Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Hewson and Councillor Evans had been appointed as his substitute.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2021

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 February were confirmed and authorised to be signed by the Chair.

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

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

 

Minute PL91 : 20/00219/FUL– Overbrook, 2 Mill Lane, Long Clawson

Councillor Steadman confirmed that she would be representing her ward on this application by making a representation to the Committee. She would therefore leave the meeting during debate and not vote on this item in accordance with the Council’s Procedure Rules.

 

Minute PL92 : 19/01130/OUT - Land south of Cleves Close, Melton Mowbray

Councillor Posnett declared a personal and pecuniary interest in this application and  confirmed that she would leave the meeting during debate and not vote on this item in accordance with the Council’s Procedure Rules.

 

Minute PL93 : 20/01514/GDOCOU - Cross Roads Farm, Scalford Road, Eastwell

Councillor Holmes stated that as a neighbouring farmer to the application site (being half a mile from her farm), she had taken legal advice and reported that she had no interest on this application.

 

Planning Service Review

Councillor Higgins thanked those involved in the Planning Reference Group which was a group made up of Members and Officers as well as the Planning Advisory Service. He reported that the group was looking at the planning process and how it worked, the feedback and recommendations from which would be presented to Members in due course. He reported that the Planning Advisory Service had congratulated the Chair, Vice Chair, Members and all the Planning team on the conduct of the Planning Committee which they reported was one of the best they had seen. He also referred to the acknowledgement of support for residents in making them feel at ease and encouraging engagement on planning applications. 

 

The Chair thanked the Committee Members for their support and for their involvement and contributions in making the Committee work so well.

 

 

 

Overbrook, 2 Mill Lane, Long Clawson

Reference:	20/00219/FUL
Location:	Overbrook, 2 Mill Lane, Long Clawson
Proposal:	2 Mill Lane - Demolition of existing bungalow and small storage buildings, replacement of existing vehicle bridge over brook, construction of new driveway, construction of 3 no. new single storey dwellings, construction of new carpark area for surgery parking only, new flood compensation area adjacent to brook. Land between 9-11 Mill Lane - Removal of carpark area, construction of 1no. new dwelling. Hybrid application Full planning - replacement of vehicle bridge, new driveway and new dwelling on plot 1. Outline planning - residential plots 2, 3 & 4, new carpark area, new flood compensation area. Matters of layout to be considered.

 

(Councillor Steadman declared her intention to speak as Ward Councillor on this application and here left the Committee and moved into the public speaking gallery.)

 

The Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery addressed the Committee and provided a summary as follows:

 

·         This application comprised two sites on Mill Lane in Long Clawson.

·         A number of amended plans and documents had been received during the course of the application to address concerns raised regarding the overdevelopment of land between 9-11 Mill Lane, the siting and layout of the dwellings on 2 Mill Lane and the impact upon flooding/drainage.

·         As a result, the number of dwellings on the eastern part of the site had been reduced by 1, Plot 1 had been sited further away from the boundary with neighbouring property to the north and the carport for plot 3 had been removed from the plans.

·         The parking area was already sited within the conservation area of which the identified harm (less than substantial) would need to be weighed against the benefit of providing a much needed dedicated parking area for the nearby medical practice

·         It was not considered that the development would result in adverse impacts upon residential amenity or highway safety/parking, subject to detailed design at reserved matters stage.

·         The application had been supported by a Flood Risk Assessment and Surface Water Drainage Strategy which proposed betterment to the existing situation and provided an increase in the flood plain storage area. Even though the flood compensation area was increasing the flood plain storage area, there was scope to increase this area further should Members consider this was required

·         Concerns had been raised regarding the connection to the sewer however lengthy discussions had been undertaken with Severn Trent Water regarding this part of the site and they subsequently did not raise any objections with the proposals put forward. The final connection point to this sewer would be secured at the S106 approval stage with Severn Trent Water (STW) which would not form part of the planning process. The STW consent regime allowed them to exert control over sewer capacity issues and was not a matter that should be duplicated through planning powers

·         Overall given the proposed drainage scheme put forward and the improvements to the existing situation, it was not considered reasonable to refuse on drainage grounds

·         He hoped Members had  ...  view the full minutes text for item PL91

Land south of Cleves Close, Melton Mowbray

Reference:	19/01130/OUT
Location:	Land south of Cleves Close, Melton Mowbray
Proposal:	Outline application for the erection of 10 dwellings of different house types and access only

 

(Councillor Posnett here left the meeting due to her personal and pecuniary interest declared at Minute PL89.)

 

The Planning Officer (KT) addressed the Committee and provided a summary of the application and summarised that the recommendation was for approval subject to the following updates:

 

·         Environment Agency was to be added to the Plans list

·         Due to the current use of the site and the building materials stored there, a new condition could be included relating to keeping a watching brief on contamination issues

·         The application be delegated to the Assistant Director for Planning and Delivery to enable a s106 agreement to be completed

 

The Planning Officer responded to the following Member questions:

 

·         There was an indication that a footpath would be included at the access but if not could be added at the reserved matters stage

·         The site currently had agricultural use

·         Cleves Close was not adopted

·         The applicant had a right of access including services to the site

·         Planning permission did not override private rights and this needed to be by negotiation with relevant parties

·         Management arrangements with existing residents needed to be discussed with those residents

 

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:

 

·         Damian Ferguson

 

·         Nick Cooper, HSSP

 

In response to a Member question, Mr Cooper advised that the applicant had consulted their solicitor and they had right of access to the site and to access services.

 

In response to Member questions, the Planning Officer responded :

 

·         She was comfortable that an appropriately sized access could be achieved

·         The applicant owned the land up to the edge of the blocked paving

·         It was usual for existing service points such as the water hydrant around the gate to be relocated as required

·         There was currently no certainty as to where the development would start on the site

·         Adoption of the new access roadway into the site would be dealt with at reserved matters. The existing Cleves Close was not adopted

 

During discussion the following points were noted:

 

·         The S106 Agreement that the development would trigger would benefit the wider community and provide significant sums towards the bypass, education and a second doctors’ surgery

·         Ownership of the site was not a planning matter

·         The houses were not in the flood area

·         The development would open up the view to the river for the rest of the community

·         It was helpful to include a watching brief condition on contamination due to the building materials on the site

·         The houses would be positioned higher than the river

 

A point of order was raised as to whether the Cabinet Member for Growth and Prosperity had an interest in the application given his support for the benefits of a S106 Agreement. The Legal Advisor  ...  view the full minutes text for item PL92

Cross Roads Farm, Scalford Road, Eastwell

Reference:	20/01514/GDOCOU
Location:	Cross Roads Farm, Scalford Road, Eastwell
Proposal:	Notification under ’class Q’ of Proposed change of use of agricultural buildings to 3 dwellings

 

The Planning Development Manager addressed the Committee and provided a brief summary of the application.

 

It was noted that the application would not have been brought before the Committee should the applicant had not been a Member or Officer.

 

Councillor Higgins proposed the recommendations in the report. Councillor Steadman seconded the motion.

 

RESOLVED

 

That no Prior Approval of the matters listed in Part Q2 are required (section 7 of the report refers).

 

(Unanimous)

 

REASONS:

 

The proposed change of use accords with all of the criteria set by Class Q of Part 2 of the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (as amended) and the matters the subject of conditions specified by part Q2 of this legislation are not applicable to the circumstances of the case.

To consider any other business that the Chair considers urgent

 

There was no urgent business.