Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Allnatt and Browne. An apology for late attendance was received from Councillor Ian Atherton who was not present at the start of the meeting.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2023

The following amendments were proposed to the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2023:

(a)   Minute PL46 – Application 23/00584/FULHH - 17 Main Road, Old Dalby
The following sentence be added after the planning officer’s introduction :

‘Members agreed why officers brought the application to committee despite the opinion that some of the "public" comments were highly likely to be from the same source.  The application still met the requirement to be brought to the Planning Committee.’

(b)   Minute PL47 – Application 23/00720/FULHH -  2 South View, Burrough on the Hill

In the first sentence, after the words ‘concerns around parking’ add ‘made by the Ward Councillor’...

Add the words in italics to the following paragraph:

Councillor Gordon proposed a deferment to allow consideration for a third parking space. However this proposal was withdrawn to enable an additional condition, suggested by the officers in consultation with the Ward Councillor Leigh Higgins, instead that would allow for the extra provision as follows...

Subject to the foregoing amendments, the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2023 were confirmed as a true record.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair announced that application 22/01174/DIS had been withdrawn from the meeting’s agenda to allow for further discussion with the agent.

Field OS 4100, Lake Terrace, Melton Mowbray

Location : Field OS 4100 Lake Terrace Melton Mowbray

Proposal : Variation of condition 21 (List of Approved Plans) of application Ref.  20/00318/VAC To allow a change to the parking arrangements for plot 73, an adjusted private drive and a re-routed non adopted footpath

A revised viability assessment is also submitted to argue that the development is to make to reduced financial contributions in order remain viable.

The Senior Planning Officer (AC) addressed the committee and provided a summary of the application which included a revised plan for 100 per cent affordable housing and a revised s106 agreement that aligned with a recent independent viability assessment.

Members raised queries which were responded to by the Senior Planning Officer :

·       The SPD sets out a prioritised table of items to be included and this application, with 100 per cent affordable housing, had been through an independent viability appraisal that agreed the off-site contributions to the County Council for education and highways

·       There was concern that funding for healthcare had been removed and it was felt that each application should be considered on a case by case basis and why had this funding been removed since it was agreed in 2018. It was advised that due to increased build costs etc and the composition of the site now being 100 per cent affordables, the independent viability assessor had been in agreement to remove certain contributions

·       There was concern that such a significant development of affordable housing should have to rely on existing primary healthcare and yet there was a contribution to the road network that had not relied on this development to demonstrate its need

·       It was advised that there was a firm commitment in the SPD for developments in Melton to support the MMDR and the strategic road network

·       There had been discussions with County on the contributions and they had agreed a reduced contribution towards highways and education on the basis of 100 per cent affordable housing

·       Should the tenure mix of the affordable housing be amended to say some shared ownership, this could alter the balance/viability/contributions relating to the site

There were no public speakers.

The following points were raised :

·       There had been a previous promise by the developer for a section of the Lake Terrace road to be adopted leading to the Biffa site. The Solicitor advised that this sound like a developer uplift clause and was outside of the planning remit and would likely be part of a legally binding document that would be a separate matter and legally enforceable

·       Members were in agreement with the variation to conditions but there were a few concerns relating to the revised Viability Assessment and the reduced contributions especially with regard to the removal of contributions to healthcare

·       A Member considered that those who resided in this development of affordable housing would rely on the healthcare services more than any other service and should there be no contribution to healthcare future residents would struggle to get GP access and  ...  view the full minutes text for item PL55

Land Opposite 1 And 10, Station Lane, Old Dalby

Location : Land Opposite 1 And 10 Station Lane Old Dalby

Proposal : Discharge condition 3 (viability assessment/affordable housing) of the outline planning permission reference 17/00397/OUT

This application was withdrawn from the agenda.

To consider any other business that the Chair considers urgent

There was no urgent business.