Agenda for Development Control Committee on Wednesday 22 July 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document // Public speakers are directed to the Protcol document at Agenda Item 3 // Please note Agenda item 4 has been WITHDRAWN from the agenda 

Media

Items
No. Item

31.

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and remote meeting guidance were highlighted to all by the Chair and he also advised that Agenda Item 4 had been withdrawn from the agenda in view of a late representation having been received from a third party which had resulted in the Planning Authority needing to seek legal advice.

 

Lastly, the Committee were advised that as the meeting was an additionally scheduled date, supplementary to the usual monthly meetings, it had not been possible for the minutes of the last meeting on 8 July 2020 to be appended.  These would be included on the agenda for the subsequent meeting on 5 August 2020.

32.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

No apologies for absence were received.

33.

Substitutes

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

Minutes:

No substitutions were declared.

 

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.

34.

Revised Public Speaking Protocol pdf icon PDF 178 KB

Members are requested to APPROVE the attached document “Guide to Having Your Say on Planning Applications” which has been created for use whilst Development Control Committee meetings are being held remotely.

The protocol has been revised since last approved by the Committee in order to include further permitted ways in which the public can take part in the meetings.

Minutes:

The Service Manager (Democratic Services/Monitoring Officer) advised the Committee that following ongoing work in supporting remotely held Committee meetings it had been possible to offer public speakers further alternative ways in which to connect to the Development Control Committee.

 

It had therefore been necessary to update the Committee’s Public Speaking Protocol to reflect the enhanced arrangements.

 

Approval was now requested from the Committee to formally adopt the revised protocol for use; with Delegated Authority also sought for the Assistant Director (Planning & Regulatory Services) to be authorised to carry out any further minor amendments in consultation with the Committee Chair and Vice Chairs.

 

It was proposed by Councillor David Roach, duly seconded by Councillor John Burns and with the vote being unanimous, it was resolved that

 

Decision

 

The attached document “Guide to Having Your Say on Planning Applications” be APPROVED for use whilst Development Control Committee meetings were being held remotely, with Delegated Authority awarded to the Assistant Director (Planning & Regulatory Services) in order to carry out any further minor amendments in consultation with the Committee Chair and Vice Chairs.

 

35.

Planning Application DC/18/1425/FUL - The Woodyard, Stores Hill, Dalham (Report No: DEV/WS/20/033) **WITHDRAWN FROM AGENDA** pdf icon PDF 389 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/20/033

 

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair advised earlier in the meeting that this item had been WITHDRAWN from the agenda.

36.

Planning Application DC/20/0868/FUL - Moreton Hall Community Centre, Symonds Road, Bury St Edmunds (Report No: DEV/WS/20/034) pdf icon PDF 197 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/20/034

 

Planning Application - (i) single storey front extension (ii) single storey rear extension (iii) external works to reconfigure pedestrian walkways

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Planning Application - (i) single storey front extension (ii) single storey rear extension (iii) external works to reconfigure pedestrian walkways

 

This application had been referred to the Development Control Committee as the application had been submitted by West Suffolk Council on West Suffolk Council owned land.

 

Officers were recommending that the application be approved, subject to conditions as set out in Paragraph 30 of Report No DEV/WS/20/034.

 

Speaker:      Councillor Trevor Beckwith (Ward Member: Moreton Hall) spoke in support of the application

 

During the debate Councillor Ann Williamson raised a query with regard to the cycle storage provision at the community centre and voiced concern that it would not be sufficient following expansion of the centre, when coupled with the recent increase nationally in cycling.

 

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) responded and advised Members that Planning Officers would raise this directly with the applicant outside of the planning application process.

 

Councillor Ian Houlder proposed that the application be approved as per the Officer recommendation.  This was duly seconded by Councillor Roger Dicker.

 

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

 3       All HGV and construction traffic movements to and from the site over the duration of the construction period shall be subject to a Deliveries Management Plan which shall be submitted to the planning authority for approval a minimum of 28 days before any deliveries of  materials/equipment or removal of waste commence. No HGV movements shall be permitted to and from the site other than in accordance with the routes defined in the Plan.

          The Plan shall include:

          - Routing for HGV and other associated construction vehicles

          - Means to ensure no water, mud or other debris can migrate onto the highway

          - Means to ensure no materials or equipment will be loaded/unloaded from or stored on the highway

          - Means to ensure all parking including construction vehicles and displaced parking of community centre users will not adversely affect the highway.

          The site operator shall maintain a register of complaints and record of actions taken to deal with such complaints at the site office as specified in the Plan throughout the period of occupation of the site.

 4       Prior to any development above slab level, details of the location and design of the 8-cycle store to be provided for the secure storage of cycles (to be covered and illuminated) 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.

37.

Planning Application DC/20/0543/HH - Hemland House, 117A Westley Road, Bury St Edmunds (Report No: DEV/WS/20/035) pdf icon PDF 199 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/20/035

 

Householder Planning Application - (i) single storey rear extension and (ii) first floor front extension over existing garage (iii) re-cladding existing ground floor garage walls

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Householder Planning Application - (i) single storey rear extension and (ii) first floor front extension over existing garage (iii) re-cladding existing ground floor garage walls

 

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

 

It was referred to the Delegation Panel having been called in by Minden Ward Member, Councillor Robert Everitt.

