Agenda for Development Control Committee on Wednesday 5 October 2022, 10.00 am

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Conference Chamber, West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds IP33 3YU

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

Media

Items
No. Item

280.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors John Burns, Jason Crooks, Roger Dicker, Andy Drummond and Peter Stevens.

281.

Substitutes

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

Minutes:

The following substitutions were declared:

 

Councillor James Lay substituting for Councillor Andy Drummond; and

Councillor Sara Mildmay-White substituting for Councillor Peter Stevens

282.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 293 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2022 (copy attached).

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 September 2022 were confirmed as a correct record, with 10 voting for the motion and with 3 abstentions and were signed by the Chair.

283.

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.

284.

West Suffolk Development Control Committee: Review of Operation

Members will recall that at the first meeting of the West Suffolk Development Control Committee in June 2019 it was formally agreed for a review of the working practices of the Committee to be undertaken during 2020 in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chairs. However, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic it was not possible to undertake this during 2020 or 2021.

 

The Development Control Committee has consistently operated well since June 2019; the training sessions which have been delivered since then (be those virtually or in-person) are always well attended and Members are robust in seeking to appoint substitutes when they cannot attend a meeting.

 

The (pandemic triggered) move to virtual meetings enabled the Delegation Panel to achieve and maintain high levels of Ward Member attendance and engagement, hence, the decision to retain these meetings on a virtual platform.

 

Furthermore, the changes brought about to meeting operation due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 have enabled the Committee to amend its working practices organically based on need and good practice, e.g. the retention of some additional speaking arrangements and site visit videos, since reverting back to in-person meetings.

 

Going forward, West Suffolk Council is currently undertaking a corporate procurement process which seeks to upgrade the audio/visual equipment within the Conference Chamber at West Suffolk House to enable hybrid meetings. The Committee will need to re-consider its speaking protocol to reflect this arrangement once new technology has been installed.

 

Recommendation

 

It is proposed that in view of the Committee (and Delegation Panel) having amended various working practices since June 2019, and there being no demonstrable need for review, that a wholescale review is not required at this stage. But noting the need to reconsider speaking arrangements etc once hybrid meetings are able to be operated.

 

The Chair and Vice Chairs have been consulted and endorse this proposal.

 

Minutes:

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) presented this item which explained that at the first meeting of the West Suffolk Development Control Committee in June 2019, it had been formally agreed for a review of the working practices of the Committee to be undertaken during 2020, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chairs.  However, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it had not been possible to undertake this review during 2020 or 2021.

 

The Development Control Committee had consistently operated well since June 2019.  The training sessions which had been delivered since then (be those virtually or in-person) were always well attended and Members were robust in seeking to appoint substitutes when they could not attend a meeting.

 

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) explained that the (pandemic triggered) move to virtual meetings enabled the Delegation Panel to achieve and maintain high levels of Ward Member attendance and engagement, hence, the decision to retain these meetings on a virtual platform.  Furthermore, the change brought about to meeting operation due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 had enabled the Committee to amend its working practices organically based on need and good practice, eg, the retention of some additional speaking arrangements and site visit videos, since reverting back to in-person meetings.

 

Going forward, West Suffolk Council was currently undertaking a corporate procurement process which sought to upgrade the audio/visual equipment within the Conference Chamber at West Suffolk House to enable hybrid meetings.  The Committee would need to re-consider its speaking protocol to reflect this arrangement once new technology has been installed.

 

Therefore, it was being proposed that there was not a demonstrable need, at this stage, to undertake a wholescale review of the Committee’s working practices.  However, there may need to be reconsideration of speaking arrangements once hybrid meetings were able to be operated.  The Committee also noted that the Chair and Vice Chairs had been consulted and also endorsed this proposal.

 

It was proposed by Councillor David Smith, seconded by Councillor Brian Harvey and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that

 

          Resolved:

 

That in view of the Committee (and Delegation Panel) having amended various working practices since June 2019, and there being no demonstrable need for review, that a wholescale review is not required at this stage.  But noting the need to reconsider speaking arrangements etc. once hybrid meetings are able to be operated.

285.

Planning Application DC/22/0026/FUL & Listed Building Application DC/22/0027/LB - Replacement Dwelling 1, 83 - 84 Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds pdf icon PDF 272 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/22/040

 

DC/22/0026/FUL: Planning Application - conversion of existing offices and cart lodge to create three dwellings and associated works

DC/22/0027/LB: Application for Listed Building Consent - conversion of existing offices and cart lodge to create three dwellings and associated works

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Report No: DEV/WS/22/040)

 

DC/22/0026/FUL: Planning Application - conversion of existing offices and cart lodge to create three dwellings and associated works.

 

DC/22/0027/LB: Application for Listed Building Consent - conversion of existing offices and cart lodge to create three dwellings and associated works.

