Agenda, decisions and minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2013 as a correct record. The minutes can be viewed by visiting www.scambs.gov.uk and then following the links from ‘Your Council’.

The Committee authorised the Chairman to sign, as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 April 2013.

The Committee noted that this application had been withdrawn from the agenda.

The Committee noted that this application had been withdrawn from the agenda for legal and planning reasons that had become apparent shortly before the meeting and which called into question whether or not the application could be determined.  The Chairman and officers regretted the situation and apologised to those members of the public and Cottenham Parish Council who had attended the meeting both as observers and speakers.  In response to concern expressed by a Member, the Senior Lawyer advised that, while there was technically a risk of an appeal being lodged for non-determination, this was dependent on the application being validated.

As a matter of courtesy, Members invited Rosemary Jones, Jackie Smith and Julia Brand (objectors) and Rick Bristow (Cottenham Parish Council) to address the Committee.

The Committee approved the application subject to the Conditions referred to in the report from the Planning and New Communities Director.

Members attended a site visit on 7 May 2013.  Although it was noted that the application complied with South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Design Guide, a number of Members expressed concern that the proposed extension was out of keeping with the character of the area and would have an adverse impact on the amenity of neighbours, especially the occupier of no. 8 Jackson’s Way.  However, the Committee approved the application upon the Chairman’s casting vote, subject to the Conditions referred to in the report from the Planning and New Communities Director.

The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Planning and New Communities Director, subject to appropriate Conditions (including Conditions to protect neighbour amenity and mitigate the effects, if any, of contaminated land), and the prior completion of a Legal Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 securing a financial contribution towards Affordable Housing. Members agreed the reason for approval as being the absence of any adverse impact on visual character or neighbour amenity.

James Wakeling (applicant) addressed the meeting.  A statement from Councillor Jim Stewart (local Member) in support of the application had previously been circulated to Committee members.

Members attended a site visit on 7 May 2013.  The Committee gave officers delegated powers to approve the application, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Planning and New Communities Director, subject to appropriate Conditions (including Conditions to protect neighbour amenity and mitigate the effects, if any, of contaminated land), and the prior completion of a Legal Agreement under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 securing a financial contribution towards Affordable Housing. Members agreed the reason for approval as being the absence of any adverse impact on visual character or neighbour amenity.

The Committee approved the applications, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Planning and New Communities Director, subject to appropriate Conditions including the requirement for dark colour treatment of the framework supporting the solar panels to reduce visual prominence, and removal of the panels when no longer needed.  Members agreed the reason for approval as being that the imposition of the two Conditions specified above rendered the application compliant with Policies NE/2, CH/3 and CH/5 of the Local Development Framework 2007.

Michael Hendry (applicant’s agent) addressed the Committee, and the Planning Team Leader (East) read out a statement from Councillor Roger Hickford (a local Member) in support of the application.  Members noted that Councillor Trisha Bear (the other local Member) also supported the proposal.

Members attended a site visit on 7 May 2013.  The Committee approved applications S/0138/13/FL and S/0139/13/LB, contrary to the recommendation in the report from the Planning and New Communities Director, subject to appropriate Conditions including the requirement for dark colour treatment of the framework supporting the solar panels to reduce visual prominence, and removal of the panels when no longer needed.  Members agreed the reason for approval as being that the imposition of the two Conditions specified above rendered the application compliant with Policies NE/2, CH/3 and CH/5 of the Local Development Framework 2007.

The Committee deferred the application for a site visit and to allow time to collate further information regarding the living conditions in the portable buildings and the further comments of the Council’s Environmental Health service.

The Committee deferred the application for a site visit and to allow time to collate further information relating to foul water drainage and fresh water supply, and other matters within the remit of the Council’s Environmental Health service.

The Committee approved the application, as amended, subject to the Conditions set out in the report from the Planning and New Communities Director.

Paul Belton (applicant’s agent) addressed the meeting.

The Committee approved the application, as amended, subject to the Conditions set out in the report from the Planning and New Communities Director.

The Planning Committee endorsed the draft protocol attached at Appendix A, and adopts it for use with immediate effect, subject to officers being given delegated power to make any minor typographical changes.

The Planning Committee endorsed the draft protocol attached at Appendix B, and adopted it for use with immediate effect, subject to officers being given delegated power to make any minor typographical changes.

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.

The Development Control Manager made a verbal presentation on the award of costs at Appeal Hearings citing three recent specific cases involving South Cambridgeshire District Council.  In response to a request from a Committee member, the Senior Lawyer undertook to circulate further details to Members outside the meeting.