Agenda, decisions and minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2006 as a correct record.  These Minutes are available on the Council’s website.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 6^th September 2006,  subject to:

• Deletion from Councillor A Riley’s declaration of interest at Minute no. 9 (S/0625/06/RM – Longstanton) of the final sentence, namely “He was in any event considering the matter afresh at this meeting of the District Council’s Planning Committee but, in order to avoid any possible conflict of interest,  not vote” and substitution with the words, “Councillor A Riley further declared that he had attended a meeting at South Cambridgeshire Hall with officers and the developers of the site to resolve some of the outstanding finer details of the application and these were indeed resolved at that meeting. In order to prevent any possible allegation of bias or pre-determination on the part of Councillor Riley, notwithstanding that he was considering the matter afresh at this meeting of the District Council's Planning Committee, he did not take part in the vote."
• A correction to Minute 15 (S/0878/06/F - Great Shelford) in that Councillor R Hall’s declaration related to no. 1 Woollards Lane rather than to no. 1 Spinney Drive.
• The deletion of the word “at” between Councillor CR Nightingale’s name and the word “attended” in Councillor Nightingale’s declaration in Minute no. 15

Refused, contrary to report, on the grounds of congestion, overbearing nature, adverse impact on the street scene  and the proposal being out of character with the immediate area. 

The Committee REFUSED the application, contrary to the recommendation contained in the report from the Head of Planning Services, on the grounds of congested and overcrowded layout, loss of vegetation and lack of space for significant landscaping, adverse impact on the street scene, and the proposal being out of character with the immediate area.  The application conflicted therefore with Policy 1/3 of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Structure Plan 2003 and Policies SE3, HG10 and HG11 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Plan 2004.

Councillor CR Nightingale declared a personal interest by virtue of his acquaintance with the developer, but remained in the Chamber and took part in the debate and voting.

Councillor Mrs HM Smith stated that she would not vote because she had entered the Chamber during the course of the debate.

Delegated approval as report subject to Conditions.

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, as completed by ownership certificate and amended by plans received 18 September 2006, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the completion (prior to 18 December 2006)of a Section 106 Legal Agreement relating to affordable housing, maintenance of public open space, provision of off-site surface water drainage facilities, and provision of public art, to agreement over access to the site compound, to the Conditions referred to in the report and to an extra Condition relating to the adequacy of visibility splays.   If the Section 106 Agreement had not been completed by 18 December 2006, a Condition would be imposed requiring the same prior to the commencement of development works.

Councillor R Martlew declared a personal and prejudicial interest because his daughter is on the housing waiting list, withdrew from the Chamber, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Councillor JH Stewart declared a personal and prejudicial interest because his son is on the housing waiting list, withdrew from the Chamber, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Councillor Mrs DP Roberts stated that she would not vote because she had entered the Chamber during the course of the debate.

Delegated approval to consider whether or not the wind turbine should form the basis of a separate application.

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, the recommendation in the report being amended to enable officers to ask the applicant whether the wind turbine formed part of the application, as amended by letter dated 3^rd August 2006 and amended drawing date stamped 15^th August 2006.  Approval, if granted upon confirmation that the wind turbine did not form part of the application, would be for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services and subject to the Conditions referred to therein.  If the applicant wanted the wind turbine to be considered as part of the application, full details would be required, consultation undertaken and the application presented again to Committee for further consideration.

Councillor Mrs DP Roberts declared a personal and prejudicial interest because her husband’s business is situated adjacent to the application site, withdrew from the Chamber, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Delegated approval. 

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein, to consideration of the Flood Risk Assessment, and to any comments from the Trees and Landscapes Officer, that addressed the relevant issues.

Councillor Dr S van de Ven, the local Member in attendance but not a voting Committee member, declared that she was acquainted with a resident of Angle Lane.  Upon the advice of the Head of Legal Services, she confirmed this to be a personal and prejudicial interest, withdrew from the Chamber and took no part in the debate.

 Approval as report.

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein. 

Councillor SGM Kindersley took the Chair for this item because Councillor NIC Wright was a local Member for Fen Drayton.  However, Councillor Wright remained in the Chamber.

Approval as report. 

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein. 

Approval as report. 

The Committee APPROVED the application, as amended by drawing nos. 06032-01A and 06032-02 date stamped 1^st September 2006, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein and an additional Condition requiring the siting of external bat boxes.

Councillor CR Nightingale declared a personal interest as Chairman of Great Shelford Parish Council.  He informed the Committee that he had taken no part in the Parish Council’s discussion about this application, and was now considering the matter afresh.

Councillor Dr DR Bard had not attended the site visit on 2 October 2006, and abstained from voting.

 Approval with re-worded Conditions.