 

These applications had been referred directly to the Development Control Committee noting the Ward Member interest and the cancellation of the scheduled Delegation Panel meeting on 20 September 2022, at which this item was otherwise intended to be presented.

 

For clarification, the Case Officer informed the Committee that the application was for the conversion of the existing offices and, therefore, was not for a replacement dwelling, as was indicated in the address of the application within the committee papers.

 

Officers were recommending that the full Planning Application DC/22/0026/FUL be refused, which conflicted with Bury St Edmunds Town Council’s comment of “no objection” to both applications. 

 

Officers were also recommending that the Listed Building Application DC/22/0027/LB be approved, given that the works were considered acceptable by the Conservation Officer and in accordance with the relevant Development Management Policies.  Whilst the recommendation to grant Listed Building Consent aligned with the Bury St Edmunds Town Council’s stance, for transparency and given both applications were connected, that had been brought before the Committee together.

 

Speakers:    Councillor Julia Wakelam (Ward Member: Abbeygate) spoke in support of the application.

                   Phil Cobbold (Agent for the applicant) spoke in support of the application.

 

A number of the Committee Members spoke in support of approving this application.  They considered that the conversion of the former offices back to a residential dwelling would actually enhance the visual appearance of this area of Guildhall Street and would bring about improvements to the listed building.  It was also considered that this conversion would not have a detrimental impact on the provision of retail and commercial properties within the town centre and that information about office vacancies in the area demonstrated that there was not a market need for the retention of the offices.  The Committee particularly referred to the comments which had been received from Our Bury St Edmunds BID who also had no objections to the application for the conversion of the former offices.

 

It was proposed by Councillor Mike Chester, duly seconded by Councillor Jim Thorndyke, that Planning Application DC/22/0026/FUL be approved, contrary to the Officer recommendation.

 

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

 

Decision – Planning application DC/22/0026/FUL

Planning permission be GRANTED, CONTRARY TO THE OFFICER RECOMMENDATION, subject to the following conditions:

 

1.           Time Limit – Detailed (3 years).

 

2.           Compliance with Approved Plans.

 

3.           The site preparation and construction works, including road works, shall be carried out between the hours of:

08:00 to 18:00 Mondays to Fridays

08:00 to 13:00 Saturdays

And at no times during Sundays or Bank Holidays without the prior written consent of the Local Planning Authority.

(Reason: To protect the amenity of occupiers of adjacent properties from noise and disturbance, in accordance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 285.

286.

Planning Application DC/22/1230/FUL - Abbey Gardens, Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds pdf icon PDF 176 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/22/041

 

Planning application - re roofing of existing mess room building

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Report No: DEV/WS/22/041)

 

Planning application - re roofing of existing mess room building

 

This application was being presented to the Development Control Committee as it was an application submitted by West Suffolk Council’s Property Services department.

 

Previous work at the wider staff compound had been considered by the Development Control Committee on 2 March 2022 (Planning application DC/21/2261/FUL), where Members had voted to approve the application.  Reference had been made to the re-roofing of the Mess Room but had not formed part of that particular application.

 

Officers were recommending that the application be approved.

 

Members generally supported approval of the application.  However, some reservations were raised with regards to the shade of green (Laurel Green) which was to be used on the roof.  Members also asked whether it would be possible to request that any necessary wall repairs were also undertaken.

 

The Case Officer confirmed that he would undertake to clarify the exact colour shade of the roof and would inform the Chair and Vice Chairs of the Development Control Committee accordingly and would include a specific condition if deemed appropriate to do so.  The Case Officer also explained that the wall repairs did not technically form part of the application, but they would raise the Committee’s concerns with the applicant accordingly.

 

It was moved by Councillor Ian Houlder, seconded by Councillor Jim Thorndyke that the application be approved, as per the Officer recommendation (also taking into account the comments which had been raised during the discussions with regards to the colour of the roof).

 

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 three 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 following approved plans and documents, unless otherwise stated below:

         

Reference

number

Plan type

Date received

004

Existing and proposed elevations

12 July 2022

011

Sections

12 July 2022

002

Existing and proposed sections

12 July 2022

001

Existing and proposed sections

12 July 2022

003

Roof plans

12 July 2022

1625

Bat report

12 July 2022

(-)

Biodiversity checklist

12 July 2022

(-)

Design and access statement

12 July 2022

(-)

Heritage statement

12 July 2022

(-)

Application form

12 July 2022

 

3.       A Biodiversity Enhancement Layout, providing the finalised details and locations of the enhancement measures contained within the Nocturnal Bat Surveys at Abbey Gardens Mess Room report (Adonis Ecology, 13th July 2022)), shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority.

          The enhancement measures shall be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to occupation and all features shall be retained in that manner thereafter.

 

4.       No provision of any external roofing shall take place until precise details of the specification of the roofing to be applied to the building, including the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 286.

 

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