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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: This will be a Virtual Meeting

Contact: Committee Services (01462) 474655  Email: Committee.Services@north-herts.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

21.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 23 Seconds

 

The Chair welcomed everyone to the virtual Planning Control Committee meeting that was being conducted with Members and Officers at various locations, communicating via audio/video and online and advised that there was the opportunity for the public and press to listen and view proceedings.

 

The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer gave advice regarding the following:

 

Attendance

 

A roll call was undertaken to confirm that the required Members, Officers and Registered Speakers were present and could hear and be heard.

 

If for any reason the meeting was not quorate an Officer would interject the meeting and the meeting would adjourn immediately. Once the meeting was quorate the meeting would resume.

 

If a remote Member were to lose connection the Chair may adjourn the meeting for a short period to enable connection to be re-established. If the Chair did not adjourn the meeting the Member would be deemed to have left the meeting at the point of failure and be deemed to have returned at the point of re-establishment.

 

Only Members present for the entirety of debate and consideration of an item were entitled to vote.

 

Live Streaming

 

The meeting was being streamed live on the Council’s YouTube channel. If live streaming failed the meeting would adjourn. If the live stream could not be restored within a reasonable period then the remaining business would be considered at a time and date fixed by the Chair.

 

If the Chair did not fix a date, the remaining business would be considered at the next ordinary meeting.

 

If technology failed for a member of the public who had attended to participate and was unable to do so, the Chair may decide to adjourn or proceed to the next item of business to allow for connection to be re-established. If connection could not be restored within a reasonable period, the Chair could decide to conclude the remaining business. If a Member or Member of the Public dropped out of the meeting and was unable to connect by video, an email had been sent with instructions on how to join the meeting via telephone.

 

Noise Interference

 

The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer asked all in attendance to ensure that electronic devices were muted.

 

Rules of Debate

 

If a Member wished to speak they should use the raise hand button and this would alert the host that they wished to speak.

 

Members were reminded that the normal procedure rules in respect of debate and times to speak would apply.

 

Voting

 

When requested to vote, Members were informed to vote using the Green tick for ‘Yes’, Red Cross for ‘No’ and Blue Raise Hand for ‘abstain’.

 

Details of how Members voted would not be kept or minuted unless a Recorded Vote was requested or an individual requests that their vote be recorded.

 

The Committee, Member and Scrutiny Officer would clearly state the result of the vote and the Chair would proceed to the next agenda item.

 

The Chair, Councillor Ruth Brown, started the meeting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

22.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Decision:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Daniel Allen, Mike Hughson and Sean Prendergast.

 

Having given due notice Councillor Ian Mantle advised that he would be substituting for Councillor Mike Hughson and Councillor Sam Collins advised that he would be substituting for Councillor Sean Prendergast.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 6 Minutes 23 Seconds

 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Daniel Allen, Mike Hughson and Sean Prendergast.

 

Having given due notice Councillor Ian Mantle advised that he would be substituting for Councillor Mike Hughson and Councillor Sam Collins advised that he would be substituting for Councillor Sean Prendergast.

23.

NOTIFICATION OF OTHER BUSINESS

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.

Decision:

There was no other business notified.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 6 Minutes 45 Seconds

 

There was no other business notified.

24.

CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

Decision:

(1)       The Chair welcomed those present at the meeting;

 

(2)       The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded and live streamed on the Council’s YouTube;

 

(3)       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;

 

(4)       The Chair clarified matters for the registered speakers and informed members of the public that they 5 minutes for each group of speakers i.e. 5 minutes for objectors and 5 minutes for supporters. The 5 minute time limit also applied to Member Advocates.

 

The bell would sound after 41/2 minutes as a warning and again at 5 minutes to signify that the speaker must cease. (5) The Chair advised that a comfort break would be called after Agenda Items 5 & 6 or at 9:00pm, whichever came first.

 

(5)      The Chair advised that there would be a comfort break at approximately 9:00pm if the meeting were to be still underway at that time.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 6 Minutes 50 Seconds

 

(1)       The Chair welcomed those present at the meeting;

 

(2)       The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded and live streamed on the Council’s YouTube;

 

(3)       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;

 

(4)       The Chair clarified matters for the registered speakers and informed members of the public that they 5 minutes for each group of speakers i.e. 5 minutes for objectors and 5 minutes for supporters. The 5 minute time limit also applied to Member Advocates.

