Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor SGM Kindersley declared a personal interest as a Cambridgeshire County Councillor, especially in relation to minute number 24 (Little Eversden), which was a parish within his Electoral Division of Gamlingay.

Following the meeting of the Planning Committee on 4 June 2008, to confirm membership of the Planning Sub-Committee as follows:

Conservative Group members

Chairman of the Planning Committee – Councillor Mrs PS Corney

Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee – Councillor RJ Turner

Councillor Mrs JM Guest

Councillor CR Nightingale

Liberal Democrat Group members

Councillor SGM Kindersley

Councillor Mrs HM Smith

Independent Group member

Councillor Mrs SA Hatton

The Committee confirmed membership of the Planning Sub-Committee as follows:

Conservative Group members

Chairman of the Planning Committee – Councillor Mrs PS Corney

Vice-Chairman of the Planning Committee – Councillor RJ Turner

Councillor Mrs JM Guest

Councillor CR Nightingale

Liberal Democrat Group members

Councillor SGM Kindersley

Councillor Mrs HM Smith

Independent Group member

Councillor Mrs SA Hatton

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2008 as a correct record, subject to noting that Minute no. 6 (Temporary Stop Notice as a planning enforcement tool - amendment to the Constitution) should have been a resolution of the Planning Committee rather than a recommendation to Council.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 4 June 2008, subject to:

1.             noting that Minute no. 6 (Temporary Stop Notice as a planning enforcement tool – amendment to the Constitution) should have been a resolution of the Planning Committee and not a recommendation to Council.

2.             an amendment to Minute no. 11 (S/0458/08/F- Weston Colville: Land east of Common Road, Weston Wood Farm, Weston Woods)

·                             deleting the phrase  ‘removal of an existing grain dryer in Horseheath’

·                             inserting, immediately after the words  ‘road signage’ a comma followed by the phrase ‘appropriate kerb reinforcement on the HGV route, and other necessary items’

3.             deletion from Minute no. 13 (S/0468/08/F – Girton: 11 Mayfield Road) of the words “…confirmation by the Local Highways Authority that the layout incorporated an adequate turning circle…” and substitution by the words “…and an adequate turning circle, acceptance by the Local Highways Authority of that turning circle …” and addition of the word “both” between the words “…existence of…” and “…an adequate access”

Delegated approval subject to clarification as to the location of the gas main and consultation with the operator of the gas sub-station.

Councillor R Hall (a local Member) addressed the meeting.

The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, as amended by revised location plan 1213/LP1 date stamped 24 April 2008, subject to clarification as to the location of the gas main, consultation with the operator of the gas sub-station, and the Conditions set out in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities).

Withdrawn from the agenda 

The Committee noted that this application had been WITHDRAWN from this agenda and that the site visit scheduled for 2 July 2008 had been postponed.

Refused contrary to officer recommendation on the grounds of the proposal’s height, mass and proximity to the north east and south east boundaries making it overbearing to neighbouring properties at 38 High Street and 10 Edis Way.   The application was therefore contrary to policy DP/3 of the Local Development Framework.

Kathy Beardsall (applicant) addressed the meeting.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 2 July 2008.  The Committee REFUSED the application contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities).  Members agreed the reasons for refusal as being the proposal’s height, mass and proximity to the northeast and southeast boundaries making it overbearing to neighbouring properties at 38 High Street and 10 Edis Way.   The application was therefore contrary to Policy DP/3 of the South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework 2007.

Delegated approval as report, subject to an additional condition limiting any adverse impact from lighting on the site. 

Mr JCP Dalton (Chairman of the Eversdens Parish Council) and Councillor Liz Heazell (local Member) addressed the meeting.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 2 July 2008.  The Committee gave officers DELEGATED POWERS TO APPROVE the application, subject to no new material objections being received following conclusion of the consultation process, and safeguarding Conditions including one to minimise any adverse impact from lighting on the site. 

Refused on the basis of sub-paragraphs (c), (f) and (g) at paragraph 3 of the report having a harmful effect on the Conservation Area and setting of the adjoining Listed Building.   The Committee instructed officers to consider appropriate enforcement action in respect of each of those three sub-paragraphs and reasonable periods for compliance where appropriate. 

Philip Gough (objector), and Peter Smith (Heydon Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 2 July 2008.  The Committee REFUSED the application contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities).  Members agreed the reasons for refusal as being concern about the issues raised in sub-paragraphs (c) (front boundary treatment), (f) (pool house) and (g) (fence) at paragraph 3 of the report having a harmful effect on the Conservation Area and setting of the adjoining Listed Building.   The Committee instructed officers to consider appropriate enforcement action in respect of each of those three sub-paragraphs and reasonable periods for compliance where appropriate. 

Approved contrary to recommendation on the grounds of the proposal not being overbearing, and there being no loss of light to the neighbouring property at 23 Granta Road.

Wendy Bradford (on behalf of the applicant) and Councillor Dr David Bard (a local Member) addressed the meeting.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 2 July 2008.  The Committee APPROVED the application, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities).  Members agreed the reasons for approval as being that the proposal was not overbearing, and there would be no loss of light to the neighbouring property at 23 Granta Road.

Deferred for a site visit.

Marilyn Archdeacon (Objector) and Councillor Peter Johnson (a local member) addressed the meeting.

The Committee DEFERRED the application for a site visit.

Summaries of Decisions of interest attached.

Contact officers:

Gareth Jones, Corporate Manager (Planning and Sustainable Communities)  – Tel: 01954 713155

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

The Committee received a report on Appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action, and a decisions summary relating to

·                             Mr J Brown – Construction of bund and placing containers on the land to store Go Karts  – Land adjacent to Church Farm, Church Farm Lane, Steeple Morden – Appeals against enforcement notices dismissed.

·                             Circle Anglia Housing Group – Demolition of 14 dwellings and erection of 28 affordable dwellings with associated roads, car parking and landscaping – Site at Silverdale Avenue, Coton – Appeal allowed.

·                             Mr S Duncan – Alteration, refurbishment and extension to dwelling – Wildfowl Cottage, Baits Bite Lock, Horningsea – Planning and listed building appeals allowed.  Appellant’s application for costs against the Council dismissed.

·                             The Strategic Land Partnership LLP – Erection of four residential units– Land at 49 and rear of 51 – 55 Station Road, Histon – Appeal allowed.

·                             Michael O’Brien et al – Plots 5, 5a, 6, 10 and 11 Orchard Drive, Smithy Fen, Cottenham – Appeal dismissed.

·                             Mr P Jordan – Change of use from former public house to dwelling, erection of new garage and garden wall – The former White Horse PH, High Street, West Wickham – Appeal dismissed.  Appellant’s application for costs against the Council dismissed.

Members noted that the appeal relating to Michael O’Brien et al – Plots 5, 5a, 6, 10 and 11 Orchard Drive, Smithy Fen, Cottenham had been recorded, incorrectly, in the report as having been allowed.

The Committee NOTED a report on enforcement action ongoing as at 2 July 2008.