Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Members are required to notify any substitutions by midday on the day of the meeting.

Late substitutions will not be accepted and Members attending as a substitute without having given the due notice will not be able to take part in the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ruth Brown, Sadie Billing and Amy Allen.

Having given due notice Councillor Steve Jarvis substituted for Councillor Brown, Councillor Val Bryant substituted for Councillor Billing and Councillor Mick Debenham substituted for Councillor Allen.

Audio recording – 1 minute 25 seconds

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ruth Brown, Sadie Billing and Amy Allen.

Having given due notice Councillor Steve Jarvis substituted for Councillor Brown, Councillor Val Bryant substituted for Councillor Billing and Councillor Mick Debenham substituted for Councillor Allen.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 26 September 2024.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 26 September 2024 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

Audio Recording – 1 minute 58 seconds

Councillor Elizabeth Dennis, as Chair, proposed and Councillor Nigel Mason seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 26 September 2024 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

Members should notify the Chair of other business which they wish to be discussed at the end of either Part I or Part II business set out in the agenda. They must state the circumstances which they consider justify the business being considered as a matter of urgency.

The Chair will decide whether any item(s) raised will be considered.

There was no other business notified.

Audio recording – 2 minutes 43 seconds

There was no other business notified.

Members are reminded that any declarations of interest in respect of any business set out in the agenda, should be declared as either a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Declarable Interest and are required to notify the Chair of the nature of any interest declared at the commencement of the relevant item on the agenda.  Members declaring a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest must withdraw from the meeting for the duration of the item. Members declaring a Declarable Interest, wishing to exercise a ‘Councillor Speaking Right’, must declare this at the same time as the interest, move to the public area before speaking to the item and then must leave the room before the debate and vote.

(1)   The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.

(2)   The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.

(3)   The Chair clarified matters for the registered speakers.

(4)   The Chair advised that Section 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to the meeting.

(5)   Agenda Item 6, 24/00444/FP had been withdrawn from the agenda as the applicant had withdrawn the application, therefore there was no longer an application to consider.

(6)   The Chair advised of a change in the order of the agenda. Agenda Item 8 would be taken ahead of Agenda Item 7.

Audio recording – 2 minutes 46 seconds

(1)   The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.

(2)   The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.

(3)   The Chair clarified matters for the registered speakers.

(4)   The Chair advised that Section 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to the meeting.

(5)   Agenda Item 6, 24/00444/FP had been withdrawn from the agenda as the applicant had withdrawn the application, therefore there was no longer an application to consider.

(6)   The Chair advised of a change in the order of the agenda. Agenda Item 8 would be taken ahead of Agenda Item 7.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers were in attendance.

Audio recording – 6 minutes 6 seconds

The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers were in attendance.

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Redevelopment of the existing service station, including replacement of the existing filling station (use Class sui generis), construction of a drive thru coffee shop (use Class E), electric vehicle charging hub, car parking, and landscaping arrangements.

The Chair confirmed that agenda item 6, 24/00444/FP had been withdrawn from the agenda following the withdrawal of the application, therefore there was no longer an application to consider. 

The Chair confirmed that agenda item 6, 24/00444/FP had been withdrawn from the agenda following the withdrawal of the application, therefore there was no longer an application to consider. 

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of six detached 4-bed dwellings following demolition of existing dwelling/outbuildings and builder yard buildings. (Amended plans received 13/08/24).

RESOLVED: That application 24/00671/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager subject to an additional Condition 17.

“Condition 17

Prior to the first occupation of the first dwelling, a scheme of traffic calming measures is to be submitted to, and agreed in writing by, the Local Planning Authority, and installed on site and be retained thereafter.

Reason – to ensure traffic is moving at a slow speed to protect users of Footpath no.14. LP Policy T1.”

Audio recording - 45 minutes 44 seconds

The Development Management Team Leader advised that there had been two updates which were published as a Supplementary Document to the agenda:

·       An updated response from Hertfordshire County Council Highways to advise they had no objections subject to the recommended conditions and informatives.

·       As a result of a response from the Hertfordshire County Council Public Rights of Way team which suggested ways for traffic calming, Condition 17 had been added to the recommendations.  