 

Officers were recommending that the application be refused for the reason set out in Paragraph 27 of Report No DEV/WS/20/035.

 

As part of her presentation the Planning Officer included videos of the site which she took the Committee through by way of a virtual ‘site visit’.

 

During the debate a number of Members made comment on the application and voiced support.

 

Councillor David Roach proposed that the application be approved, contrary to the Officer recommendation, as he considered the scheme to be in compliance with Polices DM2 and DM24.  This was duly seconded by Councillor Andy Drummond.

 

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) addressed the meeting and advised the Committee that the Decision Making Protocol would not be invoked in this instance as a Risk Assessment was not considered necessary.

 

The Planning Officer advised the meeting that conditions could be appended to a permission in respect of the standard time limit and compliance with approved plans.

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 12 voting for the motion and 4 against, it was resolved that

 

Decision

 

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

1.   Standard time limit

2.  Compliance with approved plans

38.

Planning Application DC/20/0657/HH - Eleigh Cottage, Lithgo Paddock, Great Barton (Report No: DE/WS/20/036) pdf icon PDF 282 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/20/036

 

Householder Planning Application - Single storey rear extension to provide annexe

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Householder Planning Application - Single storey rear extension to provide annexe

 

This application was referred to the Development Control Committee following consideration by the Delegation Panel. It was referred to the Panel following a call in from Councillor Sarah Broughton (Ward Member: The Fornhams and Great Barton) and in view of an objection from Great Barton Parish Council. Objections had also been received from neighbours.

 

Officers were recommending that the application be approved subject to conditions, as set out in Paragraph 38 of Report No DEV/WS/20/036.

 

The Planning Officer advised Members that since publication of the agenda one further representation had been received from a third party, however, this did not raise any additional points not previously covered by other representations.

 

As part of her presentation the Planning Officer included videos of the site which she took the Committee through by way of a virtual ‘site visit’.

 

Speakers:    Mrs A Millen (neighbouring objector) spoke against the application

                   Councillor Sarah Broughton (Ward Member: The Fornhams and Great Barton) spoke against the application

 

During the debate a number of Members commented on the application and raised concerns with the design of the scheme being out of keeping with the prevailing character of the area.

 

Accordingly, Councillor David Roach proposed that the application be refused, contrary to the Officer recommendation, as he considered it to be in conflict with Policies DM2, DM24 and CS3 in relation to the proposed materials and orientation of the proposed extension which would fill an important gap in the street scene.  This was duly seconded by Councillor Peter Stevens.

 

The Service Manager (Planning – Development) addressed the meeting and advised the Committee that the Decision Making Protocol would not be invoked in this instance as a Risk Assessment was not considered necessary.

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 13 voting for, 2 against and 1 abstention it was resolved that

 

Decision

 

Planning permission be REFUSED, CONTRARY TO THE OFFICER RECOMMENDATION as it failed to comply with Policies DM2, DM24 and CS3 as being out of character in this location given the width of the extension and the use of contemporary materials, at odds with the prevailing character.

39.

Planning Application DC/19/1623/FUL - 17-18 Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds (Report No: DEV/WS/20/037) pdf icon PDF 221 KB

Report No: DEV/WS/20/037

 

Planning Application - (i) Redevelopment of old Post Office site with retention of historic facade (ii) 12 no. flats (iii) 2 no. commercial units at ground floor and (iv) enlargement and repaving of public realm/footpath

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(Councillor Susan Glossop declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item in view of being the relevant Portfolio Houlder under which the application in question fell.  She stated that she would not take part in the item and would abstain from the voting thereon.)

 

Planning Application - (i) Redevelopment of old Post Office site with retention of historic facade (ii) 12 no. flats (iii) 2 no. commercial units at ground floor and (iv) enlargement and repaving of public realm/footpath

 

This application was originally referred to the Development Control Committee on 6 November 2020 as West Suffolk Council was the applicant.

 

At the November meeting Members resolved to approve the application subject to a S106 Agreement and conditions.

 

The Senior Planning Officer advised that a decision had not yet been issued as the S106 had only earlier that month been agreed.

 

Whilst the material planning considerations already considered by the Committee and as set out in the attached Working Paper remained unchanged, during this time the project had advanced to detailed design stage and some minor, but material amendments had been made. 

 

Accordingly, the application was returned to the Committee for determination of the whole scheme.

 

Officers were recommending that the application be approved subject to conditions, as set out in Paragraph 26 of Report No DEV/WS/20/037.

 

During her presentation to the meeting the Senior Planning Officer drew attention to the late papers which had been circulated following publication of the agenda.

 

Members were also advised of two typographical errors:

·         Page 82 – the receipt date was 8 July 2020 (not June)

·         Working Paper 1 – the consultation undertaken was for 7 days

 

Councillor Ian Houlder proposed that the application be approved as per the Officer recommendation.  This was duly seconded by Councillor Jim Thorndyke.

 

Upon being put to the vote and with 15 voting for the motion and 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       No development shall take place on site until the implementation of a programme of archaeological work has been secured, in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

 

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