 

The bell would sound after 4 1/2 minutes as a warning and again at 5 minutes to signify that the speaker must cease.

 

(5)      The Chair advised that there would be a comfort break at approximately 9:00pm if the meeting were to be still underway at that time.

25.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.

Decision:

The Chair confirmed that the 5 registered speakers were present.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 8 Minutes

 

The Chair confirmed that the 5 registered speakers were present.

26.

17/02755/1 LAND AT JUNCTION OF POTTERSHEATH ROAD AND DANESBURY PARK ROAD, WELWYN pdf icon PDF 177 KB

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.

Additional documents:

Decision:

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.’

Minutes:

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.

27.

20/00970/FP LAND WEST OF 1 THE GREEN, ASHWELL ROAD, NEWNHAM, HERTFORDSHIRE pdf icon PDF 180 KB

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Erection of a terrace of 4 dwellings (2 x 3 bed and 2 x 4 bed) and new vehicular accesses onto The Green, associated car parking, landscaping and ancillary works.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: That application 20/00970/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 1 Hour 30 Seconds

 

Erection of a terrace of 4 dwellings (2 x 3 bed and 2 x 4 bed) and new vehicular accesses onto The Green, associated car parking, landscaping and ancillary works.

 

The Development and Conservation Manager presented the report in respect of application 20/00970/FP supported by a visual presentation consisting of photographs and plans.

 

Peter Lapham thanked the Chair for the opportunity to address the Committee on behalf of the applicant, North Hertfordshire District Council, including:

 

·                The land was identified as being suitable for residential development and had been vacant for some time;

·                The proposals consisted of 2x 3 bed properties and 2x 4 bed properties;

·                The homes provided generous rear gardens; and

·                A small number of comments had been received from the public in regard to the proposal.

 

The following Members sought clarification from Mr Lapham’s presentation:

 

·                Councillor Ruth Brown; and

·                Councillor Tom Tyson.

 

Mr Lapham responded to questions as follows:

 

·                The size of the proposed dwellings and the number of bedrooms were guided by the existing adjoining houses which were also fairly generous;

·                It would have appeared unbalanced if the proposed dwellings were smaller than the existing properties;

·                The size of the proposed properties were in keeping with the existing homes;

·                The properties would be sold at Market Value; and

·                Land would not be taken from Plot 1.

 

The following Members took part in the debate:

 

·                Councillor Tom Tyson;

·                Councillor David Levett;

·                Councillor Ruth Brown;

·                Councillor Mike Rice; and

·                Councillor Sam Collins.

 

Points raised by Members included:

 

·                Assurance that the proposed properties would be in keeping with the existing ones;

·                Plot 1 Parking;

·                The number of bedrooms and size of the properties;

·                The completion of a Housing Needs Assessment; and

·                Market Value vs rent.

 

The Development and Conservation Manager responded to points raised as follows:

 

·                Referred Members to Conditions 2 and 3;

·                The land was Council owned and therefore residents were not authorised to park on it;

·                There was a policy that provided balance to community;

·                The Housing Needs Assessment was only applied to bigger schemes;

·                It was important to get the scale and property right for the area;

 

It was proposed by Councillor Mantle, seconded by Councillor Tyson and upon being put to the vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED: That application 20/00970/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the conditions and reasons contained in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

28.

PLANNING APPEALS pdf icon PDF 51 KB

REPORT OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION MANAGER

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: That the report entitled Planning Appeals be noted.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 1 Hour 25 Minutes 30 Seconds

 

The Development and Conservation Manager presented the report entitled Planning Appeals.

 

RESOLVED: That the report entitled Planning Appeals be noted.

29.

MEMBER PLANNING TRAINING UPDATE

Decision:

The Development and Conservation Manager informed Members that the dates of the planning training would be announced in due course. However, it was likely it would take place Mid-September onwards.  

Minutes:

Audio Recording – 1 Hour 25 Minutes 52 Seconds

 

The Development and Conservation Manager informed Members that the dates of the planning training would be announced in due course. However, it was likely it would take place mid-September onwards.

Audio Recording of Meeting MP3 80 MB