Agenda and minutes

Venue: By remote video conference

Contact: Democratic Services Team 

Link: Planning Committee

Items
No. Item

Chair's introduction

The Chair welcomed everyone to the Planning Committee meeting. She introduced Members and Officers as well as referred to the public speakers who would be speaking on individual applications.

 

It was confirmed that all Members present could hear and see the proceedings and Members could also see the Chair and each other.  The Chair explained that Members would use the functionality of the software to raise their hands to speak and each Member would be asked in turn for their vote at the appropriate time.

 

The Chair explained that should the remote conferencing connection be lost there would be an adjournment. Also should the meeting not have ended by 8 pm there would be an adjournment for 5 minutes to allow those present to take part in the Clap for our Carers campaign to applaud and recognise NHS staff on the frontline against coronavirus.

 

She advised that the meeting would be recorded and live-streamed on You Tube.

PL1

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

PL2

Minutes pdf icon PDF 137 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2020

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 April 2020 were confirmed and authorised to be signed by the Chair.

PL3

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 51 KB

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

Minutes:

Councillor Posnett declared a personal interest in any matters relating to the Leicestershire County Council due to her role as a County Councillor.

 

Application 19/00909/OUT – St Mary’s Hospital

Councillor Browne declared a personal interest and wished to put on record that he worked for a national housing association that had dealings on  funding with Homes England. He reported that he had not had contact with any matters linked or related to this application.

PL4

Schedule of Applications

PL5

Application 19/00707/FUL pdf icon PDF 328 KB

Land at Butt Close, Adjacent Hay Barn, Riverside Road, Melton Mowbray

 

Minutes:

Reference:

19/00707/FUL

Location:

Land at Butt Close, Adjacent Hay Barn, Riverside Road, Melton Mowbray

Proposal:

Construction of new dwelling

 

The Planning Development Manager addressed the Committee and provided an updated summary of the application. It was noted that the application had been deferred at the last meeting held on 30 April 2020 to allow further opportunity for Members to visit the site and to clarify the status of the bridleway as a means of access.

 

Ms Parker referred to paragraph 5.5.4 of the report which explained that Riverside Road was to be a bridleway which travelled along Riverside Road and connected St Leonards Close with Asfordby Road. This upgrade from a public footpath to a bridleway was at the request of Leicestershire County Council in the approval of the application at St Leonards Close. The works to upgrade from a footpath to a bridleway were being undertaken. Riverside Road had and always would be used by mechanised vehicles and this situation was not unusual and neither was the situation changing should this application be approved. The footpath was part of the application site.

 

The Solicitor advised that whether the footpath was a footpath or bridleway nor the legality of the access were planning considerations. He further advised vehicular access was already in place without interfering with the footpath.

 

There was a query as to whether there was a policy that allowed for development to take place without vehicular access and it was noted that policy D1 required adequate access. 

 

Pursuant to Chapter 2, Part 9, Paragraphs 2.8-2.28 of the Council’s Constitution in relation to  public speaking at Planning Committee, the Chair allowed the following to give a 3 minute presentation:

 

·         Charles Ellis, Objector

 

·         Richard Cooper, Agent, HSSP Architects

 

Mr Cooper confirmed that there would be a reduction in traffic on Riverside Road as the road previously serviced 2 dwellings and, if approved, the road would only provide access for one property, being the one under consideration.

 

It was noted that the Committee could add a condition for the access to be via Riverside Road only. 

 

With regard to works on Mr Ellis’s neighbouring property, the application only covered the property in question therefore there could be no condition applied to regulate works carried out on a neighbouring property.

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

·         There was concern about the access until the bridleway was completed

·         As the application was in line with the Local Plan, met the relevant policies with no detrimental impact and had sustainable qualifications it was felt acceptable so long as officers monitored the archaeological matters which were to be addressed and the footpath issue was resolved

·         The Solicitor reiterated that the footpath was not a material consideration

·         Due to the narrow access and as there was no Neighbourhood Plan in place, a Member could not support the application and another Member agreed with this view adding they had concerns with the boundary hedge and the mobile home

·         It was advised that there was a landscaping  ...  view the full minutes text for item PL5

PL6

Application 19/00909/OUT pdf icon PDF 439 KB

St Mary’s Hospital, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray

 

Minutes:

Reference:

19/00909/OUT

Location:

St Marys Hospital, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray

Proposal:

Change of use of the central block and wings of the former workhouse building to comprise 4 houses and 4 residential apartments with associated parking and amenity space.  Outline application for demolition of existing buildings and structures on site and redevelopment of the site for up to 38 new dwellings together with associated access and site infrastructure.  All matters are reserved except access

 

The Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery addressed the Committee and reported that the following had been received since despatch of the agenda:

 

·         A further petition

·         Approximately 8 further objections making several points

·         Leicestershire County Council submission

·         Many suggestions and ideas on how the vagrant cells may be treated

·         Further comments from the Highway Authority including a list of conditions and s106 requests

·         Responses to Member queries previously raised

 

On the Leicestershire County Council (LCC) position, he advised that it related to developer contributions on the site (paragraph 4.5.5 of the report) which were not close to what had been requested and there was a huge shortfall. The LCC submission was received 16:16 on the same day as the meeting and Mr Worley read the representation that had been received by LCC as follows:

 

‘I refer to our conversation yesterday regarding planning application ref. 19/00909/OUT – Melton Hospital, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray which is being considered at your Planning Committee tonight.

 

As you are aware, the County Council has written to you to set out its requirement for developer contributions to mitigate against the impacts of this development. A key component of this is the requirement for a £12,422.26 contribution, per dwelling, towards education facilities (total £571,423 based on 46 dwellings). The County Council has also requested contributions towards libraries and civic amenities. These contributions are essential to ensure that the infrastructure required to support the development can be funded. Without these contributions, there is no funding available to pay for these essential facilities. This means that the development is not sustainable, contrary to national and local policy. The fact that the developer has only offered £67,000 is therefore very disappointing.

 

In the event that Melton BC’s Planning Committee resolves to grant planning permission without the required contributions, please be advised that the County Council reserves the right to consider taking legal action to prevent the development from proceeding.

 

I would strongly recommend that this application be refused planning permission due to a lack of section 106 planning contributions for the County Council meaning that the development is not sustainable.

 

Please could you bring this email to the attention of members of your Planning Committee and the applicant.’

 

Mr Worley referred to the financial shortfall in the report and that this had grown due to the Highway Authority requesting a further £40k since the report was drafted, and the shortfall was now at over £600k.

 

He further mentioned the late discussions that had come forward on the vagrant cells and the many ideas around how these  ...  view the full minutes text for item PL6

PL7

Urgent Business

To consider any other items that the Chair considers urgent

 

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.

 

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