Agenda and draft minutes

This was the last meeting of Forest Heath District Council’s Development Control Committee before it’s dissolution on 6 May 2019.  As a result, the minutes of the meeting remain as drafted following the meeting and cannot be confirmed by the Committee and signed by the Chair.  This is consistent with all other dissolved Committees and bodies.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no substitutes present at the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2019 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 February 2019 were unanimously received as an accurate record and were signed by the Chairman.

Report No: DEV/FH/19/005

Planning Application - (i) Change of use from agricultural land to new municipal cemetery, (ii) new vehicular access , (iii) road crossing and (iv) associated engineering operations (Previous DC/15/1198/FUL)

Planning Application - (i) Change of use from agricultural land to new municipal cemetery, (ii) new vehicular access, (iii) road crossing and (iv) associated engineering operations (Previous DC/15/1198/FUL)

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee because the Council had a landowner interest in the application site.

Officers were recommending that the application be approved, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 46 of Report No DEV/FH/19/005.

As part of her presentation the Principal Planning Officer advised the Committee of the following amendments to the report:

·         Paragraph 20 – the reference to “…July 2019….” should have read ‘February 2019’;

·         Condition 14 – in light of ongoing discussions with the Environment Agency the precise wording of the recommendation was to be delegated to the Assistant Director (Planning and Regulatory Services); and

·         Condition 18 – the reason for this condition had been mistakenly omitted from the report and was read out to the Committee.

Speaker:      David Barker (agent) spoke in support of the application

Councillor David Palmer spoke in support of the application and moved that it be approved, as per the Officer recommendation and inclusive of the amendment to Condition 14, this was duly seconded by Councillor Peter Ridgwell.

Upon being put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

1        The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than 3 years from the date of this permission.

2        Prior to commencement of development a phasing plan for the application site shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.  The development shall then be carried out in accordance with the approved details or in any other phased arrangement as shall be agreed and approved in writing with the Local Planning Authority.

3        No development shall take place within the whole site until the implementation of a programme of archaeological work has been secured, in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation and Evaluation which has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

          The scheme of investigation shall include an assessment of significance and research questions; and:

          a. The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording

          b. The programme for post investigation assessment

          c. Provision to be made for analysis of the site investigation and recording

          d. Provision to be made for publication and dissemination of the analysis and records of the site investigation

          e. Provision to be made for archive deposition of the analysis and records of the site investigation

          f. Nomination of a competent person or persons/organisation to undertake the works set out within the Written Scheme of Investigation.

          g. The site investigation shall be completed prior to development, or in such other phased arrangement, as agreed and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

4        Within six months of the completion of the archaeological fieldwork, or other such phased arrangement as may be agreed and approved in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 356.

Report No: DEV/FH/19/006

Planning Application - (i) Change of use from Stud to Thoroughbred Race Horse Services and Stud (ii) Pony show jumping & training (iii) extension to existing menage, (iv) 6no lighting columns and (v) new access and track (Part Retrospective)

(Councillor Andrew Appleby declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item as he was very familiar with the applicant.  He advised that he would remain in the meeting but would not take part in the debate and would abstain from the voting thereon.

Councillor Simon Cole also declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item as he was acquainted with both the applicant and the public objectors.  He advised that he would remain in the meeting but would not take part in the debate and would abstain from the voting thereon.)

Planning Application - (i) Change of use from Stud to Thoroughbred Race Horse Services and Stud (ii) Pony show jumping & training (iii) extension to existing ménage, (iv) 6no lighting columns and (v) new access and track (Part Retrospective)

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee as it was defined as being a major development owing to the site area of 4.4 hectares and in light of Exning Parish Council having raised objections to the proposal.

A Member site visit was held prior to the meeting.  Officers were recommending that the application be approved, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 109 of Report No DEV/FH/19/006.

The Senior Planning Officer, as part of his presentation, drew attention to the late papers which had been published supplementary to the agenda and which set out amendments to two conditions (Nos 6 and 8) and listed an additional condition for inclusion in the recommendation. 

The Case Officer also drew attention to Paragraphs 18 – 20 which explained that the application fell within the boundary of Exning Parish, following the Community Governance Review undertaken in 2017.

Speaker:      Councillor Andy Drummond (Newmarket Town Council) spoke in support of the application

Councillor David Bowman proposed that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation and inclusive of the amendments to conditions as outlined in the late papers.   This was duly seconded by Councillor Ruth Bowman.

Councillor Simon Cole requested that a recorded vote be taken and this was supported by four other Members.

Upon being put to the vote, Members voted as follows:

With 12 voting for the motion and with 2 abstentions, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

1        The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and documents.

2        Within 3 months from the date of this permission, a scheme of soft landscaping for the site drawn to a scale of not less than 1:200, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The scheme shall include accurate indications of the proposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 357.

Report No: DEV/FH/19/007

Planning Application - Continued use of first and second floors as a large 9no. bedroom HMO (sui generis)

Planning Application - Continued use of first and second floors as a large 9no. bedroom HMO (sui generis)

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee as the applicant is Forest Heath District Council.

Newmarket Town Council had raised no objections and Officers were recommending that the application be approved, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 35 of Report No DEV/FH/19/007.

Councillor Stephen Edwards moved that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation, and this was duly seconded by Councillor David Bowman.

Upon being put to the vote and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that

Decision

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to:

1        The development hereby permitted shall be begun not later than 3 years from the date of this permission.

2        The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and documents.

3        Before the large HMO hereby approved is occupied, details of the areas to be provided for secure cycle storage shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved scheme shall be carried out in its entirety before the development is brought into use and shall be retained thereafter and used for no other purpose.

4        The HMO hereby approved shall not be occupied until the optional requirement for water consumption (110 litres use per person per day) in part G of the Building Regulations has been complied with and evidence of compliance has been obtained.

This being the last Forest Heath Development Control Committee prior to the formation of the West Suffolk Council, both the Chairman and Service Manager (Planning – Development) gave thanks to Members and Officers and wished those standing for re-election well.