Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Retrospective application for the change of use of land to use a residential caravan site for two gypsy families, each with two caravans including no more than one static mobile home and laying of hardstanding and erection of a timber fence.

RESOLVED: That application 17/02755/1 be GRANTED planning permission subject to the application being referred to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manger; and

An additional last line added to Condition 1 reason, as follows:

‘whilst the very special circumstances are compelling, to enable the matter of land allocation to be resolved through the Local Plan Hearings a temporary permission is justified.' and

The Condition 3 reason to be re-written to read:

‘To accord with the terms of the submitted application and evidence of need contained therein.’

Audio Recording – 8 Minutes 20 Seconds

Retrospective application for the change of use of land to use a residential caravan site for two gypsy families, each with two caravans including no more than one static mobile home and laying of hardstanding and erection of a timber fence.

The Development and Conservation Manager introduced the item and provided the Committee with the following updates:

·                A letter received from Stephen McPartland MP in relation to the application had been sent to Members;

·                Members were referred to paragraph 2.4 on page 6 and specifically Policy E of the 2015 Planning for Traveller Sites document published by DCLG;

·                Members were directed to the Planning History, detailed at Paragraphs 4.3.1 to 4.3.5;

·                There were changes to the Recommendations at Paragraph 5.1 on page 19 within the report, as follows:

Recommended condition 1 reason. Add additional last line:

‘Whilst the very special circumstances are compelling, to enable the matter of land allocation to be resolved through the Local Plan Hearings a temporary permission is justified.’

Recommended condition 3 reason – re-write the whole reason:

To accord with the terms of the submitted application and evidence of need contained therein.

The Development and Conservation Manager provided an explanation of the current position of the site, as follows:

·                The planning application was for two pitches with a maximum of two static caravans;

·                Members were to note recommended condition 3 on page 19 which sought to limit the number of pitches to no more than two static caravans on this site - the requirements and the enforceability of that condition could only come into affect if planning permission is granted;

·                There were currently 3 static caravans on the site, at least one touring caravan and one amenity block which was one more static caravan than was applied for but one less than the proposed land allocation would allow for in the emerging Local Plan; and

·                The siting of the third static caravan was a separate enforcement matter outside the remit of the determination of that planning application – enforcement powers were delegated to officers. However, it could be achieved by enforcing the terms of condition 3 if Members were to accept that recommendation.

The Development and Conservation Manager advised Members the reasons to determine the application now were as follows:

·                The strategy was to delay the determination of the planning application until after the Inspector had finished the Local Plan Hearings and adjudicated on the proposed allocation of this site for traveller accommodation. Particularly after the Inspector specifically set aside a whole day of the main mods EiP to discuss this issue;

·                The additional hearings were scheduled for March 2020 but were delayed due to the pandemic;

·                If the Inspector had agreed with the Council’s needs analysis and concluded that the site should be allocation for 4 pitches, we would not have hesitated to recommend a permanent permission for this development – indeed there remains a strong case for a permanent permission even now;

·                From October 18 2020  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26