Agenda item

Recommended for Approval.

Paul Lemar addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that subject to the applicant or successor in title entering into a legal obligation pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, in respect of both applications 3/14/1717/FP and 3/13/1925/OP, to cover the matters detailed in the report, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted.

The Director also recommended that the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee and a minimum of one of the two local ward Members (whilst informing both ward Members at all stages of any relevant action or decision), be authorised to make amendments to the heads of terms and all related matters in relation to the legal agreement and to add or remove conditions and directives and make such changes to the wording of them as may be necessary to ensure a satisfactory development.

Councillor S Bull, as the local ward Member, endorsed the comments made by Buntingford Town Council.  He referred to the concerns of the Town Council that it was unclear in which phase of the development certain facilities would be provided.  He referred in particular to sustainable transport works and a lack of suitable accommodation for the elderly.

Councillor Bull reiterated the concern of the Town Council that without a signed legal agreement there was no assurance as regards the arrangements for the Bury clubhouse.  He concluded that the Town Council would also like there to be a full timetable made available for the development of the site.

Councillor J Jones, as the other local Member, also expressed concern that there was no formal agreement as regards the Bury.  He also expressed concerns that the Bury play area would be inaccessible for residents.  He emphasised that he would like there to be a formal construction management plan for the phasing of the proposed development.

The Director reminded Members that this application was solely for phase 1 of the development.  Members were advised that Officers would tie the Section 106 planning obligation to both this application and application 3/13/1925/OP to ensure coverage of all the issues relevant to both applications following the decision taken by Members in September 2014.  Officers would also tie in the conditions that had been applied by Members in September 2014.

The Director stated that, as regards the Bury, there was a financial contribution as part of the outline application and the need to allocate some of this contribution to the Bury in line with local opinion had been acknowledged in the report for the application that Members had approved in September 2014.  Members were reminded that the applicant had committed to improvements at the Football Club.

The Director also reminded the Committee that, in September 2014, Members had approved two elements of play provision at the Bury and also in the central green space within the site.  Members were advised that condition 8 stated that prior to the first occupation of any part of the development, details of the layout of each play space and the play equipment to be provided including a timetable for the implementation of the agreed details, should be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

The Director further reminded the Committee that condition 25 required that prior to commencement of the development, a Construction Management Plan must be submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

The Committee accepted the recommendations of the Director of Neighbourhood Services as now submitted.

RESOLVED – that (A) subject to the applicant or successor in title entering into a legal obligation pursuant to Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, in respect of both applications 3/14/1717/FP and 3/13/1925/OP, planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report now submitted; and

(B)   the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee and a minimum of one of the two local ward Members (whilst informing both ward Members at all stages of any relevant action or decision), be authorised to make amendments to the heads of terms and all related matters in relation to the legal agreement and to add or remove conditions and directives and make such changes to the wording of them as may be necessary to ensure a satisfactory development.