Agenda for Development Control Committee on Wednesday 7 October 2020, 10.00 am

Agenda and minutes

Venue: To be held remotely via video conferencing facilities (Microsoft TeamsLive)

Contact: Helen Hardinge: Democratic Services Officer  Email: helen.hardinge@westsuffolk.gov.uk

Note: The link to view the live stream of the meeting is shown in 'Media' below together with a supporting guidance document. The Public Speaking Protocol for remotely held Development Control Committees can also be found under 'Media' below 

Media

Items
No. Item

58.

Welcome

Minutes:

The Chair formally commenced the meeting and jointly welcomed all present and those externally viewing the Development Control Committee.

 

A number of housekeeping matters and remote meeting guidance were highlighted to all.

59.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ann Williamson.

60.

Substitutes

Any member who is substituting for another member should so indicate, together with the name of the relevant absent member.

Minutes:

The following substitution was declared:

 

Councillor Carol Bull substituting for Councillor Ann Williamson.

 

Following which, the Democratic Services Officer verbally outlined all Members of the Committee who were present, together with any attending Councillors and the names of the Officers supporting the meeting.

61.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 392 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 5 August 2020 (copy attached).

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 5 August 2020 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

62.

Declarations of interest

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary or local non pecuniary interest which they have in any item of business on the agenda, no later than when that item is reached and, when appropriate, to leave the meeting prior to discussion and voting on the item.

Minutes:

Members’ declarations of interest are recorded under the item to which the declaration relates.

63.

Planning Application DC/18/1425/FUL - The Woodyard, Stores Hill, Dalham (Report No: DEV/WS/20/046) pdf icon PDF 296 KB

Planning application - Entry Level exception site for 2no affordable dwellings and ancillary access arrangements (partly retrospective)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Planning Application - Entry Level exception site for 2no affordable dwellings and ancillary access arrangements (partly retrospective)

 

This application was originally referred to the Development Control Committee on 22 July 2020 following consideration by the Delegation Panel at the request of the Ward Member (Chedburgh & Chevington) Councillor Mike Chester.

 

The Delegation Panel subsequently recommended that the application be heard before the Development Control Committee due to the site’s (enforcement) history and the degree of public interest generated by the proposal.

 

Furthermore, Dalham Parish Council had raised objections to the scheme which was in conflict with the Officer’s recommendation of approval.

 

However, the item was withdrawn from the 22 July 2020 Development Control Committee agenda following a third party representation which suggested that the application as submitted ought not be determined by the Local Planning Authority on the basis that planning application DC/16/1735/FUL had already been refused on the 17 February 2017.

 

The representation asserted that based on the advice contained within the National Planning Practice Guidance, a further application could not be submitted pursuant to S.70c of the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act.

 

In response to this claim, legal advice was sought which confirmed that there were no material or legal reasons for the Local Planning Authority to refuse to determine this planning application, accordingly, it was returned to the Committee on 2 September 2020 for deliberation.

 

At the September meeting Members resolved that they were minded to refuse planning permission due to advice contained within the 2015 Written Ministerial Statement which relates to intentional unauthorised development and over concerns that the dwellings proposed are not affordable.

 

Accordingly, a Risk Assessment was produced for further consideration by the Committee which the Senior Planning Officer took Members through as part of his presentation.

 

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) addressed the meeting and drew attention to the supplementary ‘late papers’, that had been issued following publication of the agenda, and the subsequent email that had also been sent out to the Committee which summarised additional representations received from third parties.

 

As part of his presentation the Senior Planning Officer made reference to the revised visibility splay and the third-party comments received in relation to this. He advised the Committee that the comments had been forwarded on to Suffolk County Council Highways who, in response, confirmed that they continued to be content with the scheme as proposed.

 

Officers continued to recommend that the application be approved subject to a S106 Agreement and conditions as set out in Working Paper 1 (with an updated drawing number for visibility splay, amended plan received 22 September 2020).

 

Speakers:    Rachel Mack-Smith (resident objector & on behalf of fellow neighbouring objectors) spoke against the application

                   Councillor John Riddell (Dalham Parish Council) spoke against the application

                   Councillor Mike Chester (Ward Member: Chedburgh & Chevington) spoke on the application

Philip Kratz (agent) spoke in support of the application (the agent had opted not to connect to the meeting to address the Committee and had instead asked the Democratic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63.

64.

Planning Application DC/20/0784/FUL - Doctors Surgery, 10 The Chase, Stanton (Report No: DEV/WS/20/047) pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Planning Application - 1.5 storey rear extension to accommodate 4no. GP Consulting Rooms, Treatment Room, Interview Room and associated administrative and storage areas (following removal of existing portacabin)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Planning Application - 1.5 storey rear extension to accommodate 4no. GP Consulting Rooms, Treatment Room, Interview Room and associated administrative and storage areas (following removal of existing portacabin)

 

This application was originally referred to the Development Control Committee on 5 August 2020 following consideration by the Delegation Panel.

