Issue - meetings

Councillor Tony Hunter declared he was predetermined on this item due to comments he had previously made in the consultation process. He advised that he would move to the public gallery where he would speak as Member Advocate against the item, before leaving the Chamber for the remainder of this item.

Councillor Gerald Morris called for a recorded vote on this item.

The result of the vote was as follows: 

The individual votes were as follows:

Therefore, it was:

RESOLVED: That application 18/01502/OP be DEFERRED until a response had been received from Herts Ecology. 

Audio recording – 4 minutes 05 seconds

Councillor Tony Hunter declared he was predetermined on this item due to comments he had previously made in the consultation process. He advised that he would move to the public gallery where he would speak as Member Advocate against the item, before leaving the Chamber for the remainder of this item.

Following a request on behalf of Barkway Parish Council for a recorded vote, the Chair took advice and confirmed that this request could not be made by a Parish Council. However, a Member Advocate or member of the Committee could make this request.

Councillor Gerald Morris called for a recorded vote on this item.

The Senior Planning Officer advised of the following updates:

·         Following notification of errors in the report, labelling on the plans and three of the Highways conditions had been updated.

·         Confirmed that the meeting had been called legally and was in line with advice surrounding meetings during the official mourning period.

·         The Local Plan Inspectors Report had been received and sections relevant to this application had been supplied as an addendum.

·         Newsells Park Stud had provided a document which had been circulated to Members ahead of the meeting.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report in respect of application 18/01502/OP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

The following Members asked questions:

·         Councillor Michael Muir

·         Councillor Tom Tyson

·         Councillor Nigel Mason

In response to questions, the Senior Planning Officer advised:

·         Herts County Council owned the reserved school site, but the rest of the site is owned by the applicant. The reserved school site was not part of this application.

·         There had been no response from Herts Ecology so far, despite Officer communications.

·         Herts Ecology had three options, they could respond with no objections, they could have concerns that need addressing and this would be done alongside the applicant and they could object in principle, in which case the application would return to the Planning Control Committee.

The Chair invited Mr Julian Dollar and Ms Jacqueline Veater to speak against the application and advised they had been allocated 10 minutes to share.

Mr Dollar thanked the Chair for the opportunity to speak and advised the Committee of the following:

·         He had been involved in Stud breeding for 25 years, and manager at Newsells Park Stud for the last 16 years.

·         The Newsells Park Stud is one of the most successful stud farms in the UK, with an international reputation.

·         The stud employs 42 people, the majority of who live on the site and support local businesses.

·         The stud purchases goods and materials from local suppliers and has taken a keen interest in the local community, especially through support provided to the local school.

·         The land bordering the BK3 site is the most suitable for raising foals and was the reason for the stud being established 100 years ago. The newer land is not of as good quality for the raising of foals.

·         The development of site BK3  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5