Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor John Batchelor declared a personal interest as a Cambridgeshire County Councillor.

Councillor Sebastian Kindersley declared a personal interest as a Cambridgeshire County Councillor, especially in relation to Minute no. 8 (S/0452/10/F and S/0453/10/F) in Barrington,  a village covered by his Electoral Division of Gamlingay.

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2010 as a correct record.  The minutes are attached to the electronic version of the agenda: visit www.scambs.gov.uk/meetings and then follow the links.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2010.

The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application, in accordance with the amended plans demonstrating an increase in the cycle parking provision being provided at the front of the building, and to conditions, including those referred to in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities).

The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application, in accordance with the amended plans demonstrating an increase in the cycle parking provision being provided at the front of the building, and to conditions, including those referred to in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities).

The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application subject to the Cconditions referred to in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities).

Jessica Wheeler (objector) and Susie Wilson (applicant’s agent) addressed the meeting.

The Senior Lawyer reminded Members that their duty was to consider the application purely on material planning grounds.  He referred to the discussion from paragraph 30 of the report where such grounds were set out, and advised that, if the Committee based its decision on non-material considerations, then this was likely to be adjudged unreasonable conduct, with the resulting possibility of a costs Order being made against the Local Planning Authority should an appeal by the applicant be upheld.

Councillor Trisha Bear proposed that planning consent, if granted, should be for a temporary period of 18 months only (and not up to 30 June 2013 as in the report).  This was seconded by Councillor Hazel Smith and, upon a vote being taken, was defeated by eight votes to six.

The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application for a temporary period up to 30 June 2013 subject to the Conditions referred to in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities).

Councillors Sally Hatton, Sebastian Kindersley, Deborah Roberts, Hazel Smith and John F Williams voted to refuse the application.

The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve both applications, subject to further consideration being given to the Conditions referred to in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities) and, specifically, which of those Conditions applies to which planning application.  Members also added Conditions relating to waste disposal, access being allowed from Orwell Road only, and suitable landscaping along the western boundary of the site.

Councillor Sebastian Kindersley declared a personal interest as Cambridgeshire County Councillor the Electoral Division of Gamlingay, which includes the village of Barrington.

Aiden van de Weyer (Barrington Parish Council) addressed the meeting.

Prior to considering this application, the Committee attended a site visit on 2 June 2010.  The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve both applications, subject to further consideration being given to the Conditions referred to in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities) and, specifically, which of those Conditions applies to which planning application.  Members also added Conditions relating to waste disposal, access being allowed from Orwell Road only, and suitable landscaping along the western boundary of the site.

The Committee approved the application, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities).   Reason: Members were satisfied that the extension would not increase the bulk and massing of the existing extension such as to detract from the appearance of the building and its historic plan form. The proposal does not therefore conflict with Policies CH/3 (Listed Buildings) or CH/5 (Conservation Areas) of the South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework.

Mr Fison (applicant) and Councillor Cicely Murfitt (local Member) addressed the meeting.

The Committee approved the application, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities).  Members were satisfied that the extension would not increase the bulk and massing of the existing extension such as to detract from the appearance of the building and its historic plan form. The proposal does not therefore conflict with Policies CH/3 (Listed Buildings) or CH/5 (Conservation Areas) of the South Cambridgeshire Local Development Framework.

The Committee approved the application, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities).   Reason: Members were satisfied that while the proposed extension would be in conflict with LDF Policy HG/6 (extensions to dwellings in the countryside) which seeks to ensure extensions do not lead to a 50% increase or more in the floorspace of the original dwelling, the extended dwelling would still constitute a small dwelling and improve living standards consistent with the overall objectives of the policy.

Ross Nuten (applicant) and Councillor Cicely Murfitt (local Member) addressed the meeting.

The Committee approved the application, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities).   Members were satisfied that while the proposed extension would be in conflict with Local Development Framework Policy HG/6 (extensions to dwellings in the countryside) which seeks to ensure extensions do not lead to a 50% increase or more in the floorspace of the original dwelling, the extended dwelling would still constitute a small dwelling and improve living standards consistent with the overall objectives of the policy.

The Committee deferred the application for a site visit.

Councillor Charles Nightingale declared a personal interest as a member of Great Shelford Parish Council.

The Committee deferred the application for a site visit.

The Committee refused the application in line with the revised officer recommendation, based on comments received from the Conservation Manager, and because of loss of neighbour amenity and the underprovison of affordable housing

Don Proctor (applicant’s agent) addressed the meeting.

The Committee refused the application in line with the revised officer recommendation, based on comments received from the Conservation Manager, and because of loss of neighbour amenity and the under-provision of affordable housing

The Committee approved the application for a temporary period of five years, subject to the Conditions referred to in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities), and to the structure being removed after that time.

The Committee approved the application for a temporary period of five years, subject to the Conditions referred to in the report from the Corporate Manager (Planning and New Communities), and to the structure being removed after that time.

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 that a report on Appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action had been published on the Council’s website.

For the past four years, this report had been published on the Council’s website and in the Weekly Bulletin only, as a means of saving paper and cost.  Decisions of particular note to the Planning Committee as a whole had nevertheless been attached to the paper agenda, and Members had been invited to contact officers in advance if they wanted detailed verbal summaries of other decisions presented at meetings.

Councillor Deborah Roberts proposed that, in future, reports on Appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action should be attached to paper copies of the agenda, and not simply published online.   This proposal was seconded and, by seven votes to six, it was resolved that, with immediate effect, reports on appeals against planning decisions and enforcement action should appear in paper form attached to the agenda as well as on the Council’s website and in the Weekly Bulletin.

Questions and Responses can be found under the heading Lower Cambourne Terminal Pumping Station (TPS) and Drainage Issues on the following webpage

http://www.scambs.gov.uk/CommunityandLiving/NewCommunities/MajorDevelopments/Cambourne/default.htm

Concern about drainage issues in Cambourne had been raised at the meeting of Full Council on 22 April 2010 in the form of a number of questions from local residents. 

The Committee received a report summarising the drainage situation as at 21 May 2010.   It was the first of a series of updates that would be presented to the Committee until a permanent solution to the drainage issues at Cambourne could be identified and acted upon.