The Committee APPROVED the application, as amended by drawing number 662/01A date stamped 25September 2006, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services and subject to the Conditions referred to therein, re-worded to specify landscaping requirements, to require agreement of the alignment of the fence, measures to guard against the incidence of honey fungus, and detailed measures to allow a degree of permeability at the base of the fence for small animals.

Approval as amended by letter and drawing received 25 September 2006 and deletion of Condition 2 of the report. 

The Committee APPROVED the application, as amended by letter and landscaping scheme received 25 September 2006, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services and subject to Conditions 1 and 3 to 6 referred to therein, Condition 2 having been deleted. 

Delegated approval as report, including a commuted sum in lieu of the provision of on-site affordable housing. 

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the prior completion of a Section 106 Legal Agreement requiring a commuted sum in lieu of the provision of on-site affordable housing, and to the Conditions referred to in the report.

Approval of both applications with an extra Condition removing Permitted Development Rights for walls / fences along the northern boundary. 

The Committee APPROVED applications for planning permission and Conservation Area Consent for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein and an extra Condition removing Permitted Development Rights for walls / fences along the boundary of the site with the meadow to the north.

Upon advice from the Head of Legal Services, as the Monitoring Officer, Councillor JA Quinlan withdrew from the Chamber on the ground of perceived bias. He took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Councillor Mrs DP Roberts declared a personal and prejudicial interest because her husband’s business relates to swimming pools, withdrew from the Chamber, took no part in the debate and did not vote.

Councillor NIC Wright declared a personal interest by virtue of his acquaintance with one of the objectors, but remained in the Chamber and took part in the debate and voting.

Delegated approval as report, subject to a fencing Condition. 

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, subject to the applicant agreeing to amend the application to one for consent for a temporary period of three years, subject to Conditions, including ones relating to drainage and fencing.  Should the applicant refuse to amend the application in this way, it would be resubmitted to Committee for determination by Members.  A proposal that the application be deferred was defeated upon the Chairman’s casting vote.

Councillor SGM Kindersley declared a personal interest as a Cambridgeshire County Councillor, but remained in the Chamber and took part in the debate and voting.

Delegated approval as report, subject to a fencing Condition. 

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, subject to the applicant agreeing to amend the application to one for consent for a temporary period of three years, subject to Conditions, including ones relating to drainage and fencing.  Should the applicant refuse to amend the application in this way, it would be resubmitted to Committee for determination by Members. 

Approval as report with an additional Condition requiring window glass in the southern elevation to be obscure. 

The Committee APPROVED the application, as amended by plans date stamped 16 August and 6September 2006, (drawings no. 2554/06/04a and site location plan) , for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein and an additional Condition requiring window glass in the southern elevation to be obscure. 

Councillor A Riley declared a personal interest as a customer of the farm shop and pet shop currently on site, but remained in the Chamber and took part in the debate and voting.

Delegated approval as report, subject to a fencing Condition. 

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, subject to the applicant agreeing to amend the application to one for consent for a temporary period of three years, subject to Conditions, including ones relating to drainage and fencing.  Should the applicant refuse to amend the application in this way, it would be resubmitted to Committee for determination by Members. 

Delegated approval subject to consultation with local Members and with the developer. 

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, as amended by drawings QCO-PL-03 and QCO-PL-01B, for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein and to a meeting taking place between officers, local Members and the developer to resolve the car parking issues.

Approval as report. 

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein, an additional Condition requiring a scheme of noise attenuation, and any revision of the Section 106 Legal Agreement deemed necessary.

Approval as report. 

The Committee APPROVED the application for the reasons set out in the report from the Head of Planning Services, subject to the Conditions referred to therein.

Delegated approval of both applications as report, subject to appropriate noise attenuation measures.

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE applications for planning permission and Listed Buildings Consent,  subject to the receipt of amended drawings relating to treatment of the west elevation and noise attenuation of the proposed accommodation block, and to Conditions referred to in the report from the Head of Planning Services. 

Councillor Mrs DP Roberts declared a personal interest as a member of Fowlmere Parish Council, but was considering this application afresh.

Summaries of Decisions of interest attached.

Contact officers:

Gareth Jones, Head of Planning  – Tel: 01954 713155

John Koch, Appeals Manager (Special Projects) – Tel: 01954 713268

The Committee noted a report on Appeals against planning applications and enforcement action and, in particular, written summaries of decisions relating to:

• Mr and Mrs S Sharpe – Erection of dwelling and reorganisation of restaurant car park - 1 Church Street, Little Shelford – Appeal dismissed

• Persimmon Homes – Retention of Walls (temporary period 2 years) - High Street, Longstanton – Planning and enforcement appeals dismissed

The Committee noted a report on enforcement action ongoing as at 4^th October 2006.