The Development Management Team Leader presented the report in respect of Application 24/00671/FP supported by visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

In response to a question from Councillor Ian Mantle, the Senior Planning Officer advised that the application was for 6 houses and not 5 houses as shown on the last slide.

The Chair invited Ms Nikki Alexander to speak as the agent to the applicant, in support of the application. Ms Alexander thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       The scheme sought to change location of the access road to ensure cars entered via the front entrance of the site.

·       The reduction in build form would enhance the character of the local area and openness to greenside.

·       This proposal introduced pitched roofs in keeping with the building style of the local area.

·       The design elements included oak frame features and horizontal board cladding.

·       The scheme met current policies and the design approach would be carefully implemented.

There were no points of clarification for Members.

Councillor Caroline McDonnell proposed to grant permission, with the addition of Condition 17 and, Councillor Tom Tyson seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That application 24/00671/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager subject to an additional Condition 17.

“Condition 17

Prior to the first occupation of the first dwelling, a scheme of traffic calming measures is to be submitted to, and agreed in writing by, the Local Planning Authority, and installed on site and be retained thereafter.

Reason – to ensure traffic is moving at a slow speed to protect users of Footpath no.14. LP Policy T1.”

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Retention of anthracite grey windows.

RESOLVED: That application 24/00952/FPH be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Audio recording – 6 minutes 40 seconds

The Planning Officer advised that:

·       There had been 5 objections received rather than 2 as stated, but all the contents raised were all covered in the report.

·       There was a slight amendment to the description of development to include the  retention to the side door and rear bi-fold doors.

·       This application had been called in by Councillor Paul Ward following an objection from Knebworth Parish Council.

·       The material consideration related to the impact of the windows and doors and not to the matter of the copper beech tree previously felled on site.

·       The ridge line of the property was currently incomplete, but this would be completed.

·       As an update to Members, recent correspondences between the Planning Officer and Councillor Ward and the applicant were read out.

The Planning Officer presented the report in respect of Application 24/00952/FPH supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

The following Members asked questions:

·       Councillor Tom Tyson

·       Councillor Louise Peace

·       Councillor Ian Mantle

In response to questions, the Planning Officer advised that this application was to retain the change to the colour of the existing windows from white to anthracite grey frames. 

The Chair invited Mr Peter Calver, to speak against the application. Mr Calver thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       He was a neighbour and lived at number 12 Oakfields Avenue.

·       If this application was approved, it would mean planning conditions had been overruled.

·       The submitted drawings detailed Georgian style windows for the property and the conditions were to match the style of the existing surrounding properties.

·       There had been in fact 6 objections to this application and they should all be taken into account.

·       The anthracite grey windows should be replaced with white Georgian style windows to the approved specification.

There were no points of clarification from Members.

The Chair thanked Mr Calver for his presentation and invited Ms Vivien Philps-Tate to speak against the application. Ms Philps-Tate thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided the Committee with a verbal presentation, including that:

·       She lived opposite the property at number 9 Oakfields Avenue.

·       There had previously been a significant number of objections from residents, but this had reduced as residents had become worn down over time.

·       The previously granted planning conditions were not being enforced as they stipulated white windows.

·       The applicant had previously applied for changes to plans before completing previous approved changes.

·       The objections of the Parish Council had been discounted.

·       If this application was approved, it would be setting a precedent for future applicants to ignore planning conditions.

In response to a point of clarification from Councillor Nigel Mason, Ms Philps Tate advised that no other front facing windows in the road were not white and people should comply with the planning laws.

The Chair thanked Ms Philps-Tate for her presentation and invited Councillor Paul Ward, as Ward Member, to speak against the application. Cllr Ward thanked the Chair  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

To update Members on appeals lodged and any decisions made.

The Development and Conservation Manager provided an update on Planning Appeals.

Audio recording - 58 minutes 10 seconds

The Development and Conservation Manager presented the report entitled ‘Planning Appeals’ and informed the Committee:

·       A public hearing was arranged for an appeal lodged for site BA4, which was refused by the Committee in March 2024, as the allocation of affordable housing was not felt adequate. This hearing was to be held at 9.30am on Thursday 21 November at the Council Offices.

·       1 appeal decision had been made since the last hearing which related to a householder application for dormer windows to the loft space, which had been  dismissed for the reasons set out in the summary and appeal notice.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the report.