Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were no Apologies for Absence.

1.         Disclosable pecuniary interests (“DPI”)

A  DPI is where a committee member or his/her spouse or partner has any kind of beneficial interest in the land under consideration at the meeting.

 2.        Non-disclosable pecuniary interests

These are interests that are pecuniary involving a  personal financial benefit or detriment but do not come within the definition of a DPI.  An example would be where a member of their family/close friend (who is not their spouse or partner) has such an interest.

3.         Non-pecuniary interests

Where the interest is not one which involves any personal financial benefit or detriment to the Councillor but arises out of a close connection with someone or some  body /association.  An example would be membership of a sports committee/ membership of another council which is involved in the matter under consideration.

Councillor Deborah Roberts declared a non-pecuniary interest in Minute 5 (S/4569/17/FL - Foxton (40 Barrington Road)). Councillor Roberts had been present at the Foxton Parish Council meeting at which this matter had been considered. She is not a member of Foxton Parish Council and did not contribute to the debate. Councillor Roberts was considering the matter afresh.

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2018 as a correct record.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2018.

Demolition of structures, remediation and redevelopment for up to 32 dwellings with new open space and associated infrastructure. and other associated works.

The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application subject to

1.     A Legal Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (or any other appropriate legal agreement) in accordance with the Heads of Terms attached to the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, supplemented by further obligations regarding the land and water decontamination and collateral warranties for that work, and subject also to the final wording being agreed by officers in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee; and

2.     Safeguarding conditions and informatives including those in the said report.

Members visited the site on 3 April 2018.

The case officer informed the Committee that the Council was now able to demonstrate a 4.8-year housing land supply. However, officers’ views remained as outlined in the report in terms of assessing the planning merits.

Mark Spilsbury and two colleagues (agents for the applicant), Councillor Jane Ward (Hauxton Parish Council) and Councillor Janet Lockwood (local Member) addressed the meeting.

It was reported that Haslingfield Parish Council had objected to thew proposal.

Committee agreed with the officer conclusion that the development represented inappropriate development in the Green Belt. It gave consideration to the balance of harm and benefits including the impact on the openness and character of the Green Belt, the low density of the scheme, the absence of affordable housing, the lack of a 5 year housing land supply, contaminated land, transport and highway safety impacts and viability. The Committee agreed with the officer recommendations both that the benefits of the scheme outweighed the harm and that Very Special Circumstances existed which clearly outweighed the harm to the Green Belt caused by inappropriateness and any other harm and gave officers delegated powers to approve the application subject to:

1.     A Legal Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (or any other appropriate legal agreement) in accordance with the Heads of Terms attached to the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, supplemented by further obligations regarding the land and water decontamination and collateral warranties for that work, and subject also to the final wording being agreed by officers in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee; and

2.     Safeguarding conditions and informatives including those in the said report.

Construction of (B1) technology centre (2,165sqm) with associated parking and external landscaping.

The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application subject to

1.      expiry of the public consultation process  and there being no new material objections raised;

2.     The Conditions and Informatives referred to in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, final wording to be agreed by officers in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee; and

3.     Referral of the decision to the Secretary of State

Members visited the site on 3 April 2018.

The case officer clarified a contradiction in the report, confirming that the application included 69 car parking spaces. He said that paragraph 28 in the report should be disregarded.

Mark Howard (applicant) and Councillor Caroline Ilott (Foxton Parish Council) addressed the meeting. Councillor Deborah Roberts (speaking as local Member) urged the Committee to observe the Council’s Green Belt policies and to refuse the application.

It was noted that Foxton was a sustainable location, and that the application was of local and national significance.

The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application subject to

1.      expiry of the public consultation process  and there being no new material objections raised;

2.     The Conditions and Informatives referred to in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, final wording to be agreed by officers in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee; and

3.     Referral of the decision to the Secretary of State

Development of 1 no. dwelling as part of the SCDC self-build programme

The Committee approved the application subject to the draft Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, the final wording to be determined by officers in consultation  with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee.

Members visited the site on 3 April 2018.

The Committee approved the application subject to the draft Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, the final wording to be determined by officers in consultation  with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee.

Construct a storage area between the cycle shed and waste store

The Committee approved the application subject to the draft Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, the final wording to be determined by officers in consultation  with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee.

The Committee approved the application subject to the draft Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, the final wording to be determined by officers in consultation  with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee.

The Committee received and noted an Update on enforcement action.    

The Committee received and noted a report on appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action.