have a material bearing on the determination of the planning application. The officer explained that the publication of the revised NPPF in the middle of December had resulted in a significant change to national planning policy in terms of housing. He referred to a new standard mandatory method for calculating housing need which had resulted in an increase in yearly housing number that East Herts was required to deliver in order to achieve a 5-year  ...  view the full minutes text for item 298.

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.

To consider such other business as, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting, is of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration and is not likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information.

There was no urgent business. The Head of Planning and Building Control responded to a question from Councillor Estop in respect of updates regarding sites where development had not progressed.