 

The application was referred to the Delegation Panel as Stanton Parish Council raised concerns, which was contrary to the Officer recommendation of approval.

 

At the August meeting the Committee resolved that they were ‘minded to’ refuse the application, contrary to the Officer recommendation, due to insufficient parking provision at the site and highway safety issues being exacerbated by surgery users parking on the neighbouring streets, primarily Parkside and Grundle Close. The proposal was also considered to be contrary to Policies DM2 and DM46.

 

Accordingly, a Risk Assessment was produced for further consideration by the Committee which the Planning Officer took Members through as part of his presentation together with videos of the site by way of a virtual ‘site visit’.

 

Officers continued to recommend that the application be approved subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 32 of Report No DEV/WS/20/047.

 

Speakers:    Julia Hiley (NHS West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group – supporting body) spoke in support of the application

                   Dr Nick Redman (GP, Stanton Doctors Surgery – applicant) spoke in support of the application

 

Councillor Jim Thorndyke, as Ward Member for Stanton, opened the debate and spoke on the history of the application.

 

Councillor Ian Houlder remarked on the remote consultation methods currently being operated by GP surgeries, due to Covid-19, and the reduction in footfall this resulted in. 

 

Accordingly, he proposed that the application be approved as per the Officer recommendation and this was duly seconded by Councillor David Roach.

 

(During the debate Councillor John Burns again lost connection to the meeting, hence he was advised that he was unable to take part in the vote on this item.)

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 15 voting for the motion and with 1 abstention 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.   The development hereby permitted shall not be carried out except in complete accordance with the details shown on the approved plans and documents.

3.   The development hereby permitted shall be constructed entirely of the materials detailed on the submitted plan – application form.

4.   The site demolition, preparation and construction works shall be carried out between the hours of 08:00 to 18:00 Mondays to Fridays and between the hours of 08:00 to 13:30 Saturdays and at no time on Sundays or Bank Holidays without the prior written consent of the Local Planning Authority.

5.   The use shall not commence until the area within the site shown on Drawing No. 4735-0110 P01 for the purposes of secure cycle storage have been provided and thereafter that area shall be retained and used  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64.

65.

Planning Application DC/19/1577/FUL - Land Rear of 47 High Street, Tuddenham (Report No: DEV/WS/20/048) pdf icon PDF 445 KB

Planning Application - 1no. dwelling

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Planning Application - 1no. dwelling

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel.

 

The application was referred to the Delegation Panel as Tuddenham Parish Council raised concerns, which was contrary to the Officer recommendation of approval.

 

Given the continuing level of interest in this matter from third parties as well as that of the Ward Member (Manor), Councillor Brian Harvey, the application was referred to Committee at the request of the Assistant Director - Planning and Regulatory Services.

 

As part of her presentation the Planning Officer made reference to an issue raised regarding the potential effects upon the nearby Special Protection Area and advised the Committee that this matter had since been resolved with Natural England having raised no objections.  Furthermore, the removal of vegetation on site could be conditioned to ensure it took place outside of bird breeding season.

 

Members were taken through the changes that had been made to the scheme since original submission together with videos of the site by way of a virtual ‘site visit’.

 

Lastly, attention was drawn to further correspondence that had been submitted by a neighbour which asserted that the measurements from the proposal to the adjacent property were inaccurate.

 

In response, the Officer drew attention to a typographical error concerning measurements within Report No DEV/WS/20/048 but assured the Committee that the application had been assessed against the correct measurements.

 

Furthermore, even if the measurements asserted by the neighbour were correct Officers were still of the opinion that it would afford adequate separation distances and would not change the recommendation.

 

Officers recommended that the application be approved subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 70 of the report.

 

Speakers:    Elizabeth Thomas (neighbouring resident objector at 41a, also on behalf of fellow neighbouring objector at No 49) spoke against the application

                   Kevin Watts (agent) spoke in support of the application

 

Councillor Susan Glossop sought clarification with regard to the changes made to the design and the width of the access drive.

 

The Officer advised that the drive was approximately 4.5m wide and drew attention to the final proposal elevations following the large two-storey glazed element having been removed and the dormer windows having been replaced by roof lights, serving the bathroom and en-suite.

 

Councillor Ian Houlder spoke in support of the application and remarked on other existing back land development within Tuddenham.  He proposed that the application be approved as per the Officer recommendation and this was duly seconded by Councillor Don Waldron.

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 15 voting for the motion and 1 against, it was resolved that

 

Decision

 

Planning permission be GRANTED subject to the following conditions:

 

  1. The development hereby permitted shall be commenced no 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.

  1. The site demolition, preparation and construction works shall be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

 

In this section