Agenda item

Recommended for Refusal.

Mr Barker and Mr Nicholls addressed the Committee in support of the application.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services recommended that, in respect of application 3/10/1583/OP, planning permission be refused for the reasons now detailed.

Councillor M J Tindale, as the local ward Member, stressed how essential it was for a pub to be secured for Stocking Pelham.  He referred to the Officers’ view that a single dwelling was sufficient as enabling development for a pub in this location.  He questioned the advice given to the applicant that it was not acceptable to submit a business plan to Officers that featured revenue costs.

CouncillorTindale stressed that the applicant should be free to submit a business plan that satisfied Officers.  He commented that if a single dwelling was viable for the applicant, an application would have been submitted on that basis.  He also stated that approving the application would give the pub the very best chance of success.

He urged the Committee to approve the application as although the pub may not succeed with two houses as enabling development, giving the pub the very best chance of success was a risk worth taking to secure a pub for Stocking Pelham.

The Director advised that the judgment for Officers was to consider how much other development was acceptable to facilitate the raising of the necessary capital to build a new pub in this location.  He stressed that approving an application for development to enable an applicant to offset previous losses was an approach that Officers had not been able to support.

The Director accepted the local desire for the pub.  He stressed however that Officers felt that approving an application for a pub that may very likely struggle to survive was not a responsible approach that Officers felt able to support.

Councillor R Gilbert referred to the key issue as being an economic consideration rather than a genuine planning issue.  He stressed that the key issue was the economic case for the pub’s viability.  He stated that most pubs needed a good food offer in order to survive, even though there was significant support locally.

Councillor S A Bull stated that a pub in this location would be a key hub for Stocking Pelham.  He urged the Committee to overturn the recommendation and approve the application then delegate the conditions to Officers.  He stressed the continued loss of the pub would kill the community of Stocking Pelham.

CouncillorMrs M H Goldspink supported the views of Councillor Bull, and expressed concerns in relation to what would happen on the site if this application was refused.  She stressed this pub was a very important community facility which should be supported.

The Director stressed that although the principle of what Members were advocating was straight forward, in practice, Officers may not be able to resolve all of the outstanding issues without bringing a report back to Members for a decision.

Councillor S A Bull proposed and Mrs M H Goldspink seconded, a motion that application 3/10/1583/OP be deferred to enable the formulation of appropriate conditions and legal agreement to support the resolution to grant planning permission.

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

The Committee rejected the recommendation of the Director of Neighbourhood Services that application 3/10/1583/OP be refused planning permission for the reasons now detailed.

RESOLVED – that, in respect of application 3/10/1583/OP, planning permission be deferred to enable the formulation of appropriate conditions and legal agreement to support the resolution to grant planning permission.