Agenda and draft minutes

Councillors Dr. Martin Cahn, Grenville Chamberlain, Brian Milnes and Peter Topping sent Apologies for Absence. Their respective substitutes were Councillors Eileen Wilson, Heather Williams, Anna Bradnam and Sue Ellington.

Councillor Deborah Roberts sent Apologies for Absence but no substitute was available.

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 Anna Bradnam declared a non-pecuiary interest in Minute 4 (S/3865/17/FL - Waterbeach (Land at Cody Road & Capper Road)) because she had met the applicant on site independently of the formal site visit. She had been accompanied by the other two District Councillors representing Waterbeach – Councillors Judith Rippeth and Hazel Smith – and by the Case Officer.

Councillor John Batchelor declared a Non-disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Minute 6 (S/0793/18/FL - Linton (1 Horseheath Road)). Councillor Batchelor’s son, Councillor Henry Batchelor, has a businrss relationship with the applicant. Councillor John Batchelor had never met said applicant. In view of the legal advice he had received, Councillor John Batchelor would withdraw from the Chamber, take no part in the debate, and would not vote.

Councillor Judith Rippeth declared a non-pecuiary interest in Minute 4 (S/3865/17/FL - Waterbeach (Land at Cody Road & Capper Road)) because she had met the applicant on site independently of the formal site visit. She had been accompanied by the other two District Councillors representing Waterbeach – Councillors Anna Bradnam and Hazel Smith – and by the Case Officer.

Pending the issue of recorded voting at Planning Committee being addressed by the Constitution, Councillor John Batchelor proposed that all substantive votes be recorded.

The proposal was duly seconded and , upon a show of hands, the Committee agreed unanimously that all substantive votes at the current Planning Committee meeting should be recorded by name and / or number and name.

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2018 as a correct record.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2018 subject as follows:

Minute 6 – S/1373/18/FL – Hinxton (Land adjacent Pettetts Barn, High Street)

Reference to Hazel Williams in the final paragraph should be a reference to Heather Williams.

Demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment for a 345 sqm convenience store, 10 apartments and 6 houses, together with associated car and cycle parking and landscaping.

Members visited the site on 16 August 2018 prior to the meeting.

Sophie Pain (applicant’s agent) and Peter Johnson (supporter) addressed the meeting.

Members focussed debate on concerns about noise from the convenience store, the routing of delivery vehicles, proximity of the development to the existing Nursery, and appropriateness of the arrangements for waste disposal. The Chairman expressed disappointment at the lack of affordable housing and regretted the absence of a viability review mechanism.

The Committee voted unanimously to give officers delegated authority to approve the application subject to:

1.     The prior completion of a Legal Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 based on the Heads of Terms set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development, such Legal Agreement  to  include wording as to the timing of the provision of the convenience store in relation to the occupation of the residential elements of the development (such wording to be agreed in consultation with the Chairman and Vice- Chairman of the Planning Committee );  ; and

2.     The Conditions set out in Appendix 2 to the said report, Condition 14 being reworded, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee, to provide more effective control over noise resulting from the day-to-day operation of the convenience store and ensure compliance with the Delivery and Servicing Plan (July 2018). Officers undertook to explore options for limiting Permitted Development Rights to ensure compliance with the District Design Guide, specifically in relation to distances between the convenience store and the adjacent Nursery.

Extension to link main Church building and ancillary Church Hall and rear extension

Members visited the site on 16 August 2018 prior to the meeting.

David Royce (objector) and Philip Kratz (applicant’s agent) addressed the meeting.

Dr. Jon Finney from the Local Highways Authority said that, from the LHA’s point of view, the most important issue was to assess whether the impact of the proposed development was ‘severe’. A decrease in the number of car parki8ng spaces reduced the number of potential conflict points. In the LHA’s opinion, the proposal’s likely impact fell short of the level at which a transport statement would be deemed necessary.  Therefore, it did not consider there to be any significant adverse issues, and had no objection to the proposed development.

Following discussion by Members, and by nine votes to nil (with Councillor Bill Handley abstaining) the Committee approved the application subject to the Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development.

Demolition of existing dwelling and construction of 7 dwellings

Members visited the site on 16 August 2018 prior to the meeting.

Councillor John Batchelor declared a Non-disclosable Pecuniary Interest because his son, Councillor Henry Batchelor, has a business relationship with the applicant. Councillor John Batchelor had never met said applicant. In view of the legal advice he had received, Councillor John Batchelor withdrew from the Chamber, took no part in the debate, and did not vote.

Councillor Pippa Heylings (Vice-Chairman) took the Chair and, with the Committee’s affirmation, Councillor Anna Bradnam acted as Vice-Chairman for this item.

The case officer referred Members to paragraph 87 of the report and to the table in paragraph 84. The distance from first floor habitable room windows in proposed Plot 1 to the ground floor conservatory at 24 Parsonage Way should have said 30 metres not 27 metres.

Kate Kell (objector), Kath Slater (applicant’s agent) and Councillor Enid Bald (Linton Parish Council) addressed the Committee.

Members observed that overlooking was a two-way issue and that the new dwellings might be overlooked by existing properties. They expressed concern about the extent of car parking on site, and access and manoeuvrability for emergency vehicles.

In the first sentence of paragraph 87, the second line should read “…the first floor   the nearest of the new dwellings …” In the final sentence of paragraph 87, the first “not” should be deleted so that it states, “It is considered that this relationship is not sufficient to warrant refusal.”

Those Committee members present voted unanimously to approve the application subject to the Conditions and Informatives set out in the report from the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development and amended as follows:

1.     Condition 4 to require the retention and extension of the existing hedge along the boundary with Horseheath Road;

2.     In respect of condition 12, Officers to see whether there was scope for the plans to be amended to   ensure vehicles can turn within the site to allow access and egress in forward gear.

The final wording of Conditions and Informatives would be agreed in consultation with Councillor Pippa Heylings (Vice-Chairman in the Chair) and Councillor Anna Bradnam (Vice-Chairman for this agenda item).

Those Committee members present confirmed the removal of Permitted Development Rights agreed at the meeting held on 6 June 2018.

Demolition, Conversion and Development to facilitate Holiday Let Accommodation

Members noted that this application had been withdrawn from the agenda.

The Committee received and noted an Update on enforcement action.    

Members received and noted a report on Appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action.