Agenda and decisions

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 Bryony May and Caroline McDonnell.

To take as read and approve as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the 22 January 2026.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Committee meeting held on 22 January 2026 be approved as a true record of 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.

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 confirmed the procedure for moving to debate on an item.

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

(6)       The Chair confirmed the cut off procedure should the meeting proceed at length.

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers were in attendance.  

REPORT OF DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of up to 84 dwellings with public open space, landscaping and sustainable drainage system (SuDS) following demolition of No. 24 Echo Hill with all matters reserved save for access.

RESOLVED: That application 25/01708/OP be REFUSED planning permission for the reasons set out in the report of the Development and Conservation manager.

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Variation of condition 1 (revised plans) of planning permission 17/02627/1 granted 30.05.2018 for Application for approval of reserved matters comprising of access, landscaping, layout, scale and appearance of Phase 1 the development (pursuant to Outline application 14/02485/1 granted 07/12/2016) as amended by plans received on 22 December 2017; 30 January 2018; 27 March 2018; 18 April 2018; and 2 May 2018.

RESOLVED: That application 24/02656/S73 be GRANTED planning permission subject to:

A)        The completion of a satisfactory deed of variation to the original s106 agreement or similar legal mechanism to ensure delivery of the agreed Heads of Terms; and

B)        The applicant agreeing to extend the statutory period in order to complete the Deed if required; and

C)        Granting delegation of authority to the Development and Conservation Manager to update conditions and informatives with minor amendments as required; and

D)        Conditions from planning permission reference 21/02194/S73, as set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of four detached dwellings including landscaping, parking and widening of existing vehicular access off Stevenage Road.

RESOLVED: That application 25/02998/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to:

A)        The receipt of the Impact Assessment and Conservation Payment Certificate (IACPC) following an application to Natural England under the GCN District Level Licensing (DLL) and a response of no objection from the North Herts Ecologist; and

B)        The agreement to an extension of time to the statutory determination date to allow time for (A) to occur; and

C)        The conditions and informatives as set out in